The Trinity, Compass Psychotheology, and You

Compass Psychotheology represents a new field of study pioneered by Dr. Dan and Kate Montgomery. It seeks to integrate reliable principles from modern psychology with orthodox Trinitarian Christianity.

James Joyce spent 7,000 hours in writing Ulysses, the book that introduced the literary device of stream of consciousness into Western literature.

Dan and Kate spent 10,000 hours in writing Compass Psychotheology, the book that weds Christianity and psychology, and the foundation for their Compass Series works.

The Montgomery's aim included bringing together a cohesive theory of the God-human encounter that revealed modern psychological dynamics of personality and relationship within a perspective anchored in Bible teaching and a Christian worldview.

At its first tier of organizational composition, the overarching approach is known as Compass Theory. Compass Theory connects a Christian metaphysical conception of God, the cosmos, and humanity with the human psychological functions of perception, motivation, learning, memory, emotion, cognition, sensation, and spirituality.

Compass Theory suggests hypotheses about healthy versus unhealthy behavior, and offers ways to knit together identity, intimacy, and community—the perennial concerns of every person and every society, from ancient through contemporary times.

Where possible, Compass Theory cites empirical studies from psychological research on equal footing with biblical exegesis of Scripture, believing that both science and faith are essential to understand the complexities of human persons, and the mystery of God as present in persons and societies through the redemptive salvation of Jesus Christ through his atoning life, death, and resurrection.

The second tier of Compass Series works seeks direct application to human need in the forms of the Self Compass growth tool, Compass Therapy, Christian Personality Theory, and Compass Psychotheology. 

Applied to self-help and healthy personality it becomes The Self Compass: Charting Your Personality In Christ.

Applied to inspiration for Christian living it becomes: Faith Beyond Church Walls: Finding Freedom in Christ.

Applied to counseling and psychotherapy it becomes, Compass Therapy: Christian Psychology In Action, and Christian Counseling That Really Works.

Applied to understanding of Christ's personality and human personality it becomes Christian Personality Theory: A Self Compass for Humanity.

And applied to integrating behavioral science with biblical theology it becomes Compass Psychotheology: Where Psychology and Theology Really Meet.

The third tier of Compass Series works drawn from Compass Theory seeks direct application within Christian churches, but are finding use among leaders and members of synagogues and mosques as well. This may indicate that Abrahamic religions of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam share a common biblical anthropology and belief that the God who created humans seeks to interact with them in personal and corporate ways.

Applied to pastoral care and counseling it becomes Pastoral Counseling and Coaching: Compass Therapy in Churches.

The fourth tier of Compass Series works drawn from Compass Theory seeks to apply God's nature as the divine Trinity to every aspect of human life. Compass Theory suggests that God is only omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent, but relational. That is, that the one God of the Old and New Testaments is revealed in and through Jesus Christ as Three Persons who are One God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Applied to a Trinitarian understanding of love, holiness, worship, grace, prayer, human nature, the unconscious, miracles, the devil, science, psychology, philosophy, the Bible, and becoming a Christian it becomes Trusting In The Trinity: Compass Psychotheology Applied.

A fifth level of Compass Series works drawn from Compass Theory seeks to promote a unifying conversation between Protestant and Catholic Christians using the Compass Model. In their marriage Dan and Kate Montgomery have themselves bridged the historical differences between Kate's liturgical and creedal formation as a confirmed Anglican (close in most ways to the Catholic Church), and Dan's Bible-believing and Jesus-centered spirituality (akin to Baptist, Pentecostal, and Wesleyan fellowships). Together they joyfully took a leap of faith to write a crossover book for Roman Catholics that is now commended by Cardinals and housed in the Vatican Library.

Applied to understanding the Catechism of the Catholic Church and a Catholic believer's personality transformation in Christ, Compass Theory becomes God and Your Personality: Revised and Expanded Catholic Edition.

New books on the Compass Theory works-in-progress list include one for a popular readership and one for professional therapists. The general readership book is tentatively titled, The Trinity, World Beliefs, and You. The book for professional therapists and pastoral counselors is tentatively titled, DSM-V and Christian Personality Theory.

Dan and Kate warmly welcome your involvement as compass psychotheology continues to develop in the 21st century!