Exploring the Complexity of the Human Self

Welcome to Episode 177 of the Being Human Podcast: The Mystery of the Human Person with Dr. Peter Kreeft

In today’s episode, Dr. Greg had the opportunity to talk to Dr. Peter Kreeft, a convert to Roman Catholicism, and the author of over eighty books on Christian philosophy, theology and apologetics. Together they explore various topics such as psychology, philosophy, modern therapy, and the integration of spirituality. They talk about how modern societal challenges impact our understanding of human identity. Their discussion also addresses the importance of prioritizing truth and reason over feelings, the distinction between the mask people wear and the true person behind the mask, the balance between intellectual and spiritual pursuits, and the need for suffering in one's spiritual journey.

Discussed in this episode:

• Understanding the concept of personalism and its potential to enhance our understanding of the human self and our relationship with God

• Exploring the mystical and indefinable aspects of the human person and reflections on the self as an image of God and the inherent mysteries in defining the self

• A discussion on modern societal challenges such as the rise of the experience machine, the increasing power of artificial intelligence, and the struggle to maintain human connection in an age of digital distractions

• How the rise of pop psychology and modern therapy techniques have shifted societal values, perceptions of authority and family relationships

• Reflections on the importance of acknowledging humanity in various psychological diagnoses

• An emphasis on the importance of suffering and how it deepens our understanding of compassion and connection with others

• Insights from John Paul II and others on the pursuit of truth and fulfillment, and how this impacts our understanding of the human self

Resources mentioned or relevant: 

Know more about Dr. Peter Kreeft and his works

Bad Therapy: Why The Kids Aren’t Growing Up by Abigail Shrier

Episode 173 - Unmasking Disintegration: Examining the APA’s Stance on Gender Identity

Episode 174 - Healing or Harm? Unveiling the Truth About Bad Therapy

Need help? Schedule a free consultation call with someone on our team to discuss how we can support you;

Learn more about our CPMAP Certification!

Sign up for Being Human, our weekly newsletter, for encouragement on your journey of becoming the best human you can be;

Visit our website to read the CatholicPsych blog, shop in the CatholicPsych bookshop, or discover other resources we have available; 

Download The Integrated App for access to free audio exercises, the Catholic Mindfulness Virtual Retreat, courses, prayer resources, and more; 

Become a member of the Integrated Life Community to get access to every course Dr. Greg has created, plus the opportunity to participate in Integrated LIVE’s - weekly, Mentor hosted Q&As covering topics like boundaries, communication, trauma, forgiveness, and more!

Follow us on Instagram: @catholicpsych. 

Contact us! Have a topic or a question you would like Dr. Greg to address on the podcast? Want to give some feedback about this episode? Email us at beinghuman@catholicpsych.com - we would love to hear from you!

Rate, review, and subscribe

Please help us in our mission to integrate the Faith with Psychology by hitting subscribe and also sharing this podcast with your friends.

Please consider rating or leaving a review of our show. It helps us reach other Catholics just like you who want to become more integrated, whole, and happy human beings.

For Apple podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate 5 stars, and choose “write a review.” Then type your sincere thoughts about the show!

If you haven’t already, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now!