Something new - A Medical-Model For Spiritual Formation

It's hot and humid in Houston. Not at all like the freshness of suburban Philadelphia. We have officially relocated. I already miss the fall foliage of the Northeast and it's only August! From inside, it looks like a lovely day - but I know better, so choose to stay indoors. I will need to postpone meeting my new neighbors until cooler weather allows for a walk in the neighborhood!

There's a lot of newness around us now and even more unknows. One in particular, I need your help with (so please read on). Molly is in a new school - and a new type of school - Catholic High School. I love that the curriculum includes a class on "The Revelation of Jesus Christ." They also teach philosophy and ballroom dancing - now that's my kind of education :)

A big unknown is where we'll be in October. Our current home, a very quaint 3-bedroom BnB, has the owners coming back on October 1st. We don't yet know where we'll be after that, or whether we are selling or renting our beautiful home in Pennsylvania. It's not that we are careless in our thinking or planning - you all know that's not how we roll. It's just the way it is - for now. Why God is keeping us in a place of unknowing is also unknown to me. I'm sure there's a spiritual growth opportunity here somewhere. Is it patience? That's often a lesson God tees up for me! Is it faith, letting myself believe that God has the next home lined up even though we cannot see it? Is is trust and the peace that comes from remaining steadfast in God no matter how many unknowns swirl around us? I think it might be that!

Stepping aside from Truth First Ministry

The biggest new thing is my work. Truth First Ministry will be taking a back seat for a while as I focus on a new venture - Aquinas Studios - a company formed to merge spiritual formation with scientific principles of cognitive-behavior change, something I've been passionate about for a long time. Some of you may know my brother, James Moran, a scholar and a gentleman as our dad would always say of him. He's the IT behind the work. Together we have built the first psycho-theological platform for spiritual formation and it's AMAZING! It takes a medical-model approach, which I believe is sorely overdue in the space of spiritual formation.

We have so much great learning applied to helping people make right their wrongs. Consider, for example, the 12-step AA programs for people seeking to turn away from alcoholism. We know they cannot do it by themselves. We don't tell them "now quit your drinkin'" and expect them to make good on that. They need a solid stepped-out plan and AA provides exactly that. Same with marriages. People go to counselors because the fully understand they need the help that comes with structured methods of cognitive and behavior change. But when it comes to spiritual formation, arguably the most important aspect of our faith, we leave the science on the bench and relegate some of our toughest challenges to a quick prayer and wishful thinking. Don't get me wrong. I completely get it's all the work of the Holy Spirit, but here's the thing . . . the rate-limiting factor in our spiritual growth is never the Holy Spirit - it's always us. And I can tell you why. It's because we are left to navigate the most complex cognitive, behavioral and spiritual aspects of our lives without any psychological methods to help us even take the first step, or just find that first step - what is it and where is it and how do I get my foot on it? And then the next step, and the one after that. Where are our 12-step programs for spiritual formation?

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It's time to do formation differently. It's time for your 12-step, psycho-theological, medical-model approach to formation. And that's what Aquinas Studios was built for.

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What is a medical-model approach and how does that work in spiritual formation?

When you have a physical ailment, you seek the advice of your doctor. He assesses your symptoms, runs some tests, makes a differential diagnosis, decides a treatment plan, and off you go. Later, he'll check in to see that you are actually getting better. That's the medical model. In spiritual formation, it's the same. Symptoms show up (loneliness, anger, sadness, jealousy, bitterness, lack of purpose, unforgiveness, addictions). You know that things need to be better, you take some diagnostic tests, then the treatment pathway is determined, and off you go. Later, outcomes are measured to check that you are actually getting better.

Why haven't we done this before in spiritual formation? Is it that our adversary is blinding us, telling us it's not faithful to look beyond God's hand at work within us? Is the enemy deceiving us that this is contrary to the work of the Holy Spirit? For sure, Satan knows the science and the power of it. He'd love if we remained darkened, blindly trying to find our steps, and never turning to the vastness and power of God's beautiful science.

I love God. I love faith. I love Scripture and I love science. I love my new work at Aquinas Studios and I love the hope it gives for deliberate and systematic faith formation. Thank you, Lord, for the work of the Holy Spirit in us and for the science you gave us!

Welcome to Aquinas Studios

Here's a sample of the medical-model approach applied to spiritual formation, specifically to our love relationship with God -that's where we've started. We hope to develop diagnostics and treatment pathways for Christian parenting too, so parents can diagnose precise areas of spiritual formation needs of their children and then focus their nurturing to those needs. Maybe the good Lord will also have us develop diagnostics and tools for use in the corporate world and even governmental diplomacy. Who knows where the Lord will take this. This in another unknow. But for now, we know we have something really special in Aquinas Studios. Here's what a diagnostic profile looks like.

And here's a link to get your own diagnostic profile as a free gift to you - Enjoy! Don't forget, the diagnostics only mark the start of the treatment plan. You then need to begin your cognitive-behavioral journey to make real and lasting change.

Spiritual Diagnostics

I Need Your Help

I know it takes a village and I'm thankful for the community of Christians around me. Please, please, share the diagnostic tools with all of your friends - and anyone else you know who would gain from growing in their love of God. For those of you in education, tell your deans about this; for those in spiritual formation, bring it to your groups and pastors; for leaders, please bring it to your teams; for those in social media (is that everybody?), please help spread the word; for those in publishing, let's do an interview or an article! I need your help in getting Aquinas Studios out there. It's time for a more robust approach to spiritual formation. The world needs this - and I need you. Please help spread the word!

Your faithful (and scientific) friend,

Andrea

Dr. Andrea LaFountain Neuroscientist & Theologian,

CEO, Aquinas Studios

Harvard, Psychometrics of Love SIG, Leader