4 MAT Review System 1
4 MAT Review System: Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity
Cindy Watson
Liberty University
Abstract The book, Integrative approaches to psychology and Christianity, written by David Entwistle (2010), provides a basis to integrate the psychology discipline with Christian beliefs. Entwistle’s (2010) opinion is that both psychology and Christianity were both created by God and that the two can merge with one another to provide a well rounded structure for counseling the whole person. According to Entwistle (2010, p.3), “As systems of thought, both psychology and Christian theology provide useful perspectives through which we can study and understand human behavior, and together they can give us a more complete and accurate picture of human nature and functioning than either perspective can provide alone.” This is the basis of the text in that integrating both disciplines can provide the best practice. A main theme of the book is one of worldviews. Entwistle states (2010, p.56),’Worldviews shaped how we understand our experience in the world, and reflect our expectations about life.” Integration can assist with combining those perceptions to one of truth, “all truth is God’s truth, so that wherever and however truth is discovered, its author is God.” Entwistle (2010, p. 56). This text attempts to provide those who are in the counseling field with the tools and the definitions to integrate the psychology discipline and Christian values into a workable combination that can provide an avenue to a well rounded counseling practice. Entwistle describes five models of disciplinary relationship: enemies, spies, colonists, neutral parties and allies. Entwistle breaks them down into the main categories of antagonist, intermediate, and integrative approaches. The antagonist model describes the enemies as “largely of a territorial dispute.” Entwistle (2010, p. 156). This is based on a conflict type of attitude.
Cindy Watson
Liberty University
Abstract The book, Integrative approaches to psychology and Christianity, written by David Entwistle (2010), provides a basis to integrate the psychology discipline with Christian beliefs. Entwistle’s (2010) opinion is that both psychology and Christianity were both created by God and that the two can merge with one another to provide a well rounded structure for counseling the whole person. According to Entwistle (2010, p.3), “As systems of thought, both psychology and Christian theology provide useful perspectives through which we can study and understand human behavior, and together they can give us a more complete and accurate picture of human nature and functioning than either perspective can provide alone.” This is the basis of the text in that integrating both disciplines can provide the best practice. A main theme of the book is one of worldviews. Entwistle states (2010, p.56),’Worldviews shaped how we understand our experience in the world, and reflect our expectations about life.” Integration can assist with combining those perceptions to one of truth, “all truth is God’s truth, so that wherever and however truth is discovered, its author is God.” Entwistle (2010, p. 56). This text attempts to provide those who are in the counseling field with the tools and the definitions to integrate the psychology discipline and Christian values into a workable combination that can provide an avenue to a well rounded counseling practice. Entwistle describes five models of disciplinary relationship: enemies, spies, colonists, neutral parties and allies. Entwistle breaks them down into the main categories of antagonist, intermediate, and integrative approaches. The antagonist model describes the enemies as “largely of a territorial dispute.” Entwistle (2010, p. 156). This is based on a conflict type of attitude.