The Biblical Mind Attachment Theory, God’s Presence, & The Image of God: How God Heals Us (Geoff Holsclaw) Ep. #220
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Oct 2, 2025 Geoff Holsclaw, a pastor and theologian known for his work at the intersection of attachment theory and Christian discipleship, sheds light on how our early bonds shape our relationship with God. He discusses four attachment landscapes—how trauma affects our connections—and the healing potential within Scripture. Holsclaw links Jesus’ teachings to secure attachments and emphasizes the church's role in fostering communal healing. Through insights on gratitude and relational skills, he offers practical ways to repair ruptured connections.
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Attachment Science Grounds Theology
- Attachment science studies real child-caregiver interactions to form data-driven models of human bonding.
- Geoff Holsclaw argues this empirical approach grounds theology in how embodied relationships actually work.
Four Attachment Landscapes
- Children form four main adaptive attachment strategies: secure, anxious (jungle), avoidant (desert), and disorganized (war zone).
- Each strategy reliably serves short-term survival but distorts long-term relational health in different ways.
The War Zone's Psychological Risks
- Disorganized (war zone) attachment lacks an organized strategy and often stems from abusive caregiving.
- Research links disorganized attachment to higher risk for severe psychopathology, though not deterministically.
