Psychology & Christianity

Five Views

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How are Christians to understand and undertake the discipline of psychology? This question has been of keen interest (and sometimes concern) to Christians because of the importance we place on a correct understanding of human nature. Psychology can sometimes seem disconnected from, if not antithetical to, Christian perspectives on life. How are we to understand our Christian beliefs about persons in relation to secular psychological beliefs?This book presents four models for understanding the relationship between psychology and Christianity. David Powlison (Westminster Theological Seminary) offers the biblical counseling model. The levels-of-explanation model is advanced by David G. Myers (Hope College), while Stanton L. Jones (Wheaton College) introduces the integration model. The Christian psychology model is put forth by Robert C. Roberts (Baylor University).Each of the contributors responds to the other essayists, noting points of agreement as well as problems they see. This second edition includes an entirely new chapter by Stanton L. Jones presenting the integration model, along with new responses from the other contributors. It also includes a revised introduction by Eric L. Johnson, describing the history of Christians and psychology, as well as a conclusion that considers what might unite the four views and how a reader might evaluate the relative strengths and weaknesses of each view. Psychology and Christianity: Four Views has become a standard introductory textbook for students and professors of Christian psychology. This revision promises to keep it so.