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Throughout the Bible many facts, lessons, and teachings are mentioned, but one thing which is not directly mentioned is psychology. However, just because this subject is not specifically mentioned does not mean that it is not in the Bible. For instance, one way that these two often correlate is in the area of emotion. Another, area is traits and actions that match up in both of these. But, it should also be noted that not all areas of psychology and the Bible match. In the end hopefully each of these points will help show just how these two subjects can be connected, even if it may not always appear so at first glance. The first point to focus on is what it means to say that the Bible and psychology have a connection when it comes to emotion. Emotions are a complicated thing, however, it is easy enough to say emotions are a part of psychology. After all, psychology is the study of the mind and this is where a person’s emotions come from. But, just as emotions …show more content…
However, what he or she may not realize is these two do not only connect, but they can often point towards each other. Though as stated before, it is true that not everything in the Bible and psychology ultimately agree. If someone pays attention though he or she can see that areas such as emotions can be an excellent example of psychology and the Bible working side by side. While if someone were to look at an area such as, human actions and traits he or she would not only see how these two can point toward each other, but also how following the Bibles teachings on this subject can lead to a healthier psychological state. So, in the end though someone may not be able to find a direct passage in the Bible speaking about psychology that does not mean these two are not
Faw mentions two important questions that come up when psychology and Christianity is combined. The first being “the bible’s own claims to sufficiency” (Faw, 1995, p. 18) and the second questioning if nonbelievers can understand and learn the truth. The bible’s sufficiency says that no outside source can be used or relied on however; we still use technology and medicine as it keeps us healthy but if we do use it we should use it wisely and in the eyes of God and his Word. The second concern, that nonbelievers can not understand the truth, states that God is the only one who knows the whole truth and we are just made in his image. I believe that we are all taught something different determinant on how we are raised and this leads to everyone having different viewpoint and differing opinions. This can be a positive thing and can also relate to our views on knowing what is right and what is wrong. We all had a distinctive upbringings and if we were raised to believe one thing is right, someone else in the world may be taught that it is wrong. Even thought we all have differing views on many things, it does not mean that we should not hate, we should accept people for who they
After reading a few of the chapters in "Psychology Through the Eyes of Faith", I feel as if I have learned more in one sitting than many in years of my life. The chapters were not life altering, but simply stated things that I have overlooked. The topics that affected me most were on living with the mysteries of faith, benefits of true rest, and the emotion of happiness. Yes, they are really in no way related, but each of these topics impacted me in a different way, and made me think about what was being presented.
The integration of psychology and Christianity is a rarely touched subject that Entwistle opened the door wide open with this complex and informative book. Entwistle uses is own worldview and research to supply the information for this book with a spiritual twist. Entwistle did accomplish to gather concise information and while also remaining objective. I do think that in the information that was provided I took it as him putting psychology and Christianity on the same pedestal. God is the creator and the maker of all and there is no equal or greater than him. I do feel like integrating psychology and Christianity can open the minds of individuals and show them another way to look at individual
This paper will be reviewing the book “Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity: an introduction to worldview issues, philosophical foundations and models of integration, by David N. Entwistle. As the title states, this book discusses how to integrate psychology and theology. It also dives into to why it is so important to be able to integrate the two. Entwistle explains that just because the two are different does not mean they should be separated and that we have to use both our worldviews. “Weaving together perspectives from psychology and Christian theology can help us understand and appreciate humanity more fully than we could either perspective alone.” (p.3)
“Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity” (2010) is about the purposeful integration of psychology and Christianity. Entwistle, discusses the integration of scripture and nature, holding to historic orthodox Christianity that “Scripture and the natural world have their origins in God’s creativity and revelation” (Entwistle, 2010, p. 136). Theology clarifies the Word of God (Bible), and Psychology corresponds with the works of God. A working definition of integration is offered,
Psychoanalysis teaches that who you are is set in stone. There may be ways of coping with the depression you face, the anger you wrestle with, and the difficulty in relating to others that you struggle with; but in the end, these flaws are a part of you, there is no removing them. Psychoanalysis teaches that while you were young, while you were weak, while you were impressionable, these flaws were formed, rooted, set in you. Christianity has one message, a message of hope, a hope formed in the fact that, as Paul joyfully proclaims in Romans: “while we were still weak…God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
David Entwistle's (2010) Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity is geared more towards Christians with conservative evangelical views and provides the reader an outline to different worldview disputes and truth-seeking groundwork that surround the connection that underlies psychology and theology. In addition to analyzing the possible connection of psychology and theology, Entwisle discusses the consideration of integrating Christian faith with the practice of psychology. “Christian understandings of person-hood, the purpose of human life, our need for God, and the ethical teachings of Christian faith are integral to psychology, not merely parallel to it” (p. 199). Entwistle’s viewpoint on this matter is stated clearly. He believes that it is necessary for theology and psychology be integrated in order to fully understand human nature.
There are a couple of main points that stood out to me when I was reading the article by Yarhouse about sin and its influence on psychopathology. One of these points was the different terminology used to when discussing pathology. The author talked about various ways people chose to describe pathology and how these terms influence how we perceive pathology. The second point that I found to be important, was the Christian explanation of pathology and how this can influence psychology. I think that this point is crucial because as Christians, we have a unique perspective on psychopathology that can be very beneficial to the field of psychology as a whole.
The field of psychology is a discipline, originated from many branches of science. It has applications from within a complete scope of avenues, from psychotherapy to professional decision-making. The flexibility and versatility of this field reflects its importance and demands in-depth analysis. Psychology was a division of philosophy until it developed independent scientific disciplines. The history of psychology was a scholarly study of the mind and behavior that dates back to the beginning of civilization. There are important details from previous theory psychologist, research have contributed to behaviorism approaches and have contributed towards specific current behavioral practices. Contemporary behavior therapy began to emerge into distinct practical and core learning theories concerning the needs and knowledge engaging cultural and professional differences.
The word "psychology" is the combination of two terms - study (ology) and soul (psyche), or mind. The derivation of the word from Latin gives it this clear and obvious meaning:
evaluate these psychological theories while using the truth of the bible as a guide. Doing
Psychology began as the study of the soul. Plato believed the soul was an individual’s belief they are separate from, but also connected to their physical and social environments. Aristotle believed the soul was a set of psychological attributes which he referred to as the ‘mind’ (Garcia-Valdecasas, 2005).
The Bible describes us as tripartite beings made up of spirit, soul, and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23). In a rough, imperfect way, the spirit corresponds to Freud’s Superego; the soul to the Ego; and the body to the Id. The Bible also unveils a struggle between spirit and body (aka Superego and Id if you will) best illustrated by Paul in Romans 7. However, Freud and the Bible part ways in the diagnosis and prescription for humanity’s internal conflict. Where Freud perceives human beings as completely physical in their makeup, the Bible presents man as part physical, part spiritual. While both agree that the body’s desires are in and of themselves amoral, the Bible contends that a spiritual being should not be directed by fleshly impulses. In short, Freud sides with the Id over the Superego while the Bible sides with the spirit over the body” (Wade). The Bible soundly disagrees. Behavior lies at heart of humanity’s disease. Guilt is created when one violates their standards by following what they want to do instead of what they ought to do. The Bible prescribes confession and repentance as the solution. A person is healed when they acknowledge wrongdoing, accept responsibility, and commit to change”
The psychological genre as it relates to sociological and medicinal matters has gained an increasing amount of scientific approval. Impartiality and the scientific method are both integral components to a psychologist’s mode of practice. However, even the most esteemed of psychologists can only speculate at what makes human beings act the way they do. Absolutes play no function in psychology. Everything is relative and open to conjecture. Theologians give us their visions or thoughts about life. In the field of psychology, there have been many different regions of interest and speculation.
In this essay I am looking at where Psychology as a discipline has come from and what affects these early ideas have had on psychology today, Psychology as a whole has stemmed from a number of different areas of study from Physics to Biology,