AN Integrative Approach to Psychological and Christian Thought Based on A Christian World View

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to formulate a metapsychological foundation for psychology which is consistent with Christian thought. The approach taken is epistemological in nature and integrative in scope. It concentrates on constructing a Christian world view which will provide a frame of reference for the integration of psychological and Christian thought.

A world view based on six Christian presuppositions is constructed. The six presuppositions discussed are: (a) one unifying truth –- God, (b) the reality of Christ, (c) a supernatural orientation, (d) human personalism, (e) the awareness of evil, and (f) ultimate purpose and meaning in life. This world view is a constructive synthesis of the Christian thought of Blamires (1963), Dooyeweerd (1936, 1960) and Trueblood (1969, 1970).

A metapsychological analysis of psychology is accomplished via a basic issues approach. Eight fundamental psychological issues described by Wertheimer (1972) are reviewed: (a) the individual as master versus the individual as victim of fate, (b) human nature as good versus human nature as evil, (c) andsum versus transsum, (d) mind versus body, (e) subjectivity versus objectivity, (f) past versus present, (g) nature versus nurture, and (h) simplicity versus complexity.

In conclusion, an integrative psychology is formulated which understands and explains the data of human behavior and experience in terms of the original metaphysical presuppositions which underlie all phenomena. The psychological issues examined earlier are analyzed from a Christian world view base. This is a formulation of a methodology for the further investigation and development of integrative psychology.

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