ENTW E
1
Entwistle Review Assignment
Hanna Kracun
School of Clinical Mental health Counseling, Liberty University
ENTWISTLE
2
Summary
Entwistle book “In ative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity: An Introduction
to Worldview Issues, Philosophical Foundations, and Models of Integration" in chapters 8
through 11. This book looks at the correlation between psychology and Christianity. In the book
he looks at the six models which include enemies, foreign spies, domestic spies, colonialists,
rebuilders, neutral parties, and allies Entwistle (2015). As counselors we use many different
models including these to help different clients. Psychology and Christianity are not normally
looked at together while there is a correlation. Psychology is based on behavior, and observation
whereas Christianity is based on spirituality, and philoso so this can be hard to make a
comparison.
In the eight chapter of Entwistle's book he gives an overview of the models and compares
them to psychology and Christianity. Entwistle explains that different viewpoints may help in
some psychological interpretations, and it can show us how people are interpreting the bible
(Entwistle, 2015). Entwistle also makes a connection between worldviews and the eight models,
due to people’s psychology being affected by their worldview and beliefs.
In the ninth chapter of Entwistle's book he shows the enemy model and how it relates to
religion and psychology. There are two categories, the first being Christian’s combatants. The
second being secular combatants. The comparison between religion and psychology goes back to
Sigmund Freud, who described himself as an atheist. Entwistle expresses his concerns about
people who do not recognize their own antireligious influences. Sigmond Fre and Albert Ellis
found that religious commitment and scientific understanding are incompatible (Entwistle,
2015). Entwistle’s explains that this can happen when atheist psychologists have an unpleasant
experience with religious people, and this can cause them to form a negative opinion about
ENTWISTLE
3
religio n the early centuries around the 20th century, they did not like the idea of psychology
because they felt it was evil. Entwistle says the psychology is intruder, and the church alone
should be responsible for the care of the soul. (Entwistle, 2015).
In the tenth chapter of Entwistle's book he explains the different spices and describes the
advantages of psychological espionage while looking at the benefits of religion, and benefits for
psychological objectives (Entwistle, 2015). Entwistle further looks at spices and describes how
some can be nice and help the world whilst some do it to put others down, he refers to this as
foreign spices and domestic species. The domestic species believes more in psychology than
religion. Whereas the foreign spices compare religion to psychology and look at how they are
related. He mentions the colonialist model which is based on theology and how that can be seen
in psychology. The takeaway from this section is that theology and psychology are related.
The next main model he talks about in this chapter is the rebuilders model. The rebuilders
model is a normative discipline. Christian rebuilders believe that psychology was created by
God, but people have since changed their view on where it came from. They feel that the bible
shows how Christianity and psychology started and how they are intertwined. The rebuilders
model believes in psychology and understands the purpose for why we need psychology. The
rebuilders model and the colonialist models are related in some of the ideas that they hav
Neutral parties relate between psychology and theology. This model allows psychology
and theology to have different outcomes without conflict in the different answers. This shows the
connection between them both while having a mutual respect for each other's outcomes. This
model explains that psychology and theology are not related.
ENTWISTLE
4
In the eleventh chapter of Entwistle's book he discusses the Allies model and how that is
related to religion and psychology. This model believes God is sovereign and can show
psychology and theology relation. The purpose is to explain how theological and psychological
are related. God created psychology to help us in our journey, show discipline, explain
methodology, and show different religions (Entwistle, 2015). This model is important to show
people why they should follow God throughout their lives.
Interact
When first reading these chapters, it was hard to understand the different mode ow
they were all related and different. It got very confusing between the enemies, foreign spies,
domestic spies, colonialists, rebuilders, neutral parties, and allies. I feel that both psychology and
religion are related in some way, and we need both as a society to function prope think all
six models do a good job of explaining why they are both important.
Entwistle wants everyone to understand that while theology and psychology are related,
he feels that theology should come first. Research does show that there is a correlation between
psychology and theology. Psychology verbalizes our theological feelings and behavior, and
psychology allows us to understand theology (AACC, 2019). However, most people feel that
psychology is first and most important because it's based on science and empirical evidence that
they can see. Rather than religion which is based on spirituality, belief, and the unseen. But this
can be changed by people’s worldviews and experiences. One article felt that there was a
difference between psychology and theology. And in this article, they agree with Entwistle in
that theology should come first because psychology is based on theology. But they felt a major
difference between the two were that in Christianity you take responsibility for your actions
whereas psychology has influenced our society that no one is held accountable for their actions
ENTWISTLE
5
(Andrew Wommack Ministries, 2019). I related to this article because I do feel a lot of people
are conforming to society and being induced when it comes to certain things. The bible verse
Romans 2 explains it perfectly “do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s
will” (New International Version, 2011). Based on people's worldviews that can change whether
they feel there is a strong similarity between psychology and theology and their worldviews can
also influence which they thought came first. I personally feel that there is a strong relationship
between psychology and theology. I also feel that theology came first, and it is allowing us to
further our knowledge on psychology.
The model I feel like I relate most to is the Allies model. The model takes psychology
and theology and has them work together to find the answers. I like that it combines both
because I think they are related and that you do need to take in all factors to make proper
judgements. If you have missing information, you will never get the full truth. So, I do think it is
important to look at everything from all angles. The whole purpose of the model is to gain the
truth and to use it for godly ends (Entwistle, 2015).
Apply
With all the knowledge I gained from these chapters I would like to incorporate theology
with my clients. I would obviously ask their permission first, know the client to understand if this
is something they would be interested in, and I would do it in a moral and ethical way that
follows the ACA ethical guidelin he ACA Code of Ethics applies equally to Christians who
should not force their beliefs on to a client (ACA, 2014). So, while it is important to connect
with clients on a spiritual level it is not for all clients. It is important to remain ethical with
clients but if they are open to spirituality. Then I could apply prayer, mediation, theology in
ENTWISTLE
6
relation to their psychological well-being, and the Allies model. I think that I could incorporate
Entwistle's models in my daily practices with clients, because this model is the one, I personally
relate the most to the most.
ENTWISTLE
7
References
American Counseling Association - ACA. (2014). ACA Governing ACA 2014 Code of Ethics.
Council. https://www.counseling.org/resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf
Andrew Wommack Ministries. (2019). . Psychology vs. Christianity
https://www.awmi.net/reading/teaching-articles/psychology_christianity/#:~:text=Taking
%20responsibility%20for%20our%20actions,
ababus%20as%20children%20or%20whatever.
Entwistle, D. N. (2015). Integrative approaches to psychology and Christianity, third edition: An
introduction to worldview issues, philosophical foundations, and integration models.
Wipf and Stock Publishers.
New International Version. (2011). BibleGateway.com. www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-
International-Version-NIV-Bible/#booklist
The American Association of Christian Counselors - AACC. (2019). The dialogue between
psychology and theology.
https://www.aacc.net/2018/12/10/the-dialogue-between-psychology-and theology/#:
~:text=Psychology%20verbalizes%20our%20theological %20feelings, of% 20the
%20process%20of%20recovery.
