Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity - Essay Example

allows for a constructive relationship between Psychology and Christian Theology, and its peaceful co-existence in the living the life God has meant us flawed humans to live. The interaction of Psychology and Theology is inevitable because of their mutual interest in understanding human nature and healing its brokenness. There have been times when their principles complemented each other, and other times when there were animosities. Integration reflects God’s desire to reconcile humanity and the larger created realm to Him (p. 81). Thinking Christians can raise metaphysical questions that harmonize with their faith, that supports and strengthens it instead of undermining it when they are introduced to well-considered and clearly articulated world and life-views.

Such questioning has implications for an integrative paradigm. The book discusses various models in describing the relationships of Psychology and Christianity, ranging from the extreme Enemies paradigm which polarizes the “Secular Combatants” (psychology) and the “Christian Combatants” (Christianity), and proposes fierce loyalty to one discipline while rejecting the other. Other models like the Spies, Colonialists and Neutral Parties have tendencies to vacillate between the two disciplines.

The fully integrative paradigm is the Allies. It sees the value of both camps of Christianity and Psychology, that taken together will give a fuller and more accurate picture of the truth. It is a truth that God has revealed in both the bible and in practical life. It is such a credible truth because it comes from the One who reigns supreme over both disciplines. It proposes that in seeking truth, we must study both books of God’s word (the bible, Christianity) and God’s work (the world, people, Psychology).

Comprehensive study of both books will allow mutual interaction of principles which may bring us to understand that all truths is God’s truth. In the event that there are