Christianity and Psychology, does it mix?

Question

Hi everyone. I received an email from another user who shall not be named about a particular issue that I would like your opinion on. I was informed that by attempting to cure mentally ill patients (as a certified clinical psychologists) I was doing the work of Satan. Instead I was told to pray for them and abandon my work. Christians, and others, please give me your opinions because I would like to know what you all think. Please do not think I am out to laugh or patronize you, I'm just interested. As a practicing Christian and a church psychologist, I do not believe that I am hurting anyone by offering my services as a charity. What do you think?

Answer 1

Dear Fire,

i am a youth pastor who studied psychology as an undergraduate at UCLA (just to give you a little bit of background).

From a philosophical standpoint the two don't necessarily mix well. Primarily because at the very heart of Christianity is that because of sin- man does not have the answer to many of life's questions that psychology tries to answer. Psychology in turn believes that man has the answer within, and does not acknowledge God. In that sense the two are diameterically opposed at the core.

i spent a little bit of time volunteering at the neuro-psychiatric institute as an undergrad and one of the reasons i did not pursue a career in psychology was i was observing a patient while my mentor- who had a PhD was telling this man who had molested his children that he needed to forgive himself. It was painful for me to sit there and realize that this man didn't need to forgive himself- he needed God to forgive him.

Nevertheless, i also have a father who is schizophrenic and i both pray and trust professional psychologists to try and help him.

i don't think that psychologists are doing the work of Satan -- but i think it needs to be understood that psychology at its very root is opposed to a very core value of Christianity. Psychology can sometimes explain deviant behaviors on environment, or other factors, disqualifying sin.

For most patients that you deal with though- i think the clinical work can uncover some of the causes of different mentally ill patients. I believe both can help. As a Christian when i see people suffering i want them to get well - and i think that as long as the intervention does not violate something that Scripture prohibits i'm all for it... i guess just something to keep in mind is that people think the two are at different ends of the spectrum because of the core beliefs. I most certainly have benefited as a pastor from some of the things i learned in psychology (like listening skills, etc.).

Hope that helps. Kindly,

Nickster

Answer 2

There is a school of thought in Christian churches- not all- that satan is responsible for mental illness, and that psychology will keep a person from seeking deliverance from oppression. So, these people believe that no Christian has any place in psychology Personally, I believe that praying for deliverance will not be complete without the working of an inner healing, of which psychology plays a crucial role .
I think that you, as a Christian are in a position to offer both.
I also read the post by the light dispels the darkness, and while I agree that there is a spiritual war going on, I think we must have balance

Answer 3

Firstly don't rely on a single Christian opinion as everybody is entitled to their own.

Psychology can be very helpful because it helps you understand the working and interaction of human beings. This does not mean every you must embrace and practice all their theories though.

I believe that their is physical / emotional and spiritual reasons to people's problems and illnesses and to exclude anyone of these when trying to help somebody is ignorance. We must use all available resources to help the people around us.

I believe as a Christian psychologist you have the ability to help your patience on more levels as any other psychologist. But this also complicates your work more because you should be able to discern what a problem is and not be limited to a book/religious answer.

I think that if you are open to God to help you and give you insight into patient and use your knowledge obtained by your career you should truly be able to help people without the need to feel guild or reprimanding for what you do but the satisfaction of helping others.

Answer 4

The thing is, nobody owns such symbolism. And a symbol only has the meaning its user assigns it. A Christian may look at the star atop a Christmas tree and to him it might represent the Star of Bethlehem in honor of the birth of Jesus. To me, the star atop the tree could represent the earth elements and spirit (like the pentagram does). Neither is wrong. Worship requires intent. "light and darkness have nothing in common" What does that mean to you? Does light = good and darkness = evil? If so, why doesn't the Bible be clear about what light and darkness mean. In my world, light and darkness are both necessary - but they don't equate to "good" and "evil" to me - they equate to natural cycles of the earth...day and night, summer and winter, life and death (and yes, death is necessary for continued survival of all the species that live on this planet). People existed before Christianity did, so if you want to get nit-picky and go back thousands of years, then everything and everyone has some sort of roots in some pagan cultures. That doesn't mean everything everyone does today is pagan. Again, worship requires intent. One can't worship pagan gods, or the Christian God, by accident. It requires a conscious choice in the heart and mind of the worshiper. Intention is everything. It's really no big deal that two people from two different faiths may look at the same symbol and find different meaning in it.

Answer 5

As a Christian you should offer your services. Just because you should pray (as a Christian) doesn't mean you should sit back and watch.

You offer your services because these people are mentally ill. Not because you are doing the work of Satan.

I think you would be doing more harm by not helping rather than offering help.

That person is confused about their religion.

Answer 6

provocative subject. It's at least my theory that christianity, and most other religions, have major anchoring points in psychology. For instance, I see Christian beliefs in angels and demons to be none other than a misconception about the inner working of the mind. Like Freud said, before I think he went too far, there's the three forms of human thought.
id=instinctual thought=animalistic thought=beastly and un-righteous=demons
ego=you=moderator=the thing that the id and superego fight over=soul that heaven and hell fight over
superego=perceived moral authority=the righteous part that shows good morals=angels=the good word of god to not sin.

I think that many religions may have sprouted from certain misunderstood functions of the brain. We didn't know what was happening in our heads all those centuries ago, not like we do today. IT'S NOT A BAD THING! but i think that this theory MAY have SOME truth behind it.

Answer 7

I have met some people before who do not believe in psychology. However, I believe that there is a place for Christian psychology. I have known people who had serious mental and emotional problems. In fact, at one church I attended, we kept a psychologist on retainer for the pastor to refer people to.

Answer 8

I stand by the email i sent you and these are the reasons why psychologist are practicing witchcraft. There is one Great healer in the christian faith his Jesus Christ. We are to work with the gifts of the Holy Spirit and fast and pray for people to cured. People who are depressed are under attack from satan. Thus we are to bear one anothers cross and pray for them and fast and take authority over that spirit of depression.
In the psychology world today all chrisitans are labled as nuts period. The problem with the Psychology work done today is the way they disorders were research. They have used prisoners and then called them the norms of the living world. They have not made any social or regional adjustments in there research. And they have not conducted any testing in the general population but used drunks, addicts and the like to produce no clinical science. With no double blinds test and no factual base to draw upon.
We are in a spiritual war why are christians bringing a water pistal to a war.
Psychology is just one of satan tools in the chruch today.
It is the world way of dealing with spiritual problems. PS to get ride of heavyness the bible tells us to but on a gown of praise. The heavyness it is speaking of is what is called depression. When we praise God spirits of darkness fleet as God spirit draws near. The answers are in the bible but you have to seek them out.
For our friend whos father is suffering and i know you wants to help him. This is a spirit that is attacking his mind. You have to pray and fast to have power over that kind and also you have to submurge your self in the word of God. Ask Jesus for the Holy Spirit. ( note that is what Jesus said to do).
Jesus said if you will ask me for the Holy Spirit i will ask the Father and he will send him. This is not salvation it is empowerment of God power use it wisely. Also the bible states we are to put on the mind of Christ. And teaches us about the helmet. These two things are required to protect the mind of a christian. The mind of Christ is a mind that has been regenerated. Be praying that God will give your father a regenerated mind. Also get your dad to read like 7 chapters a day and pray and fast. Also get this book as it will help greatly "10 curses that block the blessing" by Larry Huch
12 dollars at wal-mart. Believe it or not satan can't attack a christian unless God allows it like job or we bring it upon ourselfs. When we bring it upon our selfs we need to close the door to the attacks. That book will help clarify the opening that satan has against the mind and how to stop them. Jesus has paid for our sin and the curse. But we have to keep the blood applied to our lives or we give a opening to satan.

Answer 9

I don't believe you are hurting someone when you are trying to help them.

How can you be doing Satan's work by helping mentally ill person's with their problems?

If just one person is helped by your contributing to help them, then you have done what you were suppose to do.

It sounds like this person with the rude remarks is letting Satan work in their life.

Answer 10

That sounds almost like what Tom Cruise was ranting to Matt Lauer about on the Today Show some time back. He is a nut and so is the person who emailed you.
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