Augustine in Psychotherapy

What is it about?

Augustine was a philosopher and theologian who lived 16 centuries ago but psychologists today still seem fascinated with him, to such extent that they employ his concepts, ideas, quotes and methods of dealing with interpersonal situations to build their psychological theories or practical approaches. Only... oftentimes it is not Augustine they use, but a version of their own personal Augustine, constructed with help from popular culture, misquotations and misinterpretations. The paper analyses this process in which the writer Augustine both disappears and endures (at least in name) through the (mis)use to which he is subjected. The Augustine that reaches psychologists today is a writer "beyond the books": an author who interests them, but whom they rarely actually read.

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