I am so excited to be taking this class. b As a budding thought leader in
the field of Psychology it is imperative that we understand where Psychology
gets it truth and knowledge versus the origin of truth and knowledge in
Christianity. b In writing this discussion, I would first like to delve into a few
definitions. A "worldview" is noted to be a person's basic belief system
regarding any thing/topic (Wolters, 2005). A "Biblical worldview" speaks of a
worldview from a Biblical perspective, in which all truth originates from the
word of Almighty God and His creation (Wolters, 2005). It is important to
distinguish the two because anyone can and does have a worldview,
whereas Christians adhere to a Biblical worldview. b Having a Biblical
worldview originates with the Scriptures starting in Genesis 1:1 (KJV) with
the story of Creation and continues throughout God's Holy word ending in
Revelations. Another key definition is Epistemology, which is the study of
knowledge and belief (Wolters, 2005).
Psychology by its very definition is "the study of mind and behavior"
(Merriam-Webster, 1898). b Psychology originates from Greek, psyche meaning
breath, principle of life, life, soul with logia, speech, word and reason
(Henriques & Michalski, 2020). The goal of Psychology includes giving a
secular or non-Christian worldview of the mind and human behavior Wilhelm b
Wundt was a professor of physiological psychology at the University of b
Leipzig, and is considered the father of modern psychology )Johnson, 2010,
p. 19). Scripture says, "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy Word is truth"
(John 17:17, KJV). In other words, Christianity originates from God and His
Word. b Scripture also says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1, NIV). b The goal of
Christianity is to provide man with truth, God's truth, so that man can
receive the gift of salvation that God has freely provided, in order to inherit
eternal life.
When a psychological study opposes God's Holy Word, scripture states that
we as Christians are to examine it through the lens of God's Holy Word. b A
Scripture that comes to mind, sounds pretty harsh, but cuts to the chase on
this dilemma. "God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it
is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest
overcome when thou art judged" (Romans 3:4, KJV). The ultimate end of our
journey is to be able to stand before a Holy God, so we must defend His
Word in this life. b I certainly do not want God to be angry at me at the
end of life's journey, at the time of judgement. b
Modern Psychology fits in the church and vice versa, b as the Bible is a
guideline for living, and does not answer every question. b For example, the
question of Autism and Developmental psychology is not explained in the
Bible. I have a 20 year old son who was diagnosed at the age of three on
the Autism Spectrum. b The course I just took 725 Developmental
Psychology, answered some age-old questions that have been unanswered
thus far on our journey together. The church did not always show
compassion and understanding towards my son in earlier years until a
Psychologist started attending and was able to help my fellow church-goers
to understand my son a bit better.
I believe that modern Psychology and Christianity fit together to a degree as
in my aforementioned last paragraph, I fknow that b God created the brain
and our mind and in all its complexities and in studying the mind, we learn
more about it and how to better help our fellow man. b I close by quoting 2
Timothy 2; 15, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that
needth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" As a budding
thought leader my ultimate goal in my PhD journey is to discover truth.
References
Genesis 1:1. The Holy Bible. King James Version.
Henriques, G., & Michalski, J. (2020). Defining Behavior and its Relationship
to the Science of Psychology. b b Integrative Psychological & Behavioral Science,
54(2), 328–353. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12124-019-09504-4 Links to an
external site.
John 1:1. The Holy Bible. New International Version..
John 17:17. b The Holy Bible. b King James Version.
Johnson, E. L. (2010). Psychology and Christianity: b Five Views. (2nd. ed.).
Intervarsity Press
Romans 3:4. b The Holy Bible. b King James Version.
Wolters, A. M. (2005) b Creation regained: b Biblical basics for a reformational
worldview b (2nd ed.). William B. Erdmans Publishing Company.
2 Timothy 2:15. The Holy Bible. King James Version. b
