The Integration Model Of The Integration Of Psychology And Christianity

For Christianity and Psychology to be deemed compatible there has to be an integration between the two. Integration is defined as the combining of parts so that they work together or form a whole. The integration of Psychology and Christianity has four main models: the integration model, against model, of model and parallel model. The integration model which states all truth is God’s truth believes truth is unified and has one source. Therefore, truth of psychology cannot be deemed separate to truth of theology but unified. Given this unity of truth, according to the integration model it is possible to integrate truth of theology with the truth of psychology.
The against model however holds the view that psychology and Christianity are essentially
Carter states that scripture has much to say that can influence our understanding of psychological research, theory, and practice. Psychology is raising questions and providing data that bear on our theological understanding of the human being, and theology expresses divinely revealed truths that speaks to psychology's developing view of humanity
Integration takes place where your Christian faith affects you as a person/professional and also affects how you think, and do your work. Science is not viewed in the traditional empirical manner; rather the person’s controlled beliefs can shape how you build psychology. Bruce Narramore, and John D. Carter’s critique on the integration model was that the Christian's resolve must be to avoid ultimate ties of loyalty to any model of Integration. This is true because all models themselves are human constructions and thus beneath us; this would be true even if we were not fallen. Our fallen condition simply adds a practical reason (i.e. We cannot take human theories seriously because they are, in principle, fallible.) to the eternal wisdom which says that the creator does not bow down to his
Psychology is treated as a valid and necessary science or profession and theology or Christianity is viewed as a helpful, personal societal phenomenon. Their views run parallel to each other but will never truly integrate. The researcher chose this view because even though Christianity and psychology has similarities such as promoting self-understanding/awareness, promoting behaviour change, providing tools to improve/develop self and functioning at a high level. The disagreements noted contradicts the similarities proving it is better to think of psychology and Christianity/theology as two disciplines whose areas of study overlap rather than two disciplines with distinct areas of