Exploring Psychology and Christian Faith
An Introductory Guide
by
Paul Moes and
Donald J. Tellinghuisen
A review by
by
Paul Moes and
Donald J. Tellinghuisen
A review by
Geoffrey W. Sutton PhD
Exploring Psychology and Christian Faith by Paul Moes and Donald J. Telling-huisen is an introductory guide that bridges the gap between psychology and Christian theology.
The book is structured around five key themes of human nature from a biblical perspective:
• relational persons,
Exploring Psychology and Christian Faith by Paul Moes and Donald J. Telling-huisen is an introductory guide that bridges the gap between psychology and Christian theology.
The book is structured around five key themes of human nature from a biblical perspective:
• relational persons,
• brokenness and the need for redemption,
• embodiment,
• responsible limited agency, and
• meaning-seeking
The authors explore various psychological concepts students encounter in Introduction to Psychology Courses such as research methodology, brain and behavior, consciousness, sensation and perception, learning, memory, decision-making, developmental psychology, emotion, social psychology, personality, psychological disorders, and therapy. Each chapter includes discussion questions and reflection prompts to help readers integrate their faith with psychological understanding.
The book aims to provide a coherent framework for students and readers interested in how Christian faith can inform and be informed by psychological principles.
Comments on Exploring Psychology and Christian Faith
Exploring Psychology and Christian Faith appears to be a useful companion to introductory psychology textbooks, offering a unique perspective on human nature and behavior through the lens of conservative protestant Christian theology.
Reference
Moes, P., & Tellinghuisen, D. J. (2014). Exploring psychology and Christian faith: An introductory guide. Baker Academic.
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About the authors
Paul Moes is a professor of psychology at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He holds a Ph.D. in experimental psychology from Texas Christian University, with a focus on the "Chemistry of Behavior”. Before joining Calvin, he taught at Dordt College for 18 years. His research interests include brain function, personal responsibil-ity, and human nature, and he has written extensively on Christian approaches to understanding these topics.
Don-ald J. Tellinghuisen is also a professor of psychology at Calvin University. He received his Ph.D. in human experimental psychology from the University of Iowa, specializing in research on attention and vision. Before teaching at Calvin, he spent seven years at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. His research focuses on cognition, particularly attention and distractibility, and he actively involves students in his research work.
Some Quotes Reflecting Elements of their Worldview
“…we believe that a Christian worldview or faith perspective can and should inform our understanding of psychology. (p. xvi)
[Referring to Genesis 1:26] “Starting with the first words of Scripture…we can see that the Bible describes humans as creatures, made ‘in his own image.’” (p. 2)
“The phrase, “Let us make mankind in our image” reveals the relationality within the very nature of God. God’s essence is relational, shown in the interrelatedness of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” (p. 3)
“In the fall, rather than embracing personhood…we chose an individuality that cre-ates a gulf between God and each person.” (p. 7)
“The pervasiveness of sin is absolute: everyone sins…” (p. 7)
“Although we are damaged by sin and live in a broken, fallen world, the relational core of the image of God is still there.” (p. 8)
“To be perfectly honest, as Christian psychologists we have struggled to understand how our sinful tendencies are to be understood in the context of psychological theories, and so we do not have simple answers for these complex questions.” (p. 10)
About Meaning
“We believe that there are at least three aspects of meaning seeking that are fundamental to human nature.” (p. 16) Their list of three follows along with explanations.
Ability to perceive patterns
Seeking meaning through our experiences
The human desire for a deity
About the authors
Paul Moes is a professor of psychology at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He holds a Ph.D. in experimental psychology from Texas Christian University, with a focus on the "Chemistry of Behavior”. Before joining Calvin, he taught at Dordt College for 18 years. His research interests include brain function, personal responsibil-ity, and human nature, and he has written extensively on Christian approaches to understanding these topics.
Don-ald J. Tellinghuisen is also a professor of psychology at Calvin University. He received his Ph.D. in human experimental psychology from the University of Iowa, specializing in research on attention and vision. Before teaching at Calvin, he spent seven years at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. His research focuses on cognition, particularly attention and distractibility, and he actively involves students in his research work.
Some Quotes Reflecting Elements of their Worldview
“…we believe that a Christian worldview or faith perspective can and should inform our understanding of psychology. (p. xvi)
[Referring to Genesis 1:26] “Starting with the first words of Scripture…we can see that the Bible describes humans as creatures, made ‘in his own image.’” (p. 2)
“The phrase, “Let us make mankind in our image” reveals the relationality within the very nature of God. God’s essence is relational, shown in the interrelatedness of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” (p. 3)
“In the fall, rather than embracing personhood…we chose an individuality that cre-ates a gulf between God and each person.” (p. 7)
“The pervasiveness of sin is absolute: everyone sins…” (p. 7)
“Although we are damaged by sin and live in a broken, fallen world, the relational core of the image of God is still there.” (p. 8)
“To be perfectly honest, as Christian psychologists we have struggled to understand how our sinful tendencies are to be understood in the context of psychological theories, and so we do not have simple answers for these complex questions.” (p. 10)
About Meaning
“We believe that there are at least three aspects of meaning seeking that are fundamental to human nature.” (p. 16) Their list of three follows along with explanations.
Ability to perceive patterns
Seeking meaning through our experiences
The human desire for a deity
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Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is www.suttong.com
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