Exploring Psychology and Christian Faith by Moes & Tellinghuisen

Do Christians Need a Christian Guide to Study Psychology? 

Exploring Psychology and Christian Faith by Moes & Tellinghuisen

  by

Paul Moes and

Donald J. Tellinghuisen

Reviewer:

  Geoffrey W. Sutton PhD

Cite this review

Sutton, G. W. (2024). Do Christians Need a Christian Guide to Study Psychology? 

Exploring Psychology and Christian Faith by Moes & Tellinghuisen. Interdisciplinary Book and Film Reviews. https://suttonreviews.suttong.com/2024/11/exploring-psychology-and-christian.html

Book Summary

Exploring Psychology and Christian Faith by Paul Moes and Donald J. Tellinghuisen is an introductory treatise that endeavors to reconcile the domains of psychology and Christian theology. The book is methodically arranged around five pivotal themes of human nature from a biblical perspective:

• Relational persons
• Brokenness and the need for redemption
• Embodiment
• Responsible limited agency
• Meaning-seeking

The authors delve into myriad psychological constructs that 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 therapeutic practices. Each chapter incorporates discussion questions and reflective prompts to facilitate readers in synthesizing their faith with psychological insights.

The book aspires to offer a coherent framework for students and readers inclined towards understanding how Christian faith can illuminate and be informed by psychological tenets.
Comments on "Exploring Psychology and Christian Faith"

Exploring Psychology and Christian Faith appears to serve as a valuable adjunct to introductory psychology textbooks, presenting a distinctive perspective on human nature and behavior through the prism of conservative Protestant Christian theology. In their words: “…we believe that a Christian worldview or faith perspective can and should inform our understanding of psychology." (p. xvi)

Comments and Reflections

I do not perceive this volume as an integrative work or a bridge over the chasm between Christian theology and mainstream psychological science. Rather, taking inspiration from their title, I regard it as a guidebook assisting conservative Christian students in navigating psychology by mitigating potentially disconcerting ideas and providing a reassuring traditional perspective on human nature—one not addressed by psychology—such as humanity being created in the image of God and individuals being marred by sin and residing in a fallen world. Three quotations underscore my viewpoint.

   Referring to Genesis 1:26: “Starting with the first words of Scripture…we can see that the Bible depicts humans as creatures, made ‘in his own image.’” (p. 2)

   “The pervasiveness of sin is absolute: everyone sins…” (p. 7)

    "Although we are marred by sin and exist in a broken, fallen world, the relational essence of the image of God remains.” (p. 8)

I commend their candor when contemplating the theological concept of sin and its congruence with psychological perspectives on human nature: “To be perfectly honest, as Christian psychologists we have grappled with understanding how our sinful inclinations are to be construed within the context of psychological theories, and thus we do not possess straightforward answers for these complex questions.” (p. 10)

Although I am not a theologian, their perception of God as a relational entity reveals a specific Christian theology that provides a markedly different exegesis of the "us" in the creation narrative when any notion of a triune God was absent from the Jewish scriptures (e.g., see Sutton, 2024): “The phrase, ‘Let us make mankind in our image’ unveils the relationality intrinsic to the very nature of God. God’s essence is relational, demonstrated in the interconnectedness of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” (p. 3)

The authors address the concept of meaning in life, a theme explored by both faith and positive psychology. They state: “We believe that there are at least three facets of meaning-seeking that are fundamental to human nature.” (p. 16) Their enumeration includes:
   • The ability to perceive patterns
   • Seeking meaning through our experiences
   • The intrinsic human longing for a deity

Thus, we observe how a faith-based presumption that individuals have an inherent yearning for a deity, which would be arduous to substantiate through the scientific method, surfaces as an augmentation to psychological findings rather than being strictly integrated.

Students who pursue further psychological studies frequently enter applied fields as counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, social workers, and so forth. For them, the chapters on psychological disorders and treatment may prove particularly invaluable. Here, the authors address the complexities in comprehending psychological disorders, acknowledging a multitude of contributing factors and introducing a role for personal and societal sin. In the subsequent chapter, the authors present a Christian viewpoint on psychotherapy, acknowledging concerns among some Christians regarding psychological interventions yet affirming that while churches and friends offer support to individuals with mental disorders, professional psychotherapists possess unique and pertinent knowledge and skills essential for treatment. They remind readers that the Bible is not a scientific textbook, as mentioned elsewhere. One aspect they do not broach is the influence of demonic forces, which remains pertinent to the understanding of mental disorders and appropriate interventions within the worldviews of many Christians, especially those aligned with charismatic and Pentecostal traditions (e.g., Tan, 2011; Sutton, 2021).

An exploration of the book offers additional instances of the authors' endeavors to guide conservative Christian students through their initial course in psychological science. The authors demonstrate a profound understanding of key concepts and theories in numerous domains of psychological science and exhibit an awareness of Christian thinkers' perspectives on various issues relevant to each chapter. I envisage this book being particularly beneficial for students and professors in evangelical colleges and universities. It may also assist novice professors in contemplating the inclusion of relevant information in their lectures. The book may be less advantageous for Christians whose progressive worldviews (Sutton, 2025) fully endorse science, including psychological science and evidence-based psychotherapy. Additionally, it is unlikely to be suitable for students at Christian institutions that emphasize Christian psychology and biblical counseling.

References

Moes, P., & Tellinghuisen, D. J. (2014). Exploring psychology and Christian faith: An introductory guide. Baker Academic.   

Sutton, G. W. (2021). Counseling and psychotherapy with Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians: Culture & Research | Assessment & Practice. Sunflower.      

Sutton, G. W. (2024). Irreconcilable differences? Apes, Adam and an ark: Relating Christianity and psychology. Sunflower.   

Sutton, G. W. (2025). Worldviews apart: Christianity and psychology | An exploration of possibilities for bridging the divide between faith and science. Sunflower Press. 

Tan, S-Y. (2011). Counseling and psychotherapy: A Christian perspective.  Baker Academic.

  

About the book 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 responsibility, and human nature, and he has written extensively on Christian approaches to understanding these topics.

Donald 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.

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Review Author

Geoffrey W. Sutton, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Evangel University, holds a master’s degree in counseling and a PhD in psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. His postdoctoral work encompassed education and supervision in forensic and neuropsychology. As a licensed psychologist, he conducted clinical and neuropsychological evaluations and provided psychotherapy for patients in various settings, including schools, hospitals, and private offices. During his tenure as a professor, Dr. Sutton taught courses on psychotherapy, assessment, and research. He has authored over one hundred publications, including books, book chapters, and articles in peer-reviewed psychology journals. His website is https://suttong.com

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