From my view, I believe that with the readings and videos for this week along with
my thoughts on where do science and Christianity meet, I have a somewhat
simple answer, from the world we live in. I believe that the way in which these two
meet are through experience and from that experience one can connect to the
world outside of one’s self.
Science and Christianity have a specific goal at heart and that is to understand
the world around us in a way that can be proven to be true (Elliot & McKaughan,
2014). Humans are creatures of wonder; we have a sense of wanting to always
search out the truth for understanding. When you think of science, one looks to it
for a way to prove something without having any doubt. With Christianity, we live
out our mortal life and seek out understanding.
Science is an absolute wonderful thing to have. Science many times can be seen
by some as contradictory to the bible and the bible teachings. What comes to
mind by this example is that of evolution. These two topics have been the center
of debate from the communities (Uchii, 2008). For God did not allow us to know
everything in His plan. Evolution and the Bible do not clash as we are basing this
in science. We have many biblical figures that lived many years and that in a way
cannot be explained in any other way that mankind has been diluted down so
much since we entered the life of sin. The world is decaying and so is that of
humankind. We also did evolve but not from monkey but rather micro evolutions
that have brought us here to this moment. We must be able to rely that in many
ways we will not know or understand but we always rely on faith and be able to
understand the acceptance of the two.
Psychology has made many leaps and bounds forward. Psychology and therapy
go hand in hand as the bible teaches us that the family unit is where we gain our
core values and that we are to pass on the Word to our children (Vorster, 2016).
Psychology in the form of treating maladaptive behaviors along with other mental
health issues, family is something that is examined and processed in the therapy
room (Bertolino, 2000). Being able to identify and correct the family you will need
to examine where things are broken and maladaptive. In doing so, the therapist
may examine the family faith system and look to see where that supports
treatment.
The Church again is dependent upon strong family values, support, understanding,
and love to name a few. To understand where the Church fits in with psychology,
we must understand that mental health and or illness does exist and that we
must treat it in that manner (Lehmann, 2022). To understand that these two can
exist together is powerful. Mental illness needs a level of understanding and
compassion. The Church is built on that exact same foundation of compassion.
To heal the world, we are to be Christ like, and we show compassion.
References:
Bertolino, B. (2000). Family therapy: A systemic integration. The Family Journal
(Alexandria, Va.), 8(4), 428.
Elliott, K. C., & McKaughan, D. J. (2014). Nonepistemic values and the multiple
goals of
Lehmann, C. S. (2022;2021;). Christianity and mental illness stigma: Critical and
constructive perspectives on blame and social distancing. Journal of Religion &
Spirituality in Social Work, 41(1), 66-89.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15426432.2021.1971593 Links to an external site.
CancelVorster, J. M. (2016). Marriage and family in view of the doctrine of the
covenant. Hervormde Teologiese Studies, 72(3), 1-8.
https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v72i3.3218 Links to an external site.
Uchii, S. (2007;2008;). Peter J. bowler: Monkey trials and gorilla sermons, evolution
and christianity from darwin to intelligent design: Harvard university press,
cambridge, massachusetts, 2007, 256pp. Springer Japan.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-007-0075-9
