Philosophical anthropology is a philosophical branch, the purpose of which is to combine different research studies on human nature to provide an understanding of people as both creatures of their environment and those influencing their values. By combining the components inherent to both theology and psychology, it becomes possible to understand human actions better and with more detail, which can help in the process of integration (Santrac, 2016). In cases when psychology only considers naturalistic theories about humans, it does not consider hermeneutics, which makes theory integration restricted or even impossible. Therefore, the external environment is especially important within the context of philosophical anthropology as it contributes to the creation and progression of an individual’s morals and values. Compared to anthropology, a broader branch of social sciences, philosophical anthropology is a more refined field specializing in human behavior formation as associated with the interplay between the past, present, and future. The connection between these factors will contribute to inner development as related to their values.
When comparing the psychological and theological approaches of philosophical anthropology, on the one hand, psychological anthropology is concerned with human beings’ identity, cognition, memory, and self-consciousness. These processes are rooted in scientific rigor and have been explored by researchers around the world for centuries. On the other hand, theological anthropology is concerned with exploring the influence of Christianity on human culture and origins, especially when it comes to such issues as humanity’s salvation and the belief in life after death. It is notable that the two approaches are opposite but do not act in opposition to one another, which means that some reconciliation is possible. This has already been done, especially when it comes to the specific scientific evidence supporting the occurrence of specific Biblical stories. For instance, the unearthing of Jesus’s tomb with the help of scientific methods has provided scientific proof of the existence of Biblical characters. Gospel of Luke 24 says, “1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came unto the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.” Today, many scholars think that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the place where Jesus found its resting place (Kuroski, 2021). Even though it is now nearly impossible to get absolute proof of Jesus’s tomb, both early literary evidence and archaeological findings point to the modern Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
What psychology offers that is absent from Christian theology is that it focuses on natural resources when it comes to dealing with the complicated issues of a man. It emphasizes the importance of a person, while theology emphasizes the importance of God in the understanding of human processes. What psychology does not offer that is offered by theology is the connection between human beings and supernatural phenomena, especially when it comes to the ideas of forgiveness, rebirth, salvation, and redemption. Those who believe in God may find strength and wisdom in His Word when it comes to dealing with personal problems (McTavish, 2018). Factors that are considered in the context of human philosophical analysis, such as psychological and theological approaches, can be accommodated for the understanding of human nature.
It is notable that while theological and psychological perspectives on philosophical anthropology are opposite in their approaches, they are not ultimately irreconcilable. As mentioned previously, the capacity of science to give evidence for the occurrence of Biblical events provides an essential point of unity for the two perspectives. However, it is imperative to note that psychology indeed broke the clutches of religion employing different findings and reducing its role. Another critical point is that psychology provided the findings that demonic or evil spirits do not cause mental issues despite religious beliefs, showing that it depends on biological and social challenges. Besides, psychology alleviated the burden of sin and guilt, which was promoted by religion, to help people find meaning and value and their existence (Corey, 2005). Overall, psychology opposed religion because it was limited to the concept of mind and soul to the brain, showing evidence for every process being solely a biological phenomenon with nothing else beyond it.
Nevertheless, human beings have a history of religious belief as a way to find answers to complex questions and address the fear of the unknown that comes after life ends. Therefore, it is imperative for psychology not to underestimate the benefits that religion and spirituality bring to help strengthen people from within and make them happier, which is one of the purposes of therapy. When religion is combined with psychology, it is possible to speed up the recovery process, especially among religious people who find comfort in their beliefs. If to look beyond Christianity, having overall faith in a better future is something that can be a fundamental step toward recovery.
References
Corey, G. (2005). Integrating spirituality in counseling practice. Web.
Kuroski, J. (2021). Inside Jesus’ tomb and the real story behind the location of Christ’s burial chamber. Web.
McTavish, J. (2018). Jesus the divine physician. The Linacre Quarterly, 85(1), 18-23.
Santrac, A. (2016). Towards the possible integration of psychology and Christian faith: Faculties of human personality and the Lordship of Christ. In Skriflig, 50(1). Web.