Modern Psychology Vs Christian Psychology Essay

Christian Psychology vs Modern Psychology According to Myers and Jeeves (2003), psychology is “the science of behavior and mental process”. Although, many argue that psychology is not truly a science at all. Christian psychology is the study of behavior and mental process while embracing the Christian faith. Due to Christian psychology being bias to religious beliefs I tis argued that Christian psychology does not qualify as a form of psychology. Modern psychology is and eclectic study of behavior and mental process. There have been many different directions psychology has taken in the past and modern psychology embraces them all to some extent on a situational basis. Christian psychology and modern psychology differ in several ways such as the existence of the “soul”, the unity or separation of brain and mind, the theory of evolution, and the idea of love. Christian psychology is
strongly rooted in faith. Christian psychologist believe that humans have a soul, a part of them that cannot be explained scientifically. They believe that when treating someone mentally you must treat the whole person mentally and spiritually. Modern psychology believes that there is no soul and that our emotions and mental state are all controlled by our brains, therefore, psychological problems can be treated by discovering the mental or physical illness. Modern psychology believes the brain and mind are one. Myers and Jeeves (2003) state that “Changes to the brain by damage or disease result in changes in thinking, feeling, and behaving.”. Christian psychology believes they are very separate. “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (Matthew 22:37, King James Version). The Bible states that the mind exist and works independently from the brain. “Most brain scientist find this dualistic view hard to accept, partly because it assumes something immaterial that science, dealing only with natural phenomena, can’t have any knowledge of.” (Myers & Jeeves, 2003). The theory of evolution has always been a topic of conflict between many scientist and those who believe in the Christian faith. Many modern psychologists believe in the theory of evolution. The theory of evolution is where a species changes physical or behavioral traits to better ensure their survival. Modern psychologist believe that we have evolved through evolution and this is how we have developed our current mental and physical state. Christian psychologist believe that God created us in his image and this is how we have developed our current mental and physical state. Some Modern psychologist have also suggested that we are narrowly separated from the animal kingdom. While Christian psychologist believe we were given dominion and made greater than all other creation through the grace of God. “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26, KJV). Christian Psychologist “might describe love as the God-given goal of human relationships”.
(Myers & Jeeves, 2003). A modern psychologist “might describe love as a state of arousal”. (Myers & Jeeves, 2003). Modern psychologist reduce love to a chemical reaction within our brains, while Christian psychologist believe that God gifted us the ability to love and feel compassion for others. This is also where modern psychologist and Christian psychologist disagree about the hear. Scientifically the heart is an organ that pumps blood through the body, while theologians may agree with this definition, biblically it is also where the emotion love radiates from. Although Christian psychology and Modern psychology have many differences they can also complement each other. According to Myers and Jeeves (2003), “the view that psychological science offers a limited but useful perspective on human nature that complements the perspective of faith.” Science is very useful in understanding many aspects of faith as faith helps fill in the blanks that cannot be filled or explained by
science.