SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
God-Centered Psychology
is a Social Psychology
In addition to being an individual psychology, God-Centered Psychology is also a social psychology. The First & Last Testaments (Genesis 1 & 2) (Qur’an 39:6) teach us that all human beings were created from one soul. We are all made in the same mold, prone to the same problems & possibilities, the same vices & virtues to which human beings have always been prone. To help us understand ourselves and do what we are here on earth to do, God has always sent messengers to guide us. We are told repeatedly in The Qur’an to make no distinction between the messengers because they all came with the same basic message. (Qur'an 2:285, 3:84, 57: 19 & 21). Did you know that the prophet mentioned most often in The Qur’an is Moses? More than 80 times! Peace be upon him. Again & again in The Qur’an, God links all the prophets together from beginning to end.
The Unity-Continuity of The Prophetic Message
Indeed, one of the greatest gifts of The Qur’an is its clear exposition of the Oneness of God and the unity-continuity of the prophetic message. When we understand this, the tumblers on the lock of our heart click into place, the door of the vault swings open, and every treasure we have longed for becomes apparent. Life takes on vibrant meaning. Peace prevails. Everything makes perfect sense.
"We have sent you inspiration as we sent it to Noah and the Messengers after him. We sent inspiration to Abraham, Ishmael, Issac, Jacob and the Tribes, to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and to David we gave The Psalms. Of some Messengers, we have already told you the story. Of others we have not. And to Moses God spoke direct."
(Qur’an 4: 163-164)
"It is He Who has sent down to you, step by step, in truth, The Book, confirming what went before it. And He sent down The Torah of Moses and The Gospel of Jesus before this, as a guide to mankind..."
(Qur’an 3:3-4)
Understanding the unity-continuity of the prophetic message is vital for two reasons. One, we see in it that the science of human psychology is sacred & universal. In our theology we differ, but in our psychology we are all human beings who have been created by God, and who are wrestling within ourselves to become paragons of virtue, so that we might manifest Goodness toward all of God's creation.
"O humankind! We created you from a single pair of male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other, not that you may despise each other. Surely, the most honored of you in the sight of God is the one who is the most righteous."
(Qur'an 49:13)
What Counts with God
is The Content of Our Character
Given the discord we are witnessing all around, we are certainly in need of divine reminders from the lips of those who truly understood what it means to be a human being.
"Blessed is the one who doesn't walk in the counsel of the wicked nor stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in God's law. On God's law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree planted by streams of water, that produces fruit in its season, whose leaf also does not wither. Whatever he does shall prosper."
(Psalm 1: 1-3)
“I have a dream that my four little children
will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
(MLK)
The subject of good character, along with women’s rights, human rights, and economic justice, was among the last instructions Prophet Muhammad ﷺ gave to humanity in 632 AD.
“All humanity is from Adam & Eve. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab. Also, a white has no superiority over a black, nor does a black have any superiority over a white, except by piety and good action.”
(The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ )
“Let us be dissatisfied until the day
when nobody will shout, ‘White Power!’,
when nobody will shout, ‘Black Power!’,
but everybody will talk about God’s power
and human power.”
(MLK)
The Abrahamic Example
is The Template for Human Behavior
And this is the perfect segue into the second reason that the unity-continuity of the prophetic message is so crucial. What is commonly referred to as the Judeo-Christian tradition is actually the Judeo-Christian-Muslim tradition. ONE STORY. A story of absolute loving surrender to God by Abraham, God's peace be upon him. His example is meant to be the template for human behavior.
“Who can be better in religion than one who submits their whole self to God, does good, and follows the way of Abraham the true in faith. For God took
Abraham as a friend.”
(Qur’an 4:125)
ONE STORY. A LOVE story about God calling human beings again & again to turn away from all that is false, to love and worship ‘Him’ alone, and to love and care for each other. This is what it means to be a human being. This is true Religion with a capital R, from the Latin religare, which means to re-link us to our Source.
Harmony & Peace
Among All People of Goodwill
The Abrahamic framework promotes harmony & peace among all people of goodwill because it encompasses the full spectrum of universal values. This includes the liberal values of feeding the poor, welcoming the stranger, caring for the earth, standing against oppression, and advocating for change when it is needed. And it includes the equally important conservative values of protecting life & wealth, preserving family & nation, maintaining stability, and advocating for continuity when it is needed. God designed the cosmos in a perfect balance of opposites that are meant to function together. As such, we must not allow Satan to continue dividing & conquering us religiously, racially, politically, & biologically. That is a trap that is meant to distract us from what is actually happening.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
(Ephesians 6:12)
"... and do not follow in the footsteps of Satan, for truly he is your manifest enemy. Surely Satan only commands you to evil and the obscene..."
(Qur'an 2:168-169)
Ours to do is align ourselves inwardly & outwardly with the Abrahamic Message of pure monotheism and come together as believers in One God.
"For Abraham will surely become a great and mighty nation and all the nations on earth will be blessed through him. For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what He has promised him."
(Genesis 18: 18-19)
Linking Hearts & Hands
I pray that God-Centered Psychology brings about profound healing within the hearts of individuals AND between our faith-communities. NOW is the time for all lovers of God to link hearts & hands. We are living at a pivotal moment in human history when everything we cherish is under attack. In the West, radical activists are hell-bent on fomenting discord, sexualizing children, destroying families, & obliterating religion. In the Middle East, heartbreaking atrocities have destroyed thousands of innocent lives. Worldwide, darkness prevails in many places. The only ethical response to all this evil is to be light-bearers, manifesting the very best in ourselves as human beings, as Almighty God has commanded.
“He has shown you, O human being, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly. And to love mercy. And to walk humbly with your God.”
(Micah 6:8)
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PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYER
O God, Beloved Lord, Creator of Heaven & Earth. Please keep us calibrated to the sacred with every breath, every step we take. Please grant us the ways & means, the grace & grit, to facilitate a great renovation of all the beautiful things that loving You brings. Please guide our young people to Your Love, so they know with absolute certainty that You have called them to worship You alone & serve Your creation in love. Amen.
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“Glad tidings to that individual who becomes a key towards good and a lock towards evil.”
(Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)