Now, as a psychology student, and a christian it is sometimes hard to entertain the view, held by many, that to be both is an oxymoron. I am often asked whether my degree and theories within it contradict my religious beliefs and whether indeed I find it difficult to hold two opposing views. The answer generally is no. No I do not believe my degree subject contradicts my Christian views, and no I don't find it difficult to hold two opposing views...because I don't believe they do contradict.
Now maybe this is a slightly naive view of what psychology really means to people, and maybe I haven't fully grasped what psychology leans towards. However, during the two years I have been studying psychology seriously, I have had no problem with the topics that have come up in my degree and in my learning of this subject. The only real problem I have in psychology is the somewhat heavy dependence in some areas on a socio-biological/evolutionary perspective. As a christian, evolution isn't top of my belief list and so the emphasis placed on this often leaves me feeling rather agitated to say the least. This view can often be criticised with basic criticisms such as differences between and within cultures, and more specifically that there are clear examples of where this idea does not work such as homosexual relationships where the couple clearly are not only together solely to promote their genes!
I know many Christians who really do believe that psychology is evil. That is is 'devil workship' and not Jesus worship. That it takes the place of Jesus in our lives. There are many reasons for this, however I am only going to address a few.
Firstly it is clear that it offers a very different answer and solution to the problems faced in society than the Gospel does-encouraging 'clients' to have therapy to solve their problems rather than turn to God. There is also a heavy focus on the idea that our childhood and past shapes who we are and what we do now. Some Christians argue that this is opposed to the the fundamental christian belief that we can be 'born again' and that Jesus changes our lives.
I definitely disagree with those two arguements. Regarding the first point, I have a big issue with people that say that psychology looks away from God for answers. How about medicine? Medicine doesnt look to God to solve problems, yet how many Christians will go to their GP or hospital when they are ill? Surely according to this argument we should look to God for our physical healing and not medicine? Now I'm not denying that we shouldn't look to God for our physical needs, however I am just making the point that christians often don't turn to God straight away when they are ill. In addition it logically follows that medicine could be called 'devil workship' also, as it encourage us to look to something else other than God to heal us and attend to our physical needs.
Attending to the second argument that the psychological theory of our childhood shaping our lives is opposed to being 'born again' as it denys that we can be changed, I would say this is a load of rubbish. Whilst I would definitely agree that Jesus changes our moral and earthly lives too, sometimes even christians need an extra push in the right direction, whether that be from psychology or from a chat with someone at church. Ultimately I would say that my understanding of being 'born again' is that Jesus changes our spiritual lives which in turn changes our moral understanding etc etc. He changes us from the inside out.
Finally, I would like to offer the idea that far from being 'devil workship', psychology is a method that God uses to heal and shape us. Just like he uses medicine and doctors to heal our physical needs and mend our bodies, so too can he heal our mental needs through psychology. Yes some of the theories taught in psychology are a bit odd and could indeed be called 'psychobabble' as one lovely christian preacher desribes it (http://www.awmi.net/extra/article/psychology_christianity), but at the end of the day some christian theologies could be described in the same way!
I know for sure that God used psychology to help a member of my family, who was really struggling and without it I dont know where he'd be. Yes, God can heal our mental health in a flash just like anything else, but some times, he uses other methods just to keep us on our toes (and me in a job).
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