Several Views to Understand Human Psychology by Eric L. Johnson - Essay Example

Academic review of the book, Johnson, Erick L, "psychology and Christianity: Five views, 2nd Edition”. Table of Contents Introduction 3 Discussion 3 The Challenge of Acknowledging and Understanding People 4 Fundamental Philosophy of Psychology 5 Theology Compared to Psychology 6 Humanistic Theory and Foundational Theory 7 Contribution and Value for Christian Counselling 8 Conclusion 9 References 10 Introduction Eric L. Johnson has edited the book named “Psychology ad Christianity: Five Views”. Johnson has revisited the historical context of the Christian faith and psychology. Eric Johnson has significantly developed an interface between the Christian faith and the discipline of psychology in this particular book. The fifth model of this book has been presented by Todd Hall and John Coe. This specific model can be considered as a transformational view of previous models. Each and every chapter of this book is effectively followed by the short and concise responses from the other essayists. It is true that each and every religion teaches people how to understand discipline of psychology through the correct understanding of human nature. This book also has provided a brief description about how the Christians understand the discipline of psychology through understanding of human psychology and human nature. This essay will provide a book review of “Psychology and Christianity: Five Views”. This book review will highlight several challenges of understanding human nature and perspectives of Christians in determine human psychology. Psychology theories have been undertaken in this study in order to understand the basic philosophy of human psychology. Lastly the essay will discuss the contribution that psychology has to make in Christian counselling. In this part the essay will mention the values for the Biblical counsellors. Discussion This part of the essay will provide an academic review of the book considering the following aspects. The Challenge of Acknowledging and Understanding People The book has been divided into three sections. In the first section, Johnson provided a brief history about how the people of Christian religion have engaged philosophy’s discipline as the significant part of the attempt to realise and understand human nature. In the second section, Johnson has talked about five different perspectives regarding the interaction between modern secular psychology and Christians. In this section, Johnson considered teaching process of the scriptures and criticism by the contributors. In the third and last section, Johnson has approached and suggested a significant way of navigation through the mentioned points and opposed views that are raised and mentioned in the second section of the book (Johnson, 2009, p.320). How Christians should find the meaning of contemporary and modern secular psychology is the major strength of this book. These different understandings are significantly packaged and stores in the bite-size servings. The authors have presented different viewpoints to understand modern psychology. On the other hand, critiques of those authors also have opposed different viewpoints to understand the similar thing. However, each and every mentioned viewpoints and counter parts are slightly different from each other. Most importantly, this specific argument and review can obsolete the blinders that may be faced by the authors and readers while understanding the value of modern secular psychology. It is highly important for the Christian counselling bodies to understand and determine the scope and value of this book, which is more significant beyond just counselling. This book considers broader psychology’s discipline in which psychotherapy or counselling can be considered as a small counterpart. Though there are some superficial similarities between biblical counselling and psychotherapy, biblical counselling is more superficial compared to psychotherapy in its unique framework for conceptualizing living problems. Biblical counselling can be considered as a significant and effective form of discipleship with respect to Christ and modern secular psychology (Tan, 2011, p.79). On the other hand, psychotherapy can be considered as a small attempt to help individuals to understand them. In some extent, psychotherapy helps individuals to understand their issues and problems with respect to their individual goals and current living situation. Fundamental Philosophy of Psychology All the five perspectives presented in this book help the readers to understand the basic philosophy of psychology in which the author sticks to the teaching of Bible about humanity. Philosophy of psychology can be considered as an effective framework, which addresses that research work and theories should be interpret, developed and evaluated in order to understand the modern secular human psychology and human nature. Stant6on Jones and David Myers are the two presenters, who were effectively trained in the development and establishment of psychology. They have high expectations that the psychological research can surreptitiously help to understand human attitudes, behaviours, motivations and relationship. According to the views of Myers, Christians in the field of psychological research need to explore the creation of God and submit their individual ideas for testing. On the other hand, according to the views of Jones, the integrationists also guess that the available scriptures do not provide sufficient ideas to understand human nature and behaviour. He further stated that, there are some aspects, such as intellectual and scientific practical tools that help individuals to make them understand significantly about the nature, psychology and behaviour of the human beings. David Powlison has significantly deconstructed the notion of modern secular psychology in order to lay out the meaning of the term clearly and transparently in modern conversation. He tried to show people how the use of this term compares with different important orienting biblical themes. It is true that, the term psychology has different meanings and several individuals agree or disagree with these meaning (Collins, Johnson and Jones, 2000, p.51). However, generally the presenters focus on the value of psychology, but Powlison has shown his interest in using the Biblical fundamentals and insights to realise, understand and assist the people. It is true that the Biblical counsellors may be unprepared top accept the words of Powlison while reading this particular book, but the Christian counselling bodies should not miss to follow up these readings as it can significantly help in the field of psychology research to understand the nature and behaviour of the human beings in this modern secular world. Most importantly, it can be stated that Powlison has done an effective job of highlighting how an in-detailed assessment of the psychology’s six different uses in the present or contemporary western world can propose several ways of psychological reasoning that differentiates a biblical overview across the globe. Theology Compared to Psychology Theology can be considered as the effective way to study of God. On the other hand, psychology can be considered as how people think and how individuals apply their thought process and how individuals behave after the application of thought process. Psychological theories are superior comparing to the theological studies in understanding human nature and behaviour as the practical and intellectual psychological theories help the individuals to give appropriate responses to the real life situation. But, it is also true that an individual cannot understand and apply psychological theories without understanding the value of theology properly. The integration and psychology and theological studies help people to think about God correctly and appropriately (McCaron, 2004, p.12). People find major problems in determining the nature and behaviour of human beings due to lack of understanding human psychology. Therefore, consideration of both psychology and theology is required. The spirit of biblical counselling effectively helps an individual through his or her difficult times in life. Moreover, it helps that individual to get back on track after offering a meaningful response to the situation. Psychology generally attempts to provide possible appropriate responses to that questions that are raised in the heart of people, but only God can help an individual to meet the needs of their hearts. Therefore, it is true that psychology cannot become effective in understanding the nature of human beings without any consideration of theology. On the other hand, it is also true that theology has been complemented by psychology. In Holy Bible, it has been mentioned that only theology is the major pathway to understand God. On the other hand, it is important for the human beings to consider the help of inner feelings and spiritual power to understand the nature of human nature and behaviours. Therefore, the integration of psychology and theology is highly important to understand an individual’s nature and behaviour (Entwistle, 2010, p.21). God controls and guides an individual to decide what is good or what is bad. On the other hand, modern philosophy theories based on occurrences in surroundings help people to determine the nature of human beings. Following psychological theory will help the readers to guide in understanding modern contemporary secular human psychology, nature and behaviour. Humanistic Theory and Foundational Theory Humanistic theory and foundational theory have been developed by Carl Rogers. In humanistic theory, Rogers have effectively compared the method of understanding human psychology to a particular book of Bible (Rogers, 1996, p.16). This specific humanistic theory has reflected the words and vies of Prophet Obadiah. According to this theory, there are some spiritual forces inside the human beings that are controlled by God. God generally guides people to understand the nature and behaviour of human beings. This Humanistic theory of psychology can be considered as old and classical approach to understand human nature, behaviour and psychology. In foundational theory, Rogers effectively stated that there are so0me external forces too that help the individuals to understand the nature and behaviour of the human beings (Bandura, 2001, p.29). This theory considers the aspect of person-centric therapy approach in which an individual judges other individual through real-life intellectual and practical experiences. These two theories are supported as well as opposed by several critiques and theorists. Most importantly, these two theories have effectively described the process of understanding of human nature, human motivation, human attitude and human behaviour (Worthington, 2010, p.81). From the above mentioned theories, it is clear that psychology and theology both need to be integrated and considered while understanding human nature and behaviour in this contemporary and modern secular era.. Contribution and Value for Christian Counselling It is true that biblical counsellors and Christian counsellors make decisions and develop further strategies based on theological studies mentioned and presented in Holy Bible. But, it is also important for these Christian biblical counsellors to understand the significance of psychology in understanding human nature and behaviour. Psychology can help the biblical counsellors to determine the truth behind every occurrence in this contemporary world (Creationsits, 2012, p.1). The presented psychology theories by the theories are developed based on the constant monitoring and observation of human behaviour and attitudes. Jay Adams, the proposer and founder of the Nouthetic biblical counselling, stated that he believes that each and every Christian is expected and enables by God to counsel other individuals at some point of time in his or her life time. It is true that counselling plays an important role in the Christian ministry and life of every Christian. The legacy of classical theological studies, therapies and approaches are still going on, but, in certain cases the counsellors need to understand the value f modern and contemporary psychological approaches in understanding the human nature and behaviour (Greggo and Sisemore, 2012, p.102). It can help the counsellors to guide the Christians to follow an effective path ways to follow the views of God and understand the aspects of human nature and behaviour. Conclusion It is clear from above discussion and theoretical approaches that the book has effectively described how the Christians need to study the modern psychological approaches in order to understand the nature and behaviour of human beings in this modern secular world. Bible can be considered as an effective media that connects human beings to God. There are several theological approaches mentioned in the Holy Bible to understand the nature and behaviour of the human beings. These are considered as old classical approaches to understand human psychology. However, it is highly important for the Biblical Christian counsellors to consider the value and significance of psychology as the counsellors are the decision makers and strategy developers regarding the following of God by Christians. Integration of Theology and psychology needs to be considered in order to understand the value of the thoughts of prophets and occurrences in this modern contemporary world. This book has proposed several views to understand human psychology. On the other hand, there are several psychologists who have opposed those thoughts. It can be conclusively stated that Christians need to consider and apply the modern psychological aspects along with theological studies in order to understand the nature and behaviour of human beings in this modern secular world. References Book Collins, G., Johnson, E., and Jones, S., 2000. Psychology and Christianity. New York: InterVarsity Press. Enwistle, D., 2010. Integrative approaches to psychology and Christianity. New York: Springer. Greggo, P. S., and Sisemore, A. T., 2012. Counselling and Christianity. London: Sage. Johnson, L. E., 2009. Psychology and Christianity: Five Views. New York: InterVarsity Press. Tan, S., 2011. Counselling and psychotherapy. New Jersey: Pearson. Worthington, E., 2010. Coming to peace with psychology. Stamford: Cengage Learning. Web Sources Creationsists., 2012. What God tells us in the Bible about trying to communicate with the dead, ghosts, with other spirits, reincarnation, psychics and aliens. [Online]. Available at: < http://www.creationists.org/spirits.html>. [Accessed on October 30, 2014]. McCarron, M. J., 2004. An integration of Biblical Principles n Counselling. [PDF]. Available at: < http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1158&context=honors>. [Accessed on October 30, 2014]. Journals Bandura, A., 2001. Social cognitive theory. Annual review of psychology, 12(1), p.29. Rogers, W., Critical approaches to health psychology. Journal of health psychology, 5(1), p.16. Read More