FIVE VIEWS: PART 2 - PAPER ASSIGNMENT
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Five Views: Part 2 -Paper Assignment
Five Views: Part 2 -Paper Assignment
Christian interest in Psychology helped to describe how personalities, development,
relationships, and boundaries can be explained using Christian teachings. Christianity and
science were considered fundamental. The Bible and Greek contributions helped in the
psychological theorizing of Christians. According to Church, scriptures and reflection on them
can provide insight into psychological knowledge (Johnson, 2010). All this work showed how
psychology and Christian approaches work to understand human experiences, counseling, and
human problems. However, both approaches differ at several levels, such as sources of
knowledge (Johnson, 2010). This paper will explain the five views and the key differences
among these five views. Additionally, this paper will explain my research interest and how it can
be approached from an integration view.
FIVE VIEWS: PART 2 - PAPER ASSIGNMENT
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The Levels of Explanation View
The level of explanation view is considered a liberal approach among these five views, as
the focus of this approach is scientific knowledge and the biological part of psychology.
According to this view, Christian faith and psychological science connect well, and the levels of
explanation and religion influence a person’s perspective. At different levels, there is no
contradiction in explanation (Johnson, 2010). Additionally, to find reality, several factors,
including ideas, values, and predictions, guide researchers. Johnson also claimed that the faith of
people is connected to psychological research because the conclusions psychologists draw about
people’s behaviors, attitudes, and situations are based on religious ideas. According to the Bible,
“Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils
the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7). However, science gives
different explanations. According to Johnson (2010), confusing distinctions between different
disciplines can create misunderstanding.
An Integration View
According to Hathaway (2021), it is an integration of therapy and Christian faith. The
integration view states that there are fundamental questions and psychological practices are
shaped by answers to these questions. God has provided answers to these questions, although we
got those answers in fragments, or some might be incomplete. According to this view, Christian
psychology should be based on the answers given by God to these questions. These ultimate
answers provide a way to interact with psychology as a science and as a practical profession.
Additionally, only scriptures are considered insufficient to provide a complete understanding of
humans (Johnson, 2010).
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A Christian Psychology View
In Christian Psychology, the Bible has the ultimate authority. Therefore, it should be used
for foundational knowledge in Christian Psychology. Reading scriptures and using Christian
psychologists' work to get a better understanding is considered important according to this view.
There is criticism of this view as all the Christians practicing in the field of psychology are
considered Christian psychologists, although many of them use the integration approach and
biblical counseling approach (Johnson, 2010).
A Transformational Psychology View
According to the transformational view, science and faith are nearly similar. According to
Johnson (2010), this view stresses the importance of redesigning and rediscovering the
traditional way of approaching psychology and its connection with Christianity. This approach
was supported by a theologian, Coe, and a psychologist, Hall. However, it was also criticized for
its lack of practical implications.
A Biblical Counseling View
According to a biblical counseling view, counseling should be based on what Christ
taught instead of psychological theories. To seek recovery from mental problems, forgiveness
should be received from Christ. By doing so, we will be able to love people the way Christ loved
them. However, for non-Christians, there is nothing to offer (Johnson, 2010).
Key Differences Among Five Views
The key differences among these five views are in terms of the source of psychological
knowledge, whether the view is critical or trusting, whether the goal is distinctive understanding
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or universal understanding, and what the primary allegiance is in psychology and counseling.
According to the level of explanation view, psychology, science, and theology are sources of
knowledge (Johnson, 2010). However, an integration view includes scripture and psychological
research as well. From the Christian psychology viewpoint, the source of knowledge is biblical
scriptures, empirical research, and psychology. From the transformative psychology point of
view, personal interactions and transformational experiences are also considered important.
However, a biblical counseling view uses only biblical scriptures. Another difference among
these views is the degree to which they are more critical or more trusting (Vieten & Lukoff,
2022). A level of explanation view is more trusting of the secular view, while an integration view
is more trusting in psychology as a science. A Christian psychology view is more trusting of
Christian psychology, while transformative psychology is more trusting of modern psychology.
Additionally, a biblical counseling view is more trusting of old historical biblical scriptures
(Johnson, 2010).
A level of explanation view, an integration view, and a transformational psychology view
provide universal understanding regardless of religious background. However, a Christian
psychology and biblical counseling view takes a distinctive understanding of human nature
(Johnson, 2010). This perspective also differs on the primary allegiance in psychology and
counseling, whether it should be the church or the broader community of practitioners. Another
key difference is whether the view considers the primary task of psychology as the acquisition of
knowledge or the renovation of human beings (Johnson, 2010).
Research Area and an Integration View
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My research area of interest is ‘Childhood traumatic experiences and how they impact
depressive symptomatology in adulthood.’ Looking at it from the integrative view provides an
understanding of trauma from a psychological point of view while grounding it in a biblical
perspective (Li, 2024). This perspective will help to understand trauma, emotional problems, and
behavioral issues from different psychological evidence-based approaches, such as CBT.
However, integrating faith-based practices into the healing process will improve the chances of
recovery (Li, 2024).
References
Hathaway, W. L. (2021). Integration, biblical counseling, and hermeneutics. Journal of
psychology and theology, 49(3), 257-267.
Johnson, E. L. (Ed.). (2010). Psychology and Christianity: Five views (2nd ed.). InterVarsity
Press.
Li, X. (2024). Applicability of the Hebrew Bible to Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Post-
traumatic Growth. Journal of Religion and Health, 63(4), 2671-2689.
New International Version. (2011). The Holy Bible.
