Christian Psychologists

[Bolts]

Hi everyone. I was wondering what your think of christians being psychologists? I am studying introductory psychology this year because I believe that although science is still asking alot of questions about creation, the things that they have found are an intriguing way of looking into what God was thinking when he made us and created the world. He put so much thought and detail into his work. Our minds and bodies are an intricate network of beauty and precision. We are indeed wonderfully and beautifully made. The evolution of science has been a stream of questions, like for example, 'does prayer work?' Science has found that it does.

[nebula]

Hi, Bolts!

There are several Christian psychologists out there - James Dobson, David Maier (sp?), & June Hunt <<-- LINK for instance.

I say go for it!

We need Christians in professional positions to help people out that way with Biblical principles.

[apothanein kerdos]

In basic form it is the science of the brain and how it works. Being as how the brain was created by God and corrupted by the fall, thus I see no reason why a Christian should be prohibited from studying something created by God.

[kodischild]

I think that it is amazing how many things psychology has taught us that the Bible already taught. My Dialectical Behavioral Therapy class (I can't spell it, but I attend it!) keeps giving us the same skills that God told us thousands of years ago, they just call them by another name. It would be refreshing to have a Christian counselor who would go ahead and call things what they are. Like radical acceptance, which is about what faith does. Or nonjudgemental stance, which is a lot of what the Bible teaches anyway. I would say you can learn as much psych from the Bible as from a school, so if you can get a degree and use it to help people then that is grand!!

[Guest JAR61]

I am a 43yo seminary graduate and currently studying Pastoral Psych. for my Masters. There is a generational body of Christian Psychology called Nouthetics. If you are a Christian and expect to incorporate your faith into your therapies it is a mandatory program.

Dr. Jay Adams displaced Freud in the area of Psychology and Pastoral COunseling during yhr 1950s/60s. A concommittant area of study is called Temperament Therapy and utilization of the ARNO Profiling System.

Benny Hinn isn't on my own A-list of televangelists. Some of his theology seems influenced by Eastern religions.

He does seem to be sincere though, so I don't have any major complaints about him.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

George needs to add a "beating a dead horse" subject this for sure would be one of them

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Which was why I added: http://www.worthyboards.com/forums/index.p...lite=benny+hinn

I think you're right though. What more can or should be said?

[irishcowboy]

the ones i have experience with, are finger pointers, fault finders, guilt layers......

there are some that are not......

if you are looking into this field for your profession, then please keep in mind,

those that are seeking help already have enough guilt laid upon their shoulders, and have already taken enough fault to chock a horse with oats..... we all know what finger pointing does, one points out, the rest point back....

remember this would be more of a ministry, and there would be need for more with love, compassion and a caring heart.....not enough of these type in the world....

mike

[Bolts]

the ones i have experience with, are finger pointers, fault finders, guilt layers......

Your right there Mike. Some are finger pointers. Unfortunately finger pointing is universal - its' even in the church. The thing I am enjoying in my psychology studies at the moment is that we get to look outside the box. Motives are driven by many different factors. Trusting in the Lord so that he will give us the desire of our hearts, seams to be the key to being assure of the types of motives that we as christians should have.

Understanding the forgiveness from sin and knowing that when we are free, we are free indeed, runs deep into the flesh, the soul and the spirit. I see it as a process. It's exciting because once we know without a doubt that we are forgiven and in turn begin to forgive ourselves/others, we experience a joy and peace that can be shockingly new and may take time to get use to. I became a christian when I was 19. It wasn't until I was 23/24 that I realised just how much I had been forgiven. Also, it took a while to get used to having peace in my life after having had so much turmoil.

Beauty for ashes

The oil of joy for mourning

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.

Isn't God Awesome!!!

[EricH]

I think it is fine. Like any profession the difficult time will come when psychoanalytic or counseling principles come into conflict with God's word. The Christian will need to decide which they will listen to and apply

[Leonard]

I do not favor Nouthetic Counseling, for the tendency is for the 'counselor' to ferret about until he finds the party easiest to intimidate, accuse them of some sin, and demand 'repentance.' In it's outworking, Nouthetic Counseling is a terrible methodology!

Much better the Pastoral approach......

[larryt]

First of all let me say that psychology is not the study of the human brain but the study of the human mind or soul. From the greek "psuche" meaning soul. The bible tells us everything we need to know about our soul and that it correctly differentiates the difference between the soul and spirit. Modern psychology has its roots in ungodly men like the perverted Freud and Jung and many more that hated God. God never uses the worlds ideas. The world does take God's ideas and twists them. Everything we need to know is in the bible and we don't need anything from the world. Worldly thinking/wisdom is foolishness with God. Psychology never helped anyone for only the Word of God can help us. What did God do before man invented Psychology? If we are to minister to people are we going to charge them for the help that God gives for free?

Mt 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Did you catch that, whatever you want to do in life , you can find guidance in the Word of God about how to do it but only if you are a man of God.