4-Mat Review Entwistle
4-MAT Review of Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity
Shelby Peters
Liberty University
4-MAT Review of Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity
Summary In his book Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity, David N. Entwistle explores the necessity of integrating psychology and Christianity, the worldview issues, philosophical foundations, models of integration and discusses the difficulty in doing so. It is often thought that there are secular jobs, such as a psychologist or counselor, and there are ministry jobs. Entwistle points out that God has gifted each with abilities and those abilities are best used to serve God and others. He further goes on to point out that “all truth is God’s truth” (Entwistle, 2010 p. 13). Therefore, all truth is authored by God.
A person’s worldview will affect his or her opinion on integrating or not integrating the two. A worldview is how a person looks at the world and the presuppositions held about the world. A worldview effects a person’s understanding of his or her experiences and expectations (Entwistle, 2010). Some assumptions may be close to the truth and others very far from the truth. Worldviews are learned from family, religion, education, media, and society. The formation of a Christian worldview based on an understanding of creation, fall, redemption, and consummation will allow integration to begin.
Psychology and theology both have a mutual interest in human behavior and healing the brokenness in humans. However, they approach the topic with different assumptions, methods, and goals (Entwistle, 2010). Psychology searches for natural explanations for events. Psychologists use empirical evidence and reason to develop theories and analyze data but his or her worldview will influence those conclusions. Christians look for natural and supernatural explanations for events. Christian theology is based on creation,
Shelby Peters
Liberty University
4-MAT Review of Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity
Summary In his book Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity, David N. Entwistle explores the necessity of integrating psychology and Christianity, the worldview issues, philosophical foundations, models of integration and discusses the difficulty in doing so. It is often thought that there are secular jobs, such as a psychologist or counselor, and there are ministry jobs. Entwistle points out that God has gifted each with abilities and those abilities are best used to serve God and others. He further goes on to point out that “all truth is God’s truth” (Entwistle, 2010 p. 13). Therefore, all truth is authored by God.
A person’s worldview will affect his or her opinion on integrating or not integrating the two. A worldview is how a person looks at the world and the presuppositions held about the world. A worldview effects a person’s understanding of his or her experiences and expectations (Entwistle, 2010). Some assumptions may be close to the truth and others very far from the truth. Worldviews are learned from family, religion, education, media, and society. The formation of a Christian worldview based on an understanding of creation, fall, redemption, and consummation will allow integration to begin.
Psychology and theology both have a mutual interest in human behavior and healing the brokenness in humans. However, they approach the topic with different assumptions, methods, and goals (Entwistle, 2010). Psychology searches for natural explanations for events. Psychologists use empirical evidence and reason to develop theories and analyze data but his or her worldview will influence those conclusions. Christians look for natural and supernatural explanations for events. Christian theology is based on creation,
References: Entwistle, D.N. (2010) Integrative approaches to psychology and Christianity: An introduction to worldview issues, philosophical foundations, and models of integration (2nd Ed.) Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers