APA Rejects ID
The American Psychological Association has rejected the teaching of Intelligent Design as “science.” In other words, the official position of mainline western psychology is that biblical creation is a lie and the only valid way to understand human behavior and mental processes is through the lens of “evolutionary theory” (their words).
This long, involved, excellent post from the Society for Christian Psychology breaks that news down. I really urge you to read it if you’re currently studying psych (or thinking about it) in high school or college. Most Christian students walk into their biology classes aware, at least, that their prof might be basing his/her teaching on a worldview contradictory to that of the Bible. But far too many jump into psych courses without ever wondering about the evolutionary biases of their teachers and textbooks.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not on the bandwagon with those who feel that as Christians we should throw out the whole field of psychology because its dominated by theories and practices that don’t mesh with Scripture. I still believe it’s valid (and fascinating!) to study the human mind and human choices -- as long as we filter our understanding of what we find through the lens of a biblical worldview. An excellent biblical and Christian psychologist can be a huge help for some in applying God’s life-changing truth to specific life circumstances.
Having said that, I do think hurting Christians should avoid looking for significant mental, emotional, and relationship help from anyone who denies the God of creation, the reality of sin, and the transforming power of redemption through Jesus and sanctification by His Spirit. I also think Christian students need to think hard before choosing to study (and esp. major in) psychology with unbelieving teachers. Those who do so anyway really need to find outside help with comparing/contrasting their studies with a biblical perspective.
You just can’t have it both ways and come to a right understanding of the truth. Either God created the human mind and body or He did not. Our human minds and bodies are either devastated by sin or they are not. Becoming a Christian is either the key to a transformed mind or is isn’t. Mental and emotional healing are either available through obedience to God and the power of the Holy Spirit or they are not.
If those things are true, any study of psych that denies them can't help but come to lots of wrong conclusions. In officially rejecting a Designer (and the story of creation and the Fall), the APA has rejected both the original source of and the ultimate hope for many psychological problems.
This long, involved, excellent post from the Society for Christian Psychology breaks that news down. I really urge you to read it if you’re currently studying psych (or thinking about it) in high school or college. Most Christian students walk into their biology classes aware, at least, that their prof might be basing his/her teaching on a worldview contradictory to that of the Bible. But far too many jump into psych courses without ever wondering about the evolutionary biases of their teachers and textbooks.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not on the bandwagon with those who feel that as Christians we should throw out the whole field of psychology because its dominated by theories and practices that don’t mesh with Scripture. I still believe it’s valid (and fascinating!) to study the human mind and human choices -- as long as we filter our understanding of what we find through the lens of a biblical worldview. An excellent biblical and Christian psychologist can be a huge help for some in applying God’s life-changing truth to specific life circumstances.
Having said that, I do think hurting Christians should avoid looking for significant mental, emotional, and relationship help from anyone who denies the God of creation, the reality of sin, and the transforming power of redemption through Jesus and sanctification by His Spirit. I also think Christian students need to think hard before choosing to study (and esp. major in) psychology with unbelieving teachers. Those who do so anyway really need to find outside help with comparing/contrasting their studies with a biblical perspective.
You just can’t have it both ways and come to a right understanding of the truth. Either God created the human mind and body or He did not. Our human minds and bodies are either devastated by sin or they are not. Becoming a Christian is either the key to a transformed mind or is isn’t. Mental and emotional healing are either available through obedience to God and the power of the Holy Spirit or they are not.
If those things are true, any study of psych that denies them can't help but come to lots of wrong conclusions. In officially rejecting a Designer (and the story of creation and the Fall), the APA has rejected both the original source of and the ultimate hope for many psychological problems.
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