One may analyze the association between Christianity and religion in light of understanding the theology within the entire discipline of psychology. Similarly, the relationship betwixt the two disciplines is viewed from the understanding of the study of the psyche within Christianity. Most importantly, Christian values are bordered on human thinking and this is the importance of examining the correlation allying the two disciplines.
Christians rely on the interrelation connecting theology and mental studies to support their objectives of achieving their needs through prayers to God and also to influence others who do not subscribe to Christianity. In a bid to evaluate human behavior, the pair of evangelical and psychological doctrines coalesce around anthropoid weaknesses and both the teachings concur that human beings are susceptible to mistakes. Based on the evaluation of evidence from various disciplines of study, the Allies model best captures the connection between psychological science and the Christian faith.
Methods of Knowing Appropriate For Christians
Philosophers put forth different methods as ways of knowing, but Christians are guided by faith in choosing the best criteria amongst the methodologies. There exist four various methods of knowing: logics, appeals to authority, revelation, and hermeneutics (Entwistle, 2015). Logic refers to an individual’s structured reasoning to ascertain whether there is veracity in a claim or not (Entwistle, 2015). Jesus teaches in the Bible that he is the way, the truth, and the life and no one goes to God except through him (King James Bible, 1769/2017, John 14:6). A Christian understanding of God follows logically amid the acknowledgement of Jesus as the son of God.
Knowledge stems from appeals to authority if the information is passed through one kindred to the next, for instance, parents, teachers, and confidants, however, the individual should decide the reliability of authority giving the information (Entwistle, 2015). Gideon’s worship of the Baal may have resulted amongst the generations which had come earlier than him and that is why when God instructs him to destroy the Baal altars, he does so at night (King James Bible, 1769/2017, Judges 6:25-32). Clearly, Gideon is showing reluctance to God’s word, because Baalism had been entrenched in Israel as well as his life.
Additionally, Christians are guided by revelation and hermeneutics as the methods of knowing. Knowledge acquired through disclosures and interpretation materializes from an individual’s experiences and life incidents (Entwistle, 2015). Israelites’ encounters in Egypt and also in the wilderness made them understand the nature of God (King James Bible, 1769/2017, Exodus 5:8-9, 17:1-3). God was revealing Himself to them through the miracles.
Christians should have their knowledge of God emanating from Him. On their way to Emmaus, Cleopas and his companion meet a resurrected Jesus Christ who tries to elucidate the definition of his death and resurrection (King James Bible, 1769/2017, Luke 24:13-32). The exceptional lesson which is learned from this particular story is that Jesus was disclosing the denotation of his death and resurrection through the procedure of exegesis. The present-day Christians can interpret the happenings in their lives and accord God all the respect He deserves.
Description of Allies Model
Allies model is an approach that is adopted by intellectuals who believe in an integrative way in which Christianity and psychology must operate. The paradigm acknowledges God as the Supreme Being and knower of all the truth (Entwistle, 2015). As the Allies framework also realizes that there exist many ways of getting knowledge of the world and anthropoid conduct, it also recognizes that religion has a tremendous impact on the human psyche (Entwistle, 2015). Understanding this model is crucial for the formation of the Christian worldview to face the world effectively, determine whether knowledge is false, and understand knowledge in God’s truth (Entwistle, 2015). Conceptually, the harmony of verity is important in this model as truth fits together like a flummox, and jointly laconically (Entwistle, 2015).
The Allies model places importance on God above every other thing. Allies model also postulates that Christianity and psychology are beneath God’s powerful feet and therefore should both remain God’s candor (Entwistle, 2015).
Also, Christ is viewed as, the originator and maintainer of all things, perceives human faults, and appreciates that human plan is through God (Entwistle, 2015). Consolidation of saintship with a study of mental health remains to be a multifarious strategy to uncover truths about the nature and functioning of humans from the distinct vantage of religion and psyche. Allies model’s proponents believe that God is Almighty, religion and psychology connect through the psychology of Christianity and theological depth of psyche while examining every circumstance to identify the most efficient version and therefore ends with God’s sovereignty.
Two Books Concept in View of Allies Model
Metaphorically, the “two books” concept is used to demonstrate that God is disclosed through nature and the scriptures. Through the Allies model, the “two books” concept is understood as succinct, and the duet books should be read in knowledge and predilection of different methodologies as sole dependence on Christian understanding is discouraged (Entwistle, 2015). Most importantly, the model bases its arguments on the precept that God’s verities are contained in the book of God’s Works, or Creation, and the book of God’s Word, or the Scriptures (Entwistle, 2015).
Besides, it is chanced that a satisfactory psyche can be established within religion but does not incorporate the dogma that Christianity and mental studies are discrepant as being proposed by the Enemies paradigm (Entwistle, 2015). The Bible illustrates recognition to God’s duet disclosures through the words of King David (King James Bible, 1769/2017, Psalms 19:1-3). Truly, the “two books” concept is appreciating theology and psychology as revealing God Himself.
Strengths of Allies Model
Allies model’s strengths lie in its appropriateness to incorporate both religion and psychology. First, as much as the model focuses mostly on Christian standpoints on human behavior, it does not need Saint-only outlying at the world, for example, it does not analyze human conduct through the Biblical-only glasses (Entwistle, 2015). This strength is very important as it is employed by psychoanalysts to understand behavior of their client from the perspective of the client. Secondly, not only is the Allies model concerned with theological practices psychologically advantageous but also the admissibility of such religious actions (Entwistle, 2015).
The merit is that however much an act may be considered valuable, it is must also be accepted within the psychological confines. Furthermore, the Allies model widens the scope of investigating truth (Entwistle, 2015). The Bible teaches that God watches over His word to perform it. (Jeremiah 1:12). Consequently, Christians should understand that the truth gained from God’s creation can be true even if it is not written in the Bible. The Allies paradigm can acquire knowledge from each discipline and therefore has a more elaborate base of knowledge. Undeniably, the strengths of the Allies model make it a suitable model for understanding God’s truth from nature.
Limitations of Allies Model
Nonetheless, the Allies model possesses an array of limitations concerning the coverage of the relationship between Christianity and psychology. Foremost, the paradigm does not clearly explain the suppositions that comprise a distinctive theological perspective to psychology (Entwistle, 2015). The critiques of the model argue that lack of clear assumptions guiding Christianity and psychology renders it incomplete and can sometimes be vague.
Secondly, as the Allies model does not define the extremities of both disciplines, it tends to leave room for bias towards either study field (Entwistle, 2015). Biasness can be manifested when an individual decides to employ the beliefs of one discipline and ignores the principles of the other one. The beginnings and the ends of the bounds of Christianity and psyche are not well spelt out. Thirdly, the Allies model does not recognize the centers of judgments of religion and fails to leave a space for the bifurcation of various holy systematic approaches that might come up (Entwistle, 2015). Therefore, the Allies model places God above everything else and can be viewed as a Christian-supporting model.
Conclusion
To sum, analysis of various evidence from different sources acknowledges the Allies model as the best framework for an integrative approach to Christianity and psychology. Believers of the word are guided by faith as the main determinant of choosing the methods of knowing. Essentially, the methods help in helping Christians establish the truth and facts accordingly. The methods of logic, appeals to authority, revelation, and hermeneutics are among the best techniques of knowledge that are appropriate for Christians. Indeed the knowledge is important in understanding the Allies model which is used to harmonize the relationship between religion and psychoanalysis.
The Allies model acknowledges the sovereignty of God and also recognizes Him as the owner of all truth. Moreover, there exist the strengths and limitations of the Allies blueprint. The model encourages the integration of Christianity and psychology as well as placing the two disciplines under God’s power. Inarguably, the Allies model is the best archetype for the interrelation between religious teachings and psychoanalysis.
References
Entwistle, D. (2015). Integrative approaches to psychology and Christianity: An introduction to worldview issues, philosophical foundations, and models of integration (3rd ed.). Wipf and Stock Publishers.
King James Bible. (2017). King James Bible Online. Web.