My research has led me to a few slightly different findings. For instance, you mentioned
that psychology and Christianity have different origins, beliefs, and goals.
Johnson (2010) describes that both Christianity and psychology have as their primary
goal the search for truth, with theology seeking the truth via revelation and psychology
via observation. Furthermore, Sproul (2000) suggests that psychology and Christianity
have congruent roots in the work of ancient Greek philosophers, in particular the work
of stoics and epicureans.
It's undeniable the existence of significant distinctions between philosophy, theology, and
psychology. It is also possible to perceive the similarities and how each domain has
affected one another over the years, including the focus on improving human life
(Johnson, 2010).
Many ideas that are nowadays seen as unsophisticated (i.e., Thales of Miletus's
perception of water as the unifying substance) were, thousands of years ago, innovative
and crucial to the birth of scientific approaches to search for truth. Questions raised
about the validity of well-accepted knowledge are vital to ignite debates and generate
new lines of thought.
In one way or another, psychology and Christianity encourage us to maximize our
potential, and by doing so, we honor God by fulfilling our calling (Esqueda, 2014).
Thank you for your response, however, I have not read “The Consequences of
Ideas: Understanding the Concepts that Shaped our World. Crossway” but as of
this past Saturday have started to read some of the chapters. I guess you
could look at Christianity and psychology having congruent roots if you view c if
form a heuristic view point. It's important to remember the differences
between the Stoics and the Epicureans, the Stoics cared more about virtuous
behavior and living according to nature, while the Epicureans were about
avoiding pain and seeking the necessary pleasure.
c c With this understanding, Christianity could have similar joining roots if you
view it as God being nature, and psychology being comparable to having the
avoidance of pain and seeking pleasure or scientific facts. It’s an interesting
read, thank you for sharing, however, depending how you view psychology and
Christianity you could draw different conclusions to findings based off of
reference points or individual experiences. This is true for any type of context,
based on reference material and life experiences.
c c I believe that the more facts that come from uncovering biblical history, the
more psychology regardless of the origin are going to be more incline to
support each other. The past does not stay the past forever, once what was
thought to be theory becomes reality as we progress on our discovery’s of the
past. As we evaluate the differences and similarities between Christianity and
Psychology as it relates to truth, we can determine that it is a great debate.
You clearly laid out the operational definition of each area which makes it clear
and concise to take a stance on where we can see a fit. Looking psychology
as a science one can claim that science is what is most prevalent because
empiricism is critical when looking at cause and effect. We need observation
and trial & error as environment and society play a factor in determine how
individuals think, act and feel. However, it is Christianity that has laid the
groundwork in the evolution of being and what it right from wrong, moral &
ethical as individuals engage and interact with one another.
In your discussion, my takeaway is that you believe that there is more of a
connection than opposing challenges between modern psychology as a science
and Christianity and after reading your thread as well as reading Wolters
(2005), I must admit that I also conclude the same. Modern Psychology and
Christianity play a key role with one another. He says that Christians have
confessed that Scriptures have the authority of God and this is supreme over
everything else. Whereas Johnson (2010), states that faith connects the science
of psychology not only by motivating scientific inquiry and sensitizing
individuals to implicit values in so many other ways.
This has led me to believe that Christianity has been scripted for us so that we
can prove its theories with the psychology of science.
We share the same thoughs on the combination of Psychology and Christianity,
Christianity adheres to what is written in the biblical records while psychology
centers concepts concentrating on the mental status of an individual. Johnson
(2010), acknowledged the value and difficulty of this challenge for individuals
who desire to be both Christian and psychologist, as well as the ability to
establish a basis for the integration. In the past, these two have been viewed
as polar opposites, when in fact they may be they share similar focuses.
Your reflection on how we were raised with Christian values and how we act
and react our shaped by those concepts. As Baptists, we were taught that
being submerged in the water was the practice of being baptized, whereas
Methodists believe that being sprinkled is sufficient. I truly believe this is how
we have so many denominations because they have read the bible and made
their own interpretations as to how those scriptures should be viewed. If God’s
word, said it, then that settles it. At the end of the day, there will not be
separate sections of heaven geared to what your specific denomination was on
earth. I feel strongly that the study of psychology can be viewed similarly, we
might not agree with every aspect, but we can agree on its benefits to
maintaining mental health because if you are not right mentally, you can be
right spiritually. God has promised power, love, and a sound mind (Holy Bible,
New King James Version, 1982/1994, 2: Timothy 1:7). With the cohesion of
these two, the results would significantly be favorable, there is something we
could use from each to gain knowledge on how to live a mentally healthy life.
c c Thank you again, I’m going to read more on the references you provided,
especially the book “Psychology and Christianity: Five views” to gain a better
insight on the text and the authors perspectives and beliefs.
References
Esqueda, O. J. (2014). Biblical worldview: The Christian higher education foundation for
learning. Christian Higher Education, 13(2), 91-100. https://doi-
org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.1080/15363759.2014.872495
Johnson, E. L. (2010). Psychology and Christianity: Five views (2nd ed.). IVP Academic.
Sproul, R.C. (2000). The Consequences of Ideas: Understanding the Concepts that
Shaped our World. Crossway.
