Are psychology and Religion on opposite sides of the coin?

Question

Can one side observe the other from a disconnected standpoint?

Can a religious person judge a psychologist for observing people and diagnosing them?

Can a psychologist diagnose a religious person as being too judgemental?

Answer 1

So let me ask you, have you ever chosen to avoid somebody and why? Have you ever chosen to befriend somebody and why? Have you ever to do business with one person over another?

These are all judgments. Does this make you judgmental? I say yes. But being judgmental is required for our survival....
The verse used against Christians based on judgment is poorly applied. The right way is to NOT CONDEMN ANYBODY UNJUSTLY, because whatever measure you use on your neighbor, God will use on you. I am subject to right judgment from God whether I judge anyone else or not, and I already know I'm guilty. It is not by my own righteousness that I get to go to heaven, but by the righteousness of the One who died for me. I still have the responsibility to act and think according to the edicts of the scriptures (If anyone loves Me he will do what I ask.) but I have the assurance of salvation. If I rebel against God's instruction afterward, then all that is moot. So I have to confess and repent of my sins daily. Confessing means that I agree with God about my sin, and repenting means that I change my behavior. Without this the shedding of Christ's blood as a gift to me for salvation is rejected, because again, I have to submit to the will of God for the success of me, and for the benefit of society in general.

http://judgeright.blogspot.com

Answer 2

My honest opinion on this is that they are not opposite sides of a coin but do have points that they agree or disagree and those point can change. One example, years ago most religious christians and psychologist would agree that homosexuality was wrong and something to be treated. Now, most psychologist would disagree with that stance. If they were truly opposite sides of the coin, we wouldn't see such changes.

Biggest problem with this question is the both psychology and religion involves in this sense involves observing/judging our fellow man it is impossible to take a pure, dispassionate, disconnected standpoint to do the observing. As observers, we contaminate the observations.

Answer 3

No, but keep in mind that religion has nothing to do with faith. Cults can be religious and have no faith basis. Religion is about ritualistic behgavior (I pet my cat religiously) but faith is about a personal spiritual relationship with what you believe to be the Creator.

I think perhaps a better way to ask the question might be, can an aethiest have a religious experience? According to my answer, yes.

The big point about psychology is it's about helping people with their problems, so there is little if any judgement that does not come from the individual. For example in psychology homosexuality is not wrong, it is only a problem if a person has a problem dealing with it (whether it's them that is gay or whether they are a homophobe). Psychology is about coping and resolving problems, not making moral judgements.

On the other hand a religious person is not restricted in this way. Depending on the individual they can be as judgemental or as accepting as they like. But if you want to know what God's stance on it is you have to read and interpret the Bible yourself and not just take the word of someone who claims to have the answer. This is why there are fanatical religious people and non-fanatics that are part of the same religion.

Ideally each would equally objective.

Answer 4

The obtrusive element that stands proud is that psychology is per authentic technology. that's probable yet another certainly one of those issues the place psychology does not have a project with faith, some religions have a project with psychology. As a teen in a Pentecostal church I became interested in hypnosis previously i found out it became into between the numerous "kit of the devil". How, precisely, the devil used hypnosis against guy became into by no ability somewhat made clean.

Answer 5

As a licensed psychotherapist, I can tell you that there is no diagnosis of "too judgmental." It's not even a criterion in any of the other diagnoses. Self-righteousness may be annoying, but it is not an mental illness.

You may not be aware, but there is a field of study known as pastoral psychotherapy. All of the practitioners have divinity degrees and then return to graduate school to earn their doctorates in pastoral psychotherapy. In New Hampshire, they are licensed with the exact same privileges as psychologists, mental health counselors, social workers and marriage & family therapists.

There are a number of pastoral counselors in practice. You may find them at http://www.aapc.org/

Answer 6

Hmm not sure. Psychologists are really good at helping people, they do however, keep you in the past for way too long I think, while Jesus asks us to forgive and move on. I do know there are Christian therapist who are very good, so it looks like God is in the therapy business too!

Answer 7

I personally do not think so because they are two different interest being served. Psychology wants self help and inner self and look to yourself and find the solution and religion looks to a higher power for the same answer.

Answer 8

Not necessarily, I think the act of confession and mental health coincide nicely. By the way, all people can judge and observe regardless of how they view their lives, how it is done is dependent solely on the individual.

Answer 9

A psychologist could certainly diagnose a religious person as being too radical etc. There are however Christian psychologists as their are Christian scientists.

Answer 10

psychologists are trained to look for certain things in order to diagnose a problem. religious people just want to control you. religious people judge just to feel superior, arrogant and keep you ignorant of their own hypocrisy.