Dr. Davis Publishes on Attachment Theory and Doctrine of Adoption
Dr. John Jefferson Davis, senior professor of systematic theology and Christian ethics at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, has published a new article in the Journal of Psychology and Theology titled, “Attachment Theory and the Doctrine of Adoption: Making the Connections.”
In this probing article, Dr. Davis integrates key concepts from attachment theory, a foundational framework in developmental psychology, with the doctrine of adoption. Drawing on both Scripture and advances in neuroscience, he illuminates a path to emotional and relational healing, especially for believers affected by insecure maternal-infant attachments.
Dr. Davis advocates for “‘whole-brain’ meditation on biblical texts portraying God as firmly attached and affectionate toward believers.” He suggests that this practice can help reframe distorted images of God and support emotional healing in Christian communities. Through this work, Dr. Davis contributes to the retrieval of adoption as an effective and healing doctrine in Christian theology and ministry.