Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity

4-MAT REVIEW:

Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity

Paul Cobb

Liberty University

February 2, 2014

SUBMITTED TO DR. C. NOLAN THOMAS

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT

OF THE

REQUIREMENTS OF PACO 507

INTEGRATION OF PSYCHOLOGY AND THEOLOGY

4-MAT REVIEW: Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity

Summary

The integration of Christianity and psychology faces many obstacles, but Entwistle’s (2010) approach leaves the reader with a better feeling concerning ones’ own ability to integrate these two seemingly diametrically opposed terms. Benefiting from his own experience as a psychologist, the author approaches his study as an evangelical Christian, thus qualifying him to write such discourse concerning the integration of the two disciplines. Entwistle states at the beginning of the book that Christianity and psychology seem to go in different directions, but it doesn’t prove that they are enemies of each other, for “they diverge at one point, only to converge again, providing different approaches to understanding human behavior” (p. 1).

The Christian worldview, according to Entwistle, “provides a worldview from which to understand the nature of the world and the nature of humanity” (p. 11); thus, Christians are continually seeking to find ways to see God move in the world around them while recognizing that humanity is fallible and fallen. Integrating Christianity and psychology gives an opportunity to work together to form the necessary approach with which to assist others in seeing themselves in Christ’s perspective.

In Christianity and science, many have seen two opposing forces combating each other ad nauseam, when, in fact, the “foundations of science were paved in part by a Christian worldview” where divine order has set into motion the laws of nature (p. 33). Both are interested in the cause of the issues that plague mankind, and both seek answers as to how to best help humanity move from point A to point...