What do you think about Psychology and the Bible?

Question

Psychology is based on man's view of himself and why he behaves the way he does (with several theorys), where as the Bible is based on God's view of His own creation and why man behaves the way he does. They differ quite a bit. So, can we trust psychology? Are they compatible in any way? Should we integrate them or just stick to the Bible? Do we even need anything besides the Bible?

Interesting thought, Roger N. But can we really verify things physically? If you read the Diagnostics and Statistics manual that psychologists use, each category claims to be theory, not fact. Is psychology really a science then, or a faith like Christianity? Food for thought.

I agree, christ4him, we get in trouble when we adobt theories that don't line up with God's Word. Thanks for you thoughts!

Thanks, Garyomega, I think there are some general things in the Bible that speak to man's behavior, like you said, but I also think that there are several specifics too. The Bible says that your behavior comes from your heart:
"A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps." (Proverbs 16:9)
"And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:" (Matthew 15:16-19)
The Bible tells us that inside of your heart you can find several things:
Thoughts (Hebrews 4:12), Understanding (Acts 8:27)
Beliefs (Acts 8:37), Will (1 Cor.7:37), Desires (Psalm 37:4), Intentions (Daniel 1:8), Values (Matthew 6:19-21), Emotions (Luke 10:27), etc.

Well, AnArdRi, you certainly pose a very good question. Obviusly our lives aren't completed guided by God's Word on a physical level (never found a recipe for chocolate chip cookies in the book of Luke). God has obviously given us a certain level of inteligence so that we can study the world He created and use it for our good (He even encourages us to do this in Genesis 1:28). He has, however, given us some basic biblical principles to help guide us in the physcial realm (i.e. in the OT there were certain health laws He created to help protect us from disease, like circumcision for instance, which we have adopted as common practice today). On a behavioral level, however, God has given us some specific direction that we can follow to live a life that is pleasng to Him. When psychologist begin telling us that we behave a certain way because of a chemical imbalance but God tells us it is because we have a sinful heart, then we need to submit to His Word. Make sense?

Answer 1

Psychology or any other man based view as you put it can and is at times compatible with scripture. But like anything man has compiled there will be his opinion or his conclusion. As long as those conclusions line up with the truth of the bible than this is something we can accept and apply to our lives. We get into trouble when we adopt theories that don't stand in harmony with God's word.

Answer 2

Psuche (psyche) is a New Testament Greek word. It is most often translated "soul". There is a difference between soul and spirit. The dividing line we're told is difficult to discern.

The study (ology) of the psyche, therefore, is entirely in the realm of God's truth.

The "psychology" which has it's origin in men like Freud and Jung is invalid in its very basis because its foundation is something other than the wisdom of God. It it by some coincident stumbles upon a nugget of truth, the nugget becomes impotent due to the unsound conceptual framework surrounding it.

The human biologic body includes a biologic organ we know as the mind. The mind can become sick, just as any other organ can become sick. Though I am anything but an advocate of drug therapy (I feel that the vast majority of pharmaceuticals today are more harmful than they are helpful), an endocrinological malady of the brain that responds to a pharmaceutical remedy may benefit from such treatment no less than a malady in any other organ.

But it has been demonstrated that psychology and psychiatry do not yield any greater restoration of mental health than no treatment at all.

As a matter of fact, a commitment to Christ has healed a great number of souls where modern psychology has not.
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Answer 3

The Bible speaks for the most part, in generalities. Very few examples of the "whys" regarding behaviors, just the cause and effect of actions.
Psychology is a relatively new science that seeks to explain behaviors based on long term observations, and tested hypothesis. Mental illness has been around since the beginning of recorded history, but it is only now that real help and understanding has become available. There is no doubt that Bible principles can influence behaviors both for the good, and for the bad depending on ones point of reference and understanding. It is after all, the most widely distributed book of all time. For a reason.

Answer 4

If the view the the psyhcologist holds of man and why he behaves the way he does is the Bible view, then it can be a useful tool. If the view is non-Christian then it will not be very effective. There are some ways that understanding yourself, even from a secular viewpoint, will help you. But it will usually not result in anything of eternal value. It takes the Bible and its view of life to yeild eternal results. Some of the psychology techniques can used as tools to present the Bible truths.

Answer 5

It depends on the psychology you're willing to trust. For example, Carl Jung was a world reknowned psychologist (founder of Jungian Theory) and a devoted gnostic. Gnostics are people who believe in the bible; both new and old testaments and the apocrypha books. (in other words the Catholic bible). Gnostics also believe in other books written by Jesus' disciples found in 1945 in the caves of Egypt near the Dead Sea. Carl Jung devoted his psychology and faith into one entity. He was the only psychologist to create "Spiritual Therapy."

Answer 6

May I ask whether your life is guided entirely and solely by the Bible? Have you managed thus far to get through your quotidien activities by referring only to the Bible?

Do you drive?

Have you studied chemistry?

Algebra?

Answer 7

Psychology is best.
We can PHYSICALLY verify any idea of it in our everyday life with everyone we have contact with.
The Bible is a bunch of parables that can be twisted to any means that the individual pleases. That's why there's so many religions that think that THEY are right and everyone else is wrong.

Answer 8

I think god put me here, had me raised by those who I was raised by, grew up the place I did, and knew the people I did, so that I would be who he intended for me to be....

They can psychology tell me anything they want. I know my problems and I know why I am the way I am. I wont pay someone 300 dollars to listen to me talk about things that are obvious, and all I have to do it work on it myself...

Answer 9

With God all things are possible, even psychology, which is the study of the mind, human mind.

Answer 10

I believe psychology takes the sufficiency of Christ.