Psychology and Christianity

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1 Psychology and Christianity: Integration Alyson Jones Liberty University Online PSYC420: Psychology and Christianity Dr. Gilbert Franco December 13, 2021

2 Introduction Psychology and Christianity are two very different branches of learning that are both studied because people want to know more about the creator and what the creator has created. With this in mind, it is important to realize that the two studies can indeed be combined when done correctly, meaning, combining them in moderation. Adding God to psychology is a better way to go about it instead of adding psychology to God. God is never changing, so we shouldn’t be trying to add or subtract anything from God. He created humans in his own image, which means he knows a lot about how the human brain works and why it does what it does. He should be the first source of knowledge. It is to be said that after careful consideration of the models of psychology and Christianity, that the rebuilders model best shows the relationship of Christianity and psychology. Methods of Knowing There are four different methods of knowing. The first method is authority. This is a method that is being seen a lot these days. Knowledge through authority means that knowledge is being passed down by a parent, a teacher, a doctor, or a scientist. Not all the knowledge received in this method is going to be accurate, however. For it to be accurate is must come from a reliable source, not social media. The second method is Logic. This is the assumption that we can separate fact from belief by looking at what is rational (Entwistle, 2015). There are two branches of logic, deductive and inductive. Deductive logic is establishing truth by evaluating and combining thoughts based on standard rules. Inductive logic is developing generations based on initial observations (Entwistle, 2015). The third method of knowledge is empiricism, knowledge

3 that is gained through experience. The fourth method is hermeneutics, and that is the knowledge that is gained from interpretation, particularly, interpreting the Bible. The methods of knowledge that are appropriate for Christians to use when integrating psychology and Christianity are logic and hermeneutics. These two methods relate closest to the rebuilders model of integration because they focus on God. That isn’t to say knowledge cannot be gained from an authority or from experience. If a Christian is to gain knowledge from an authority, they must make sure that that authority is speaking with words that honor God and are truthful. There is so much misinformation and so many lies going around that Christians will need to use discernment in everyday life, to determine if the knowledge they are receiving is truthful or not (Entwistle, 2015). Knowledge gained from experience is just that, gained from experience. This type of knowledge will come with time and from learning from mistakes. It is not immediate and will help one grow over the course of their practice. It isn’t something that should be relied on in the very beginning because learning is still taking place. Just like learning a new job, you make mistakes, you learn from the mistakes, and you pass on the knowledge gained from the experience you have gained, further down the road. Receiving knowledge from God is the key to receiving truthful knowledge. Proverbs 1:7 (NLT) says, “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Humans are foolish is true knowledge is ignored and they live in ignorance. Rebuilders Model The rebuilders model is a model that focuses on Christian psychology. This study, unlike it’s modernized counterparts¸ says that psychology is the study of human beings (Entwistle, 2015). Christian psychology does not fully reject the ideas and teachings of modern psychology,

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4 however, it is skeptical of it. The people who use the rebuilders model do not expect Christianity and psychology to get along so swimmingly that they are writing poems to each other, as they know that there will always be tension between the two studies. There will always be moments where the two studies disagree and do not get along, but that is what can make them work so well together. They can act as puzzle pieces so to speak. They each contribute something that the other does not and fill in the little gaps. Secular psychology does not recognize Gods sovergnity over all things on this planet, and it does not recognize God’s authority over humans lives. Christian psychology does though and that is one space where they can fill in each others gaps. Christian psychology also agrees with the two books. It uses the book of God’s word and the book of God’s creation in order to successfully combine psychology and Christianity. Strengths and Limitations Every model has strengths and limitations built into it and the rebuilders model is no different. The strengths of the rebuilders model are that it maintains a clear view of God’s place in the world. God created man and, in the process, he created man’s brains. With that came the creation of emotions. With the fall of man, came mental health illnesses and mental health issues that stem from trauma. Even though God did not create the mental health illnesses and issues, that people suffer from today, he still knows everything about them and the best ways to combat them. He is the first and last one that psychologists should seek help from. The second strength is that is doesn’t discount all of what secular psychology has to say. While secular psychology is not rooted in God or in faith, it can still be solid psychology. God still gifted people, even people with secular beliefs because everyone is his creation, with knowledge. There are many things that have come out of secular psychology that are life saving to people out there and that

5 shouldn’t be discounted. The third strength is that is recognizes that there will be moments where psychology and Christianity will not mesh how they want them to, no matter how hard they try. There will always be times where certain theories or studies of secular psychology do not mesh with Christianity. It doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be used or listened to though, it just means that it will take a different approach and discernment will need to be used as well. One weakness that this model has is that it can require a lot of discernment in determining what knowledge is best used from what sources of information. There is a lot of information out there about psychology and a lot of it can be seen as not good. Sometimes with so much information, things can become confusing or overwhelming and they may not want to dig very far. Another weakness is that this model isn’t just one sided. It could make helping certain clients, difficult. Some clients may not even want a clinician’s help if they know they are combining Christianity into their session. There will have to be a lot of discussion between the clinician and a potential client. The third weakness is that it can be very easy to lose the “everything in moderation” model. It can be very easy to take too much of one thing and overpower the other. That’s not to say that too much of God is a bad thing, however, it can cause someone to not see the helpfulness in secular psychology. It can also turn away potential clients who could possibly need to hear to word of God. God did create everyone on this planet, including people with secular or no beliefs at all. There is secular psychology that came from God, because he gave that researcher a gift to help people.

6 Conclusion Psychology and Christianity are two studies that can be combined successfully when using the rebuilders model. The rebuilders model allows for room on the Christian psychology side and on the secular psychology side. It sees the usefulness of both sides of psychology and allows both sides to be used in unison. 1 Corinthians 6:12 says, “You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’ – but not everything is good for you. And even though ‘I am allowed to do anything’ I must not become a slave to anything.” This verse explains that things in moderation are good. Things not in moderation overtake our minds and souls and we become a slave to it. This can be said if psychology and Christianity are not integrated moderately and correctly. One will overtake the other and it will become a giant mess. Integrating psychology and Christianity comes with a lot of care and needs to be done in a way to simultaneously honors God and professionally helps the people who need it.

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7 References Entwistle, D. N. (2015). Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity, 4th edition: An Introduction to Worldview Issues, Philosophical Foundations, and Models of Integration (3rd ed.). Cascade Books. T. (2021). NLT Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition (Red Letter, LeatherLike, Purple, Indexed) (Indexed ed.). Tyndale House Publishers.

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