Entwistle, Integrative Approaches To Psychology And Christianity

4-MAT Review: Entwistle
Erica Sterling
Liberty University

Abstract/Summary
Entwistle, Integrative Approaches to Psychology and Christianity (2010). Individual reality/perception of the world in which we live is highly subjective. Entwistle explains that our human frailty, worldviews, effects of personal choices that we have made in our lives (such as drug abuse/addictions) all interact to shape our worldview/ our perceptions. (Entwistle, 2010). Impediments to the acquisition of knowledge include our attempts to hold onto assumptions about the world, about others, even about ourselves. In fact, “the sins and assumptions of a culture affect the sins and the thinking of its resident members” (Entwistle, 2010, pg 74). Most of us in our…show more content…
In fact, Entwistle says that we are “works of art, composed by the hand of God” (pg 131). The scientific discipline of psychology, as well as other disciplines need not be confused by our Christian world views; in fact our biblical or theological teachings taken in the correct context can serve to compliment what we learn in the academic arena. Psychological understanding and exploration reminds us that we are finite in our perceptions and understandings and our Christian understanding reminds us that we are dependent upon our God, in all areas of our understanding. (Entwistle, 2010). Farnsworth’s recommendations of how to integrate Christian belief system into my chosen field of study was paramount in the later part of the text. In particular, integration must be balanced in that “do not neglect our health or our families” (pg 270) in our pursuit of academic interests, while we study theological perspectives along with perspectives that are secular such as that of psychotherapeutic tools and grand theories. Incorporating Christian thought into psychology can effectively be done; it is being done to the advantage of both the clinician and the client. I found this part, The Road…show more content…
I have learned a plethora of information that will undoubtedly only serve to enhance my professional endeavors yet the writing itself was often difficult to follow as there is a great wealth of information to disseminate. I tended to ask myself, How does this apply to real world scenarios which I am most likely to encounter. I found that when I read and re-read the material with a more focused attention on applying the information to my future counseling choice, the material took on a whole new meaning and I was better able to comprehend the material with this new perspective. Reading for comprehension, taking notes and attempting to apply the plethora of information to likely real-world. scenarios enabled me to gain a better, more in depth understanding of the material My biggest Con about the material had to do with the integration of theology and psychology. I believe that the book would have had a more lasting impression if the author had shared much more of his personal insight into the difficulties involved with integrating the two disciplines. I believe that this would have allowed for a better transition for me to actually apply the information in the future. Overall it is well written and certainly informative Yet there is always room for improvement. I will likely refer back to the material in the near future and gain a better understanding of many of the concepts. I have found