Monday, March 4, 2013

The words "Christian" and "psychology" should never be together



I received a note today that reads:

“The words "Christian" and "psychology" should never be together - that's like an oxymoron. I agree with the fact that psychology of any sort is anti-Christian. They are two heavily opposing world views.” 

Understanding the comment requires an answer to the question, “what is psychology?” If you define Psychology one way, then the writer is right on. But if you define psychology another way, the writer couldn’t be more wrong. 

Is Psychology the same thing as Freudian Psychotherapy? Is Psychology nothing but theories about naturalistic causes and cures of mental pain and suffering? Is Psychology the same thing as its modern worldview assumptions?  If so, then the writer is right. 

But if Psychology is more than Sigmund Freud, Prozac, and Ritalin, if it is more than its modern philosophical assumptions, then it is not inherently anti-Christian. Psychology is the study of the Psyche; the mind, the soul, the brain, our behavior, and our nature. Psychology is the study of God’s grandest creation – us.

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