Integration
The Bible gives a very clear look at specific instructions on how to become more
emotionally and spiritually healthy. Giving insightful advice around the aspects of being where it
gives people the ability to see that God cares for how people think, make decisions, feel, and
their relation to others. In 2 Thessalonians 3:16 states “Now may the Lord of peace himself give
you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all”(English Standard Version Bible).
Psychology gives an insight in the emotional and mental dynamics of different
experiences and gives people the ability to enact the instructions that the Bible provides. It gives
the ability to dive deeply into the complexities of how God created mankind. After learning
about all of the different disciplines it has shown that the epistemology model best shows the
relationship between psychological science and Christian faith.
Methods of Knowing
In the text Epistemology is defined as “the branch of philosophy that considers nature,
possibilities, and limitations of knowledge”(Entwistle, 2015). There are three models that show
the certainties of our perception mirroring reality. The three models are naive realist, anti-realist,
and critical realist. Naive realists believe that senses give and provide direct awareness towards
objects as they really are. Naive realists perceive things through their senses, to sum it up.
Another model is anti-realists who believe the complete opposite of naive realists. Anti-realists
have a belief that everything that we perceive has absolutely no relation to reality, and that
theoretical assumptions, individual and community bias determine what we see(Entwistle, 2015).
Finally there is the critical realists they sit in the middle, between, naive realists and anti-realists.
Critical realists have a belief that assumptions and biases determine perception as well as what
we expect and are predisposed to see(Entwistle, 2015).
Entwistle talks about the different methods appropriate for Christians to gain knowledge;
appeals to authority, logic, empiricism, and revelation/interpretation(Entwistle, 2015). The
empiricists have a belief that the true test of knowledge is experience. Now, the logic method of
knowing assumes that by looking at one's rational consistency of reasoning fact and belief can be
separate(Entwistle, 2015). There are two different types of logic, deductive and inductive .
Inductive logic uses specific premises to build up a conclusion that is probable but not absolutely
true. Deductive logic uses general ideas to build specific conclusions.
Empiricism is the method of knowing that is created from our sensory experiences. This
means that everything we know comes from the things that we experience.
Revelation/interpretation is about completely believing in one's faith. Christians who have a
commitment to historical orthodox expressions of faith believe that God has revealed himself
indirectly, through general revelation, as well as through special revelations(Entwistle, 2015).
Hermeneutics is completely about how a person drives meanings from written or spoken words..
Relationship of Psychology and Christianity
Psychology and Christianity both try to seek and explain the concept of man but also
have different viewpoints that make them different and separate from each other. Psychology
goes on to explain human nature in the ways of empirical methods and theories. Christianity is
about having faith. Proverbs 3:5-6 it states “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean
on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your
path”(English Standard Version Bible). This fits alongside revelations and hermeneutics.
Revelation/interpretation is about completely believing in one's faith. Christians who have a
commitment to historical orthodox expressions of faith believe that God has revealed himself
indirectly, through general revelation, as well as through special revelations(Entwistle, 2015).
Hermeneutics is completely about how we drive meanings from written or spoken words. If we
believe in Him and His word perfectly align with the method of knowing seen in
revelations/interpretation and hermeneutics.
Model Views
Epistemology has a few viewpoints. One of them being rationalism and the other is
empiricism, and existentialism. The rational view point of epistemology is when rationalists say
that by using the mind, through reasoning means that one can grasp different truths in various
domains. Rationalists are going to use a lot of tools such as logic, mathematics, ethics, and other
tools that involve basic reasoning for them to gain their knowledge.
Empiricists tend to use more data or clear evidence in order for them to gain their
knowledge. Empiricists use things such as the scientific method so they can test their theories to
gain a better understanding. Finally, there is existentialism, this viewpoint does not really
acknowledge a whole lot throughout epistemology, the model tends to focus more on rationalism
and empiricism. Although when looking at that third viewpoint it gives a whole other way that
one can gain knowledge besides logic and data collection. Existentialists use their own personal
experiences for gaining more knowledge. One may listen to a gut feeling about something
happening and take into account their different life experiences and that they had learned from
those situations.
Strength of Model
Every method has its strength in the beliefs it has. Epistemology has an advantage in the
fact of its modernism, curiositas, and intellectual humility. Modernism had so many benefits for
psychology and is highly known for the production of the scientific method(Entwistle, 2015).
The text talks about medieval scholastics and how they distinguished a difference between the
vice of curiositas and studiositas(Entwistle, 2015). Curiositas is seen more as a limitation where
studiositas is seen as an advantage one can have.
Those who tend to be more studios want to gain knowledge about the world but they also
have an understanding that everything is a gift that should be used and explored within a godly
nature. Entwistle states that we are protectors and stewards of the gifts we are given but we do
not own them or possess them(Entwistle, 2015). By being stewards of our gifts we are more
studios in our ways of gaining knowledge through God and finding a connection with him.
Whenever one is learning about epistemology they can gain intellectual humility. This is
an important vice in model epistemology. Entwistle says that by having intellectual humility one
is able to judge themselves more accurately and they are open to the advice of others(Entwistle,
2015). We need to be open to receiving help and having humility in what we do. Whenever one
does not possess humility their judgment tends to be clouded because they see things as only
being their way or the highway. Epistemology has many more important virtues that one needs to
have and as we learn to follow them we can have a better understanding of Epistemology and
how it connects the worlds of psychology and Christianity.
Limitation of Model
Every method has its own limitations and epistemology is not excluded from its own
limitations. Although modernism had its great benefits to psychology it has created many
difficulties in gaining accurate knowledge. Due to naive beliefs and practices it causes
modernism to collapse unevenly and not completely. From this collapse came existentialism
which emerged as a challenge for objectivism(Entwistle, 2015).
Another limitation to this method is the assumptions and beliefs that are highly held onto
in different cultures and subcultures(Entwistle, 2015). Because of the way people hold onto these
beliefs created a difficulty in the ability to gain more knowledge. All of these assumptions within
the community are what shape a person because those beliefs end up instilled in them growing
up.
Other limitations can be seen within humans' own sinfulness(Entwistle, 2015). Because
people are naturally sinful, it has an effect on their thinking. Sin is something that tries to skew
the way that we see God. The text mentions noetic effects of sin, this effect is seen in larger
sinfulness such as sexism, racism, materialism and others. The Bible has many mentions of how
humans sinful nature clouds their judgment “For those who live according to the flesh set their
minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the
things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is
life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to
God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God”(Roman 8:5-8, ESV).
Sin affects every aspect of one's thinking throughout the day.
Conclusion
After going through and learning about the different methods in psychology,
epistemology is one that can relate to a lot of areas in life and within one’s thinking process.
Epistemology has three different models within itself that explain different perceptions of life,
naive realist, anti-realist, and a critical realist. Epistemology also clearly lays out ways that are
Reference
Entwistle, D. N. (2021). Integrative approaches to psychology and christianity: An
introduction to worldview issues, philosophical foundations, and models of integration.
Cascade Books.
English Standard Version Bible. (2001). ESV Online. https://esv.literalword.com/
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