Summary
The basis of the book Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity: An Introduction to Worldview Issues, Philosophical Foundations, and Models of Integration by David N. Entwistle is that putting psychology and Christian theology together will help understand people better than using the two separately. Entwistle gives reasons why Christianity and Psychology can coexist and be used together to help make humanity better. The two books of God as described by Entwistle are the book of God’s word and the book of God’s works. This book does not focus on the differences between Christianity and Psychology but more so on how the two principles can be combined to offer better insight into the issues of the world. There are five integration models discussed: enemies, spies, colonialists, neutral parties, and allies all subscribing to a higher goal of community it uses theological and psychological concepts together to lead to better understanding of the truth (Entwistle 2010).
The enemies’ model focuses on Christianity and Psychology as entities they need to be kept separate. The spies’ model talks of how Psychology takes what it wants from Christianity to better its own position on certain issues. The colonialists’ model is based on one taking over the other and therefore leaving the other as second class. The neutral parties’ model is based on each one recognizing the other as long as they do not infringe on the others beliefs or cross into their boundaries. The Allies’ model is based on the fact that truth is known by God and that He is superior over everything. The subscribing to a higher goal of community is the belief that each works together as a team to help humanity. Entwistle believes that when God created humans, He gave birth to psychology/human behavior and when God gave us His word, He established the foundations of theology (Entwistle 2010).
Entwistle is setting the foundation that in order to be a better counselor or