The article “How should Christians interact with psychology” does not reject the compatibility of psychology and region outright but does relay that the interplay of both fields is complex. It explains that both contradictions and agreements are shared between the two practices. In fact, because “We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood”, a dialogue can take place in relation to the two fields, namely, faith and science (English Standard Version Bible, 2001, 1 John 4:6). The diverse worldviews within Christian communities also work to blur the lines between what can be perceived as the ultimate truth within the field of psychology. From a religious standpoint, one may interpret Biblical scriptures differently from what they intend to portray. Scripture also provides Christians and psychologists with an illustration of the essence of the human condition, an aspect that creates a link between the two fields.
The conclusion the article draws can be summarized by the fact that the truth through the Bible is authoritative in an approach that psychological studies cannot be. I agree with this deduction, as both Biblical texts and practices depict much more rigidity and self-certainty than any psychological principles, even those supported by physiological findings and evidence (Black, 2020). As a result, the two perspectives provide diverse approaches to individual mental well-being and behavioral explanations. The Bible may vary in specific explanations but relies on many principles, such as the will of God and related concepts, to explain an individual’s state. Psychology lacks absolute and certain explanations for such phenomena and allows for multiple interpretations and reasons for the occurrence of all types of physiological and psychological events. My understanding of integration shapes my overview of physiological psychology based on the idea that religion has been shown to have a more rigid approach. Thus, while physiological psychology may be influential in determining the problem, faith can have the potential to assist in treatment.
References
Black, J. (2020). How should Christians interact with psychology? Cairn University. Web.
English Standard Version Bible. (2001). ESV Online.