Episode 217 | VFL Reads: The Christian in a Therapeutic Age

10/09/2025 38 min

Listen "Episode 217 | VFL Reads: The Christian in a Therapeutic Age"

Episode Synopsis

Autumn and Hunter discuss an article by Ian Harber called “The Christian in a Therapeutic Age.” Harber contends that while therapy terms describe real struggles, their overuse has turned treatable conditions into fixed identities. Amplified by social media, this therapeutic culture isolates people and worsens anxiety. In contrast, Christianity grounds identity in God, tells a story of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. Committing to Christian practices - prayer, worship, Scripture, sacraments, community—nurtures resilience and belonging.Resources mentioned in this episode:The Christian in a Therapeutic Age by Ian HarberIs Today’s Self-Help Teaching Everyone to be a Jerk? by Emma GoldbergHow Anxiety Became Content by Derek ThompsonHabits of the Heart by Bellah, Madsen, Sullivan, Swidler, and Tipton