The Impact Of Neuropsychology On The Christian Faith

No doubt that in the book written by David N. Entwistle Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity, the author leaves the truths embodied in his book. Truths that for many to this day are still trying to accommodate in their vast knowledge they have concerning the psychological science. Many still fail to understand that both psychology and theology when they go hand in hand they can become allies in treating those who for one reason or another have external and internal conflicts.

Enwistle’s book, Integrative approaches to psychology and Christianity: An introduction to worldview issues, philosophical foundations, and models of integration (2010) is a text that explores integrating psychology and Christianity. We start out by learning about integration related to both psychology and Christianity. Is this a thing? Is integration between these two subjects a subject itself? Enwistle explores through time to reveal how psychology and Christianity have been both closely studied and intertwined throughout time. Enwistle (2010) defines Christian psychology as “ a commitment to a Christian worldview that shapes how psychology is studied and applies, and that recognizes that there are specific Christian resources that uniquely reveal crucial aspects of what it means to be human (p. 14). Those in the psychology or counseling field who are also Christian have unique and different approaches but they draw from both Christianity and psychology to help them succeed.

The first position by David G. Myers titled, “A-Levels-of-Explanation View,” who is a psychological scientist who supports that Christian theology and psychology are two very distinct disciplines, but they do share similar goals. Myers defines psychology as,

Evidence has linked a strong relationship between spirituality and medicine. There is a positive correlation between a patient’s spirituality or religious commitment and health outcomes. A spiritual assessment as a part of a health assessment is a practical step to incorporating patient’s spiritual needs into practice. The FICA Tool and HOPE Questions provide serve to assist clinicians in the spiritual assessment process. By examining the research done using these tools, it has been determined that the FICA Tool is easy to use and provides basic data on a patient’s spirituality. The FICA tool is both reliable and valid. The HOPE Questions are

Today, the integration of Christianity and psychology is becoming more increasingly recognized. The integration begins with understanding the sinful state of the human condition as viewed from a biblical perspective. It continues with being faithful to Christian stewardship and not only embracing theology but also the psychology of human behavior (Entwistle, 2015). A more accurate and complete understanding of human nature and function is provided through the integration of Christianity and psychology. The Allies model confirms that Christian theology and psychology are both subject to God’s authority, and exemplifies the best integrative relationship between Christianity and psychology (Entwistle, 2015). This paper will discuss the integration of Christianity and psychology through the Allies model. It will define integration, review reasons and explanations of why Christianity and psychology should be integrated. As well as look at different methods of knowing, the Allies model concept, and the two books idea along with strengths and weaknesses of this model.

Within the psychology field and in society, there is a common belief that theological principles, scripture, Christianity, and psychological principles are not compatible. Instead they believe that modern psychology is secular, scientific, and sacrilegious. However, many Christian psychologists and counselors, organizations and associations such as the Society for Christian Psychology, are striving to unite, integrate and incorporate Christian values, principles and knowledge into modern psychological counseling, research, and practice. Two of the main perspectives that tries to merge the two principles and theories is the Integration perspective and the Christian Psychology perspective.

With little training, Traig was unfamiliar with most of the practices of her religion that she insisted upon being converted to, to officially identify with the system of faith where she felt she most belonged. This led to behavior that constitutes as more odd and obsessive that religious, as in the minds of Traig’s loved ones and observers, as well as herself. Obsessive Compulsive Disorders often leave the one with the mental illness feeling helpless, because they are very aware of the irrationality of their decisions and behaviors, but feel so distressed by not appeasing their compulsions that they are left with little control over their own lives. Jennifer Traig found herself in this boat that many sufferers face, in which reaching out to ask for help feels nearly impossible because it means that others will have to understand and not offer judgement, the obsessive compulsive has to admit to her behaviors that often

This paper will be reviewing the book “Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity: an introduction to worldview issues, philosophical foundations and models of integration, by David N. Entwistle. As the title states, this book discusses how to integrate psychology and theology. It also dives into to why it is so important to be able to integrate the two. Entwistle explains that just because the two are different does not mean they should be separated and that we have to use both our worldviews. “Weaving together perspectives from psychology and Christian theology can help us understand and appreciate humanity more fully than we could either perspective alone.” (p.3)

In this paper, I discussed my personal theory regarding the integration of Christianity and psychology, as it relates to my beliefs, and how the summation of these two components will be reflected in my future counseling practice. I considered several factors that were critical to my personal counseling theory. First, I considered the human personality, such as, individual differences, motivations, and human development. Each person is unique; however, both Christianity and psychology have discovered common threads that are woven throughout the human race, and I believe that information is imperative to the counseling process. Next,

Psychology, Theology and Spirituality in Christian Counseling by Mark R. McMinn (McMinn, 1996) covers a Christian counselor's life in and out of counseling sessions. McMinn's book is dedicated to recognizing and developing the relationship between counseling and Christian faith rather than a dry Theology. This resource work divides the discussion into 8 chapters, each addressing a vital aspect of Christian psychological counseling and each having a section outlining challenges, methods and anticipated outcomes. The first chapter is co-written with James C. Wilhoit and stresses the importance of the counseling/faith relationship while presenting various challenges confronting the counselor and possible approaches to facing those challenges. The second chapter enumerates the Christian faith's major

Psychoanalytic therapy is seen by many as an unorthodox way of helping people recover from psychological problems. Psychoanalytic theory is made up of two hypotheses, psychic determinism and dynamic unconscious. Psychic determinism “implies that mental life is a continuous manifestation of cause-related relationships, and that nothing happens by chance” (Merydith, 2007). However, dynamic unconscious implies that a various amount of basic needs, impulses, and desires are out an individual’s consciousness (Henderson & Thompson, 2016). In contrast, coming from a Greek Orthodox perspective human nature is seen from the eyes of the Lord. Growing up in this denomination it has taught the parishioners that they were made in the image of God. They have worth and value in this world and it is important that they know this.

Psychology and religion are two fields of inquiry that are intimately related despite not initially seeming so. Humans have been engaging in religious thought for as long as we know, and possibly since we were first capable of thought. Likewise, psychology is a deceptively old field; although psychology as so named is a recent invention, philosophers have been asking the same questions the modern field does for centuries. Furthermore, both psychology and religion seek to address similar questions. The fields of psychology and religion are more than mere ships that pass in the night; they are unlikely allies in the grand scheme of meaning.

It is well established that adolescence marks a significant period for developmental changes physiologically (Erikson, 1968; Hall, 1904) and spiritually (Good & Willoughby, 2008). Researchers have begun exploring the neural correlates of religious and spiritual development, establishing that there is surge in brain connections and maturation during adolescence resulting in development of abstract thinking skills. At and around the transition to puberty, adolescents are able to perceive and consider multiple perspectives of their beliefs, especially in the light of reasoning, evidence, and rational thinking (Byrnes, 2003). Since this abstract thinking is targeted towards non-concrete ideas and deductive reasoning, concepts of religion and spirituality are subjected to reason as well. Adolescents are better able to test hypothesis related to beliefs such as spirituality, therefore engaging in more spiritual exploration than their younger counterparts (Chapell & Overton, 1998). Despite the unique developmental changes associated with puberty, available empirical evidence of spiritual conversion and commitment is still lacking in longitudinal evidence (Donelson, 1999).

Religion, 84% of the world can identify to at least one. We think of religion like going to church every Sunday or one of the reason’s why we get some Fridays off every year. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, religion is “commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance.” But did the establishment of religion aid human development? The answer is quite simple, religion enhanced people’s knowledge, affected both collective and social learning and separated communities positively and negatively.

The effect of spiritual disciplines on neurobiology is interesting. Overall, research displays that there is a significant amount of evidence that spiritual disciplines have a positive effect on the brain and body. The US National Library of Medicine published research that endorses this concept. Spiritual disciplines have shown definite neuroanatomical and neurochemical changes in the studies conducted to examine neurobiology. (Mohandas, 2008). Neuroimaging studies display that spiritual practices activates the major neurotransmitter systems of the brain. The neurotransmitter alterations contribute to decreasing anxiety and depressive symptoms and in part explain the neurophysiological and neurochemical changes observed in spiritual practices.