Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity: an Introduction to Worldview Issues, Philosophical Foundations, and Models of Integration

Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity: An Introduction to Worldview Issues, Philosophical Foundations, and Models of Integration

Liberty University

Abstract

Entwistle, D. N. (2010). Integrative approaches to psychology and christianity, an introduction to worldview issues, philosophical foundations, and models of integration. Eugene, Oregon: Cascade Books.

In his book, Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity: An Introduction to Worldview Issues, Philosophical Foundations, and Models of Integration (2010), David Entwistle sets out to breakdown the history of and differences between psychology and Christianity and different approaches to integrating the two disciplines. He begins the book by presenting arguments for both sides of the issue as to whether or not psychology and Christianity could and should be integrated. Some may argue that psychology and Christianity should not be integrated simply because they are incompatible (Entwistle, 2010). Others may argue that the two should be integrated because Christians are called to do all things “as unto God” (Entwistle, 2010). According to Entwistle (2010), Christians were instrumental in the efforts to develop mental hospitals. Therefore, it is only logical that Christians would begin to practice psychology and participate in the healing process of anyone suffering from mental illness.

The book goes on to briefly discuss the history of psychology and Christianity and how the two were intertwined in the 19th century before getting down to the objective at hand, which is to discuss different approaches to integrating psychology and Christianity. In order to effectively integrate these two disciplines, one has to fully understand the fundamentals of humanity from both a Christian perspective and a psychological perspective. Much of the way humans respond to life’s ups and downs is based on the worldview of the individual. These worldviews serve as filters that lead people to...