David N. Entwistle

Summary:
Psychology and theology have been considered to be opposing perspectives of thinking about basic questions concerning life and the human experiences. Entwistle uses two different “pictures” for describing these. He descries psychology as “the academy/Athens” and he describes theology as “Jerusalem”. Psychology uses empirical methods of study whereas theology studies human interpretations of God’s Word. Entwistle provides and in depth look at how these two different ways of viewing human behavior can be integrated and improved upon. The purpose of this book is to help its readers fully understand the integration of these two disciplines.
Entwislte spends a great deal of time talking about worldviews. A worldview is a window from which one views the world. It includes assumptions and beliefs that people make concerning the events. If one has a distorted worldview, it distorts their thinking. One’s worldview can aid or distort percepts of these two disciplines; thus, it is imperative to have a sound worldview with a firm foundation on rightly interpreted Biblical principles in order to properly integrate psychology and theology. The author points out that worldviews are more learned than chosen and many people are not even aware of the worldview they hold.
Entwistle discusses five paradigms for integration. The first is enemies, which include both secular and Christian combatants. These combatants do not see any reconciliation possible between theology and psychology. Spies, both “domestic” and “foreign” will hold allegiance with one way of thought, but take ideas from the other. They “cherry pick” ideas to use that they think will be useful for their own view. Colonialist are those who claim territories they did not work for or discover. Neutral parties tend to “mind their own business” and stay in their own land, the Switzerland of philosophies, if you will. Finally, there are those who are allies who believe that both theology and psychology belong to God and as such “all truth is God’s truth.” He implies that when reviewed together, psychology and theology can illuminate the human condition better than either could have done individually.
Entwistle concludes his work with a description of God’s two books. These are based on Bacon’s work. He discusses the fact that when science and theology do not match up it always comes down to right interpretation.
Finally, he returns to the issue of worldview and biases and how they alter the way we view the world. He ends the book with a sentence that is worth remembering as we move forward in our quest for the truth: “We will sometimes have to live with ambiguity and uncertainty, but we affirm that God is the author of all truth…” (Entwistle, 2004, p. 275).… (altro)