According to D.G. Benner, psychology has always been with Christianity. Long before psychology developed as a separate discipline from philosophy, Christianity was actively involved in the study, development, and understanding of psychology. Such work is to be found in the theological study of the soul, an important topic in theology since the earliest times. However, with the development of the Freudal theory and the rise of Liberal theology, the Evangelical Christian community gave up its pursuit of a biblically informed psychology. Thus, psychology eventually became an enemy of Theology. Jay Adams stands out as one of the most prominent proponent of this belief. However, the climate of mistrust between Christianity and psychology has slowly been bridged in the last two decades. Christian pastors who have pastoral counseling courses in their seminary training are becoming more and more open to the use of psychology in their ministry. Some even claims to have been benefited by their psychological insights.
***Information taken from Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Bakers Book, 1984.
Merriam Webster dictionary defines “psychology” as the science of mind and behavior. By its definition, psychology does not seem to contradict theology. Why then is theology in conflict with psychology? Is psychology in itself bad? Or, isn’t it better to assume that psychology became bad only because people with depraved mind maliciously manipulated its practice?
You need more information on your about me. I am a pastor, and I agree with your assessment. Seminaries need more psychology as a requirement in their mdiv programs
Thank you Bob for visiting my blog, and also for your comments. I have added some more information about me. God bless!
You might find some interesting reading on this site : http://www.sntp.net/main.htm
Personally, I do not believe that psychology has anything to offer the Christian. It is sinful man trying to fix sinful man, rather like the blind leading the blind.
Is there not a wealth of information about living in just the beatitudes? How about meditating on the fruits of the Spirit, or learning the “love” chapter of 1 Corinthians 13? Psychology can only ever address the “fruits” of our lives with a topical application of symptom relief, as opposed to finding the roots (sin) and delivering us. The Word of God, dwelt on and hidden in my heart, with the work of the Holy Spirit, will lead me and guide me to all truth. What more can you ask for?
Thank you for your comments. By the way, I visited the site that you recommended. Indeed, psychology is base purely on human ideas and reasoning. But these ideas and reasoning was a result of long years of study of human behavior and mind. How, why, what makes people act, think this way or the other. When I endorse psychology as a help, I see it as a means of understanding people’s behavior and mindset. Missionaries knew very well the benefits of such understanding. And I dare not endorse clinical psychology. I hope I had clearly defined my parameters when I used the term psychology. God bless!
Thanks for clarifying Psalm375. One of the other difficulties I have with the practice is the propensity to look backwards, and in that looking backwards to find someone or something to blame for our current weaknesses.
By contrast, in the Word we are told to leave behind the old things (forgetting that which was former) and to press on toward the prize, to run the race with our faces set forward. When we are told to examine ourselves, it is in the present, and it is with the purpose of seeing if we be in the faith, or if we need to repent, or need to forgive a brother in Christ. Thereby, taking responsibility for our own weaknesses.
Thank you for this interesting conversation.