Are Christianity and Psychology Compatible?
The argument that Christianity and psychology are not compatible with each other is based on the rationalization that because many trace the origins of psychology back to men who were not Christians; men like Aristotle and Plato, psychology itself must be ungodly. When we add to that the realization that men like Sigmund Freud were contributors to this body of knowledge, and that’s enough to seal the tomb on psychology for some believers.
Most of the time the Christian arguments against any use of psychology at all involves the following thought process:
- Psychology teaches us that we are only the product of our environments,
- therefore we believe that we are not responsible for our own actions,
- therefore we place the blame for all of our troubles on anything and anyone except ourselves,
- thereby creating a victim mentality.
- Furthermore self-esteem is paramount.
The problem with this line of thinking is that although we understand that we are not merely the products of our environment, we cannot deny that our environment does a great deal to shape who we are and what we become. There is also no evidence that the use of psychology requires a belief that people are not also products of their genetics, creation, or any other factor outside of environment. Whether the origin of our personalities are God-given, developed after birth or a combination, I’ve not heard of many types of therapy that depends on teaching the patient that they are not responsible for their actions. It just seems rather counterproductive.
Christianity and science
Most Christians would not argue the point of view that Christianity and science are not compatible. We seem to be able to understand that some scientific discoveries were made by non Christians, but that the science itself is still the domain of the God who created it.
There is no doubt that most fields of science have become so intermingled with tenets of naturalism, humanism and evolution, that it is extremely hard to unwind the propaganda from the search for pure knowledge. I cannot count the times I have lamented after turning on a show on the Discovery Channel or the History Channel, that I have had to explain to my children how the supposedly scientific documentary is full of men’s fables, opinions, and untruths. Still, most Christians realize it as a noble pursuit to attempt to unwind the truth from the fiction. We certainly do not throw the scientific baby out with the humanistic bath water. We realize that science is an explanation of how God’s universe functions. We have seen multiple times in the past how the Godless of the world attempt to pervert anything that’s good and pure for their own devices.
The question then becomes not, “Is Christianity compatible with psychology?” but rather whether psychology is a science in the first place. If it is, then we owe it the same respect that biology, anatomy, physics, cosmology, and every other field of science is due; we separate the meat from the bones, eat the former and throw away the latter. If psychology is not a science, then we should put it in the same mental container in which we also put astrology, horoscopes, biorhythms, and a host of other forms of witchcraft and silliness. There’s just one small hitch: Psychology does not belong in the same wastebasket with those other fields of study, (a phrase I’m using loosely here,) because the study of the psyche is indeed based on empirical evidence and the scientific method.
Multidimensional humans
As human beings we are extremely complex. It could be argued that some non Christian psychologists and psychiatrists believe all of our problems stem from an issue of the psyche, although I think to argue from this point of view is actually just setting up a straw man that we can easily knock down. Obviously there are many different facets to being human. Some of our problems are psyche related, but some are spiritual, and some are physical, and others are mental or social.
As a Bible believing Christian, I believe that the solutions to all of our problems can be found through a relationship with God, our creator, and in the pages of His Holy Bible. Unfortunately, some Christians who are opposed to psychology believe the same, and use this belief to dismiss psychology, claiming that God is the only therapist they need. These same people, though, look outside of the Bible for medical help or for the vast majority of their educational needs. I’m a realist; I recognize that sometimes even people who know the Bible very well have trouble finding the answers to the dilemmas they face. I, for example, have been in the position of being so blinded by grief that I couldn’t have seen the answers if they had been written on a neon billboard. It often takes a kind word from a friend or wise counsel from a trusted adviser who knows the Bible and who is praying for us to find the solutions to our issues. While there can be no healing without God, that doesn’t mean that we do not need the help of other believers in the times of our greatest need.
What is accomplished through psychology?
I think perhaps that many Christians who are completely against psychology believe that the whole of the science is merely psychotherapy, which is admittedly a field that is highly perverse and filled with many flaws. In fact if we’re going to argue that psychology and the Bible are at odds with each other, we should also point out that there are many psychological theories that are at odds with each other, and psychotherapeutic theories are the seat of much of the interdisciplinary strife. But psychological professions address so much more than just psychotherapy; the evaluation of children for learning disabilities, helping with people addicted to various substances, assisting people through the family conflicts, counseling people through changes in their lives, etc.
Summary
In summary I believe that psychology is just another field of science in which we seek to learn God’s truth. As it is with every other field of science, it attracts people of all beliefs; after all, who isn’t interested in knowing how the universe functions? And, as with every other pursuit in which we have to deal with non-believers, we are forced to separate the truth from the lies. Fortunately we have been given God’s Holy Spirit to help us in this endeavor. I would suggest that if a Christian were to find himself in need of counsel, that he find a Christian to help. It is essential that the science of psychology be understood on the basis of biblical presuppositions, and not the naturalistic foundation secular psychologists stand on. Psychology CAN be a rival religion, but then again, so can physics.
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. Psalm 1:1
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