2 ORIENTATIONS OF THE SELF

This article defends the view that the Christian orientation of the se lf (i.e., soul) is that of a self-in-relationship-with-God, whereas th e secular view of the self does not include that divine orientation. T hese different orientations lead to rival and incompatible value syste ms. To illustrate the two orientations of the self, this article will examine the secular mental health movement (SMHM), in which the author has been immersed for a quarter of a century. I seek to portray the s pirit of the SMHM as a whole, without implying that any given SMHM pra ctitioner suffers from that spirit. The spirit in question is definite ly not-God-centered and may even promote the self as an idol. An idol is defined as anything or anybody that a person loves more than God.