459-g23-report2.htm (G23, Fall 2005)
Dr. Leon James, Instructor, University of Hawaii

Step 1:

In your word processor create a file. Save the file under the name

xx-459-g23-report2.doc. Replace the xx with your last name (which will be the name of the folder where you upload all your own work).

Be sure to use the exact same file name, lower case letters, with the hyphens and no spaces. You will be using this file to enter all the sections as you progressively write them.

Step 2:

Read all the questions first. There are five questions you must answer from the set given below. The entire question should always be pasted at the beginning of your answer and marked "The Question I am answering is Question xx"

Consider the topics in the Questions. There are several sub-topics mentioned in each question. Summarize what is said about each sub-topic in the Theistic Psychology book that is online at www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/theistic  See especially Section 6.3.1.1.1 (as explained below).

Be aware that the same topic is discussed in several places (different Volumes and Sections, and also within each Section in different paragraphs). The link above takes you to Volume 18 which contains the Subject Index and the Section Headings. While you are in this file, give the Find on This Page command under the Edit Menu of your Web browser. When you find the first place for that topic, write down the Section Number. Then give the Find command again, and note the Section Number. Do this several times until the Find Box gets to the end of the file. Now look up each Section for the information. You can get to any Section by going first to the right Volume (which is the digit before the first period and may vary from a to 18). All 18 volumes are listed with a link at the top of the file, and in the Subject Headings.

An additional effective method is to open several Volumes one at a time, and do a Find Command (under the Edit Menu) for each topic or sub-topic you are researching.

When you find relevant passages to your topic, copy each passage and paste it into a word processing file that you will name xx-selections.htm (where xx is your own folder name). You must upload this file along with your report2 file. You must put a link to this file from your report 2.  Do this in your report where you mention this file for the first time when explaining what is in it.

Make sure that your format the xx-selections.htm file properly so there are blank lines separating each quote. The Section number and its Title must be pasted at the beginning of each selection (do not forget the Title). Make this Section Number and Title a live link that goes to that Section. To do this, go to that section with your browser by clicking on the Table of Contents of the Volume where that Section is to be found. In this way the exact address will be in the browser address window. Copy and paste it into your link. Be sure to test every link after you upload the file!

Keep the length of each selection to about 10 lines. You can have more than one selection from the same Section (different paragraphs). In that case you need to identify each sub-part with (a), (b), etc. When you summarize each sub-part in your report 2 file make sure the (a), (b), etc. designations match with those in the xx-selections.htm file.

The top of your xx-selections.htm file must have these lines centered and bolded:

Selections From Theistic Psychology by Leon James
which is online at
www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/theistic
That I Summarized in My Report 2
which is online at
www.soc.hawaii.edu/leon/459f2005/xx/459-g23-report2.htm

Replace "xx" with your folder name, and make sure the link works after you upload the file!

Now in your report 2 file summarize each selection you pasted in the xx-selections.htm file. Use your own words as you understand the content from your current perspective. Make sure that each summary paragraph you write gives the Section Number and Title that you are summarizing. In your report 2, Make each Section number and title a link to your xx-selections.htm file, and put a Back to My Report link, at the end of each Selection. Try to learn how to get each link to take you to the actual selection in your file, not just to the top of the document.

Hint: you have to use the Bookmarks function in the xx-selections.htm file so that the links in your report 2 file can go to each bookmark you define in the selections.htm file. It is no different from creating a Table of Contents with bookmarks in your word processor .doc file, then save it as a Web page and the bookmark links will work in the Web browser.

Note that you might have to read adjacent Sections to understand one particular Section even if you don't include those adjacent Sections into your xx-selections.htm file. Note also that Sections sometimes refer to other Sections that are related to that sub-topic. You might have to read these other Sections as well in order to get a clear understanding of the topics and how to answer them well. Doing this detailed work will teach you a lot of theistic psychology. It is well worth it, when you think of the benefits to you! As well, others will be able to benefit from your detailed research work.

Make sure Section B is clearly marked as Section B: My Answers to the Five Questions. Make sure your answer contains the marked sub-parts specified in the question (a, b, c, etc.). Make sure you paste the question and its number at the start of each answer. Be sure to clearly separate Sections B and C by a visible separator, blank space, or formatting.

Discuss how prior generation students reacted to and interpreted similar topics in theistic psychology, rational spirituality, and the Writings of Swedenborg. You will find a list of links to their reports here:   www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/theistic/#part2   You can select at least three reports from any of the reports listed there, from any semester or generation.

Make sure Section C is clearly marked as "Section C: My Analysis of Prior Generations in the Generational Curriculum." Make sure you have these four marked sub-sections:

• (i) Discuss how they felt
• (ii) what they thought
• (iii) what they concluded
• (iv) how their insights apply to you.

Be sure you mention the student’s name and put a link to each report you are discussing.

Hint: Have your word processor file and your browser open at the same time. Switch between them as you read the generational reports one by one, so you can type in the details for (i) to (iv) sub-sections. Note that you need to do all four sub-sections for each student report you select to talk about.

Give advice to future generations reading your report and doing a similar one of their own. It's useful to give them both general and specific advice. In terms of specific advice, give them hints on how to do the research for each question and any other issues you think they would find useful.

Step 3:

(a) At the top of your document type the following Title:

Report 2:
My Understanding of Theistic Psychology
By your name
Instructions for this report are at:
www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy23/459-g23-report2.htm  
I am answering Questions xx, xx, xx, xx, and xx

(b) Put these two required links at the bottom of the file:

Class Home Page: www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy23/classhome-g23.htm   

Your Home Page: www.soc.hawaii.edu/leon/459s2005/xx/459-g23-report2.htm 

(Note: replace "xx" with your folder name).

(c) Very important: Fix the formatting of your document before you upload it.

(1) Make sure that your summaries are marked: My Own Summary of the Selections.

(2) Make sure that your comments and sentences always start with the Sub-heading: My Comments.

(3) Make sure that no paragraph is longer than 7 lines.

(4) Make sure that all paragraphs in your document -- all paragraphs --  are separated by a blank line (not two blank lines).

Note: Some students unnecessarily lose points by not following these formatting requirements! In order to make sure you have followed these required formatting rules, view your document in your Web browser after uploading your file. Sometimes the uploaded file doesn't look like the document in your word processor, so you need to make the corrections, and upload again, until it works the way you want to. At the same time click on all the links you have so you can test them.

(d) Spell check your document. Give the Save As...command and select Web Page. Save the file under the name

xx-459-g23-report2.htm (use this exact name, with hyphens, and no spaces, lower case letters; replace xx with your folder name).

Upload this file. Do not upload the Word file in .doc format. You must upload the .htm version by saving it as a Web Page.. After uploading the file view it with your browser by going to your folder on the Web. Check it for mistakes and to see if it looks as you want it to look.

1. Do all the links work? Including those to the right Sections in the selections.htm file?

2. Are the Sections clearly marked, demarcated, and indented?

3. Is there confusion about where something starts or ends?

4. Are all your paragraphs separated by a blank line ? (It's easier to read that way)

5. Are all your paragraphs less than 7 lines on the screen?

Make the changes in your word processor and upload the new version. It will replace the old version. Check it again and repeat until it's just right.

++++++++++

Your Report 2 is now complete and published on the Web. Congratulations! You have proven you can gain technical competence in Web publishing and report writing. Now your valuable report will be used by future generations, by students from other places surfing the Web, by researchers interested in data on information behavior, and by the general public looking for information on rational spirituality and theistic psychology.

You will be publishing two reports on the Web this semester as part of your contribution to the generational curriculum on theistic psychology (report 2) and on information literacy (report 1).  Thousands of people who navigate the Web find these generational student reports through Web search engines when they are looking for topics on spirituality or information literacy. Your contribution will contribute first, to yourself for improving your understanding of theistic psychology and your information literacy skills; second, for future students who will be reading your reports, and third, for the public at large. Your research, observations, and conclusions will be beneficial to others who will read your reports in the ensuing years. Long after you're no longer a student, your generational reports will still be serving the public.

Note on Privacy: Students can use a pseudonym on their reports instead of their real name. Students who publish their reports on the Web can delete their reports after being graded. They can also request to have their reports deleted from the Web after the semester at any time in the future by emailing Dr. James. Usually the request is honored on the same day it is received. Students can also submit their reports in typing, privately to the instructor instead of publishing them on the Web. This will not affect their grade.

Here are the Questions (choose at least 5)

Each question must be pasted at the beginning of your answer.

Be sure each answer is marked into the Parts indicated in the questions.

Important Note:

Your answers need to be based on Section 6.3.1.1.1 The Vertical Community and Mental Biology. You must use the latest version which is Version 51a and is posted at
www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/theistic/mental-biology.htm
as well as in the Theistic Psychology Volume 6. But please note that you will need to supplement information on some topics by going to other Sections. How to do this is indicated in the Instructions above on using the Find command.

Answer Questions 1 and 2
plus any three other questions (5 total).

Question 1:

(a)  Explain in your own words how you understand the phrase "mental biology" in theistic psychology. What makes theistic psychology "mental" and what makes it "biological"? You will need to include several related concepts to give an adequate explanation: e.g., evolution of consciousness, discrete degrees, and substantive dualism. You will need to explain these related terms as well before the whole is comprehensible. Is it important for a theory in psychology to be biological?

(b) Diagram A in Section 6.3.1.1.1 is a portrayal of mental biology. Explain what elements of the diagram are useful for you, bringing out new aspects you haven't thought of yet. And what elements are problematic for you and why: Is the idea too vague? Does it contradict something you believe?

Question 2:

(a) Discuss the concept of the Divine Psychologist. Explain it. Is this concept an essential feature of theistic psychology or should it be omitted for the sake of greater acceptance?

(b) Is it possible for you to relate to it, or not? What would need to change in your ideas before you could accept such an idea as completely real in your life? What is the psychology of cooperation? Could this be something important to you right now?

(c) In the spirit of the positive bias, pretend for a day (or an hour) that you are talking in your mind to the Divine Psychologist, assuming it is a real phenomenon in theistic psychology. Describe what happened.

Question 3:

(a) Explain how you understand the concepts of heaven and hell in theistic psychology. How does it relate to your ideas about this prior to the course? Has there been a change in your attitude or knowledge?

(b) Discuss how you relate to the concept of the economics of immortality.

(c) Explain your idea of what is the vertical community to which we are connected. How is this related to heaven and hell? How is this concept in theistic psychology different from what psychologists think of "delusions" when talking about "spirits"? What needs to change in psychology before the idea of the vertical community can be presented as a method of therapy?

Question 4:

(a) Why is the topic of "regeneration" so basic in theistic psychology?

(b) What are the "character reformation" steps of building a "new will"?

(c) What is the difference between the "old will" and the new will?

(d) What are "heavenly" vs. "hellish" traits?

(e) How does this relate to personality theory in psychology as you know it.

Question 5:

(a) What is the perspective of theistic psychology provides on Sacred Scripture?

(b) How is it related to Divine Speech?

(c) What are correspondences in Sacred Scripture?

(d) Give some illustrations of Sacred Scripture and show how they are to be interpreted from the perspective of theistic psychology.

Question 6:

(a) What is the relation between mind and the spiritual world?

(b) How does theistic psychology show their relation?

(c) How can the human mind be immortal?

(d) Why should people be concerned about the afterlife?

(e) What is the "vertical community" and why should people focus on their "dual citizenship"?

Question 7:

(a) Discuss the concept of the "as-of self."

(b) Why is it difficult for people to accept his idea?

(c) Does the concept of as-of self imply that we don't really have true freedom as human beings?

(d) Is human freedom compatible with the the concept of God's omnipotence?

(e) How do you react to this concept? Can you accept it? Does it make a difference whether you accept it or not?

Question 8:

Discuss how the study of theistic psychology has influenced your thinking thus far.

(a) Make a list of the important concepts you learned and explain how they help you figure out your life.

(b) What is your assessment of how others in class react to the study of theistic psychology?

(c) Try sharing some of these concepts with friends and describe their reactions.

(d) What are your reactions to their reactions?

(e) Will you continue to study theistic psychology?

(f) How do you explain the apparent fact that some students seem to understand the topics pretty well in their reports, but do not necessarily accept them?

(g) What suggestions do you have for how to teach theistic psychology to college students in psychology?

Question 9:

In what ways is theistic psychology like the psychology you’ve known prior to this course? What are overlapping topics and methodologies? Give at least two topics or methods that overlap and show how theistic psychology provides different explanations for them.

(a) Give several contrastive features between theistic and atheistic psychology. 

(b) Describe any resistance you experience regarding the concepts of theistic psychology, including

(i) substantive dualism and the spiritual world
(ii) heaven and hell
(iii) scientific revelations
(iv) the spiritual sense hidden in Sacred Scripture
(v) any other concepts of your choosing.

(c) Is there a resolution possible regarding your conflict?

Back to G23 Class Home Page:
www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy23/classhome-g23.htm 
Back to Theistic Psychology book:   www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/theistic