Integration Of Psychology And Theology: A Critique

Martin & Deidre Bobgan, in their book "psychoHeresy: The psychological seduction of Christianity", 1987, deals with the areas of concern for Christians concerning integration of psychology and theology.


They talk of four myths about psychology in the church that have led Christians to believe that there is a need for psychological intervention.


The four Myths are:

a) Psychotherapy is a science - a means of understanding and helping humanity based on empirical evidence from measurable consistent data

b) The best kind of counseling utilizes both psychology and the Bible.

c) People who are experiencing mental-emotional behavioral problems are mentally ill - they are psychological sick and therefore need psychological therapy

d) Psychotherapy has a high record of success compared to Biblical counseling

Is Psychology a Religion?


Martin & Deidre Bobgan argues that “since God’s word tell us how to live, all ideas about the why’s of behavior and how's of change must be viewed as religious in nature” (Psychoheresy: the Psycho seduction of Christianity, 1987). While the Bible claims divine revelation, psychotherapy claims scientific substantiation. When it comes to behavior and other attitudes, morals and values, we are dealing with religion. According to them Psychotherapy haunts the church because “it is perceived as a scientific salve for the sick soul, than for what it truly is; a pseudoscientific substitute system of religious belief”.

Neil T. Anderson, Julianne S Zuehlke and Terry Zuehlke also support this view in their book Christ centered therapy: The practical integration of Theology and Psychology 1987. They state that Psychotherapists and other health professionals have become the “primary caregivers and dispensers of moral guidance in our society” (Neil T Anderson et al p. 18). David Nobel, as quoted by Neil t. Anderson et al, states “trying to separate the sacred from the secular is like trying to sear the soul from the body-we must recognize that all world views have religious implications” (Neil t Anderson et al p. 38)


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