Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity: An Introduction to Worldview Issues, Philosophical Foundations, and Models of Integration [Paperback]

For the most part, psychology and theology have been considered to be enemies as both deal with the basic questions about life and the human experience from different approaches. Psychology places human experience (empirically) at the core of understanding and theology places God (our interpretation of His Word) at the center of understanding human experiences. Theology is faith based and includes a strong acceptance of the Bible as the basis of all truth. Psychology is empirically based and leaves little room for faith or acceptance of the supernatural. It is easy to see how the two disciplines can be viewed as enemies. However, Entwistle provides an in depth look at both and paves a way to model the two in such a way that they complement and complete one another.
According to Entrwistle, "Everyone has a worldview - a window through which he or she views the world, assumptions, and beliefs that color what he or she sees." (Entwistle, 2004, p. 67) The book begins by discussing in depth how our worldview affects our way of thinking about everything, including psychology and theology. As the author points out, our worldviews are not so much chosen as much as they are learned from our experiences, education, and culture. Most are not even aware that their views on everything are filtered through these windows, which both distort and clarify our interpretation of what we see.
In addition to the ways that particular worldviews shape our attitude about psychology and theology, we also approach the subject according to the models we have constructed regarding the two disciplines. Entwistle described 5 distinct paradigms of relational approaches to understanding the various models. Enemies, which include both secular combatants and Christian combatants, do not see any reconciliation between psychology and theology. Spies, both domestic and foreign, will hold allegiance to one discipline but selectively taking components from the other. Colonialists are described as those who claim territory they did not win, discover, or work for. Neutral parties tend to mind their own business and keep the two camps separate. Lastly, there are those who are like allies. Allies view both psychology and Christianity as belonging to God and seek to understand how the two are based on the same truth.
Based on Francis Bacon's description of two sources for learning, God's book of Words (the Bible) and God's book of deeds (written in creation through nature), Entwistle concludes the book with a discussion on finding balance in our responsibility to properly utilize the two books. He reminds us that when science disagrees with the Bible, the conflict always resides in our interpretation. Coming full circle, Entwistle returns to the issue of how our worldview, biases, presumptions, and experiences alter and skew the way we interpret data. He ended the book with a sentence worth remembering in our search for truth: "We will sometimes have to live with ambiguity and uncertainty, be we affirm that God is the author of all truth..." (p. 275).

I am currently in a graduate counseling program, and by far this is on my short list of favorite texbooks. Entwistle's arguement validates psychology as a science, the pursuit of truth, and the realization that psychology and Christianity do not have to be at odds with one another. Yes, this book is not an easy read, but Entwistle expertly addresses a debate that all counseling students of a religious background must grapple with.

David Entwistle lays the foundation for his book in the questions, "What is the proper relationship of faith and science? More specifically, what, if any, relationship should be posited between Christianity and psychology" (2004, p. 10)? In order to understand and have a complete appreciation for the depth of the arguments regarding the relationship between Christianity and psychology, Entwistle begins by examining the history of each as well as the worldviews that have resulted from this history. This leads us to explore the movement called integration and the search for a comprehensive definition. Using anecdotes from his years of building models, Entwistle demonstrates how two disciplines, that many feel must be completely separate, can be effectively integrated.

When we look at the relationship of psychology and theology, we are concerned with models based on models; that is we express our understanding of theology in various models, our understanding of psychology in different models, and we then conceptualize their relationship in yet more models (p. 160).

Entwistle makes a key point in laying the foundation of the integrative approach when he contrasts two divergent Christian beliefs. On one hand, some Christians maintain the created universe was the result of eons of cosmic evolution in order to fit with scientific theory. On the other hand, some Christians maintain a literal view of Biblical creation in that the world was created six days. Both views ". . . emphasize who did it while diverging on how it was done" (Entwistle, 2004, p. 121). According to Entwistle, one's view will determine how he or she will approach integration, or whether it is pursued at all (2004, pp. 121, 122).

A large portion of the book is taken up in the exploration of the various models used to understand the various views of integration. Entwistle compares and contrasts the various models and their authors, offering his own model which seems to creatively combine the best of the models put forth. Five paradigms are expounded upon to show the various camps in which Christians and psychologists "live." The first is the Enemies paradigm which is marked by antagonism and an inability to see value in the other's perspective. Two versions of the Enemies paradigm exist. First, the Secular Combatants in which religion is seen as the enemy of psychology and second, the Christian Combatants in which psychology is seen as the enemy of religion (p. 186). The second paradigm is the Spies who see some value in the other's perspective, but attach no corresponding belief in the underlying, usually religious, value system (pp. 208-213). They steal thoughts and ideas and use them as they may. The third paradigm is the Colonialists who see value in psychological ideas and then selectively take what meets their needs without buying into the underlying value of psychology as a discipline (pp. 214-218). The fourth paradigm is the Neutral Parties who believe in exploring the ideas of both psychology and theology without trying to see how either relates to the other (pp. 218-225). Finally, the fifth paradigm is the Allies As Subjects of One Sovereign. This best illustrates how both psychology and theology makes the most sense and best captures the true spirit of integration. Taken together, psychology and theology can illuminate the human condition better than either could individually (pp. 230-234).

One concern I have with Entwistle's book, however, is the very obvious deletion of the work of the Holy Spirit in the integration process. While much was said about God's two books, nothing was said about the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit and how the Holy Spirit can provide guidance, wisdom, understanding, and discernment in the therapy process. Throughout Scripture, but especially in the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is seen to provide guidance and understanding to Christians in a variety of areas. Because of what Jesus Christ has done for us, we as believers received the Holy Spirit who dwells within us (Ephesians 2:18). It is the Holy Spirit who guides us. Romans 8: 5 says, "Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit" (New International Version) In Ephesians 5:18 Paul says that we are to let the Holy Spirit fill and control us, and that when we allow the Holy Spirit to control our minds there is life and peace (Romans 8:6b). The Holy Spirit gives us hope and power, as well as the understanding of Scripture by guiding us into all truth.