I was born and raised in a very small town. The church was and still is an
enormous part of my life. My family attended a local church with a medium-size
congregation of approximately 80 to 100 members. c The church fostered an
environment of love, unity, and community. It was common for members to
come together often to support one another outside of weekly worship services;
we were a family. We spent most of our time at church, and even when we
were not physically in the building, our lifestyle would still revolve around the
things of God.
Entwistle states that our identity and worldview were inherently shaped by the
influence of family, church, friends, community, and society (Entwistle, 2015). I
have a sincere appreciation for everything that has contributed to the
development of my worldview. After careful review of the Christian theologies
discussed by Entwistle, I believe that my religious experiences exemplify that of
the fundamentalist perspective. Prayer, fasting, and reading scripture are the
foundations for everyday living. Although it is important that scripture be
adhered to, I believe that the bible should not be used to assert control or
personal influence. c As an adolescent, I can recall often being told that we were
prohibited from attending some events or even wearing certain articles of
clothing “because the bible says so.” c Now that I’m older, I realize that this
response was often used as a method of control to instill obedience. Although
the literal interpretation of the scripture is important, it is beneficial for
fundamentalists to be open to differing views and demonstrate more concern for
the present world (Entwistle, 2015).
I believe that science and Christianity are compatible, but that the Word of God
is the foundation for this integration. I support the position of Pope John Paul II
who believed that Christianity and science can coexist because their truths
emanate from God (Entwistle, 2015, p. 36). There is a requirement for a degree
of open-mindedness from all parties for integration to occur.
Entwistle states that understanding worldviews helps us to think critically about
the assumptions that we make (Entwistle, 2015). Although the lens through
which we see things is inherited; it’s important to consider that our worldview
may not always be right and take opportunities to re-examine ourselves. It is
beneficial to remain open-minded to different worldviews as this gives us an
opportunity for growth by seeing through a different lens.
Reference:
Entwistle, D. (2015). Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity: An
Introduction to Worldview Issues, Philosophical Foundations and Models of
Integration. Third Edition. Cascade Books.
