Psychology: Science or Religion?

[ManOfWord]

Originally Posted by Chan

Whether it contradicts God's word or not is irrelevant; it's whether it is from God or from the world - if it is from the world, it is from God's enemy.

I guess if you knew the source of someone's opinions whether they were indeed inspired by truth, you would have the ability to make a judgement, but since you aren't God and don't have ability to rely on omiscience, you're just guessing.

Everything that is of the world is "worldly." It isn't about whether it contradict's God's word, it's about the origin of it. Where the origin is of the world, it is not of God and is, therefore, an enemy of God.

Again, if you knew it's source, you might be able to say that.

The very notion of "personality types" is based in worldly wisdom and, thus, is not of God. Such things have no place in the Church.

That is your opinion, and when you lead a group of people or a team, you have every right to refrain from using this type of teaching. As for me, I will use any tool that is not contrary to God's word or principles to accomplish His purposes. For me, I have seen too much godly fruit come from the proper use of it even as it relates to spiritual gifting.

Any "understanding" (wisdom) that is not based solely in God's word is not of God and, thus, is not real understanding.

So if it doesn't cite chapter and verse, it's not real understanding?

What do you have against idiots that you feel the need to insult them by saying we are all idiots in someone's eyes?

Idiocy is not of God, is a choice, and therefore has no place in His kingdom!

I guess if you knew the source of someone's opinions whether they were indeed inspired by truth, you would have the ability to make a judgement, but since you aren't God and don't have ability to rely on omiscience, you're just guessing.

Nothing that is of the world is inspired by truth.

Again, if you knew it's source, you might be able to say that.

As I said, everything that is of the world is "worldly." It isn't about whether it contradict's God's word, it's about the origin of it. Where the origin is of the world, it is not of God and is, therefore, an enemy of God.

That is your opinion, and when you lead a group of people or a team, you have every right to refrain from using this type of teaching. As for me, I will use any tool that is not contrary to God's word or principles to accomplish His purposes. For me, I have seen too much godly fruit come from the proper use of it even as it relates to spiritual gifting.

You make yourself an enemy of God by using worldly wisdom.

So if it doesn't cite chapter and verse, it's not real understanding?

A typically stupid remark! You and I both know that "based solely on God's word" does not mean "cite chapter and verse."

Idiocy is not of God, is a choice, and therefore has no place in His kingdom!

Is idiocy a choice? Ask those who are idiots (i.e., people who have mild mental retardation) if they chose to be that way.

[LaGirl]

Originally Posted by ReformedDave

Counseling and psychology are 2 vastly different things. They start with 2 completely different axioms.

actually they arent that different at all.

Originally Posted by LaGirl

actually they arent that different at all.

Practitioners of that wicked worldly philosophy called "psychology" do engage in counseling or, as it is often called, "psychotherapy" but the counseling itself is not psychology.

[LaGirl]

Originally Posted by Chan

Our own Rhoni (among others) has suggested (in another forum) that (to quote what you highlighted from my post) "the best kind of counseling utilizes both psychology and the Bible." and has suggested that she and those in her field (again quoting the section of my post you highlighted) "are more qualified to help people understand themselves and change their behavior than are other Christians (including pastors and elders) who are not trained in psychology."

By the way, just because you don't know of any Christian psychologist that thinks this way does not negate it, particularly since I doubt you know every Christian psychologist or even the majority of Christian psychologists. Then, of course, there are those who are not psychologists but who are psychotherapists.

no i do not know most Christian psychologist. the ones I do know do not feel that way. you have some that are FULL of themselves.

[LaGirl]

Originally Posted by Chan

Your question is not relevant: there is no such thing as "counsiling." There is, however, such a thing as "counseling." Are you suggesting that all the "counselors" mentioned in the Bible were psychologists or psychiatrists? Do you think that the prophet, in referring to Jesus as the Counselor, meant that Jesus would become a psychiatrist or psychologist?

EXCUSE THE TYPO!

if you pastor does any type of counseling, i bet he uses psychology. he may not KNOW he is using it, but i bet he does.

[LaGirl]

Originally Posted by Chan

No, we don't need to have some understanding of that wicked worldly philosophy called "psychology." We need a thorough understanding of God and His word.

i see this is endless. psychology is wicked and worldy to you. go figure.......

Originally Posted by LaGirl

EXCUSE THE TYPO!

if you pastor does any type of counseling, i bet he uses psychology. he may not KNOW he is using it, but i bet he does.

Well, since I'm in between pastors right now (my former pastor resigned and we haven't brought in a new one yet)...

If a pastor is using psychology in his counseling, he is using a wicked worldly philosophy (actually, all worldly philosophies are wicked; so, try not to make anything out of my use of the word "wicked") and, thus, is committing treason against God.

Originally Posted by LaGirl

i see this is endless. psychology is wicked and worldy to you. go figure.......

Psychology is a worldly philosophy, yes. It is wicked simply because it is worldly.

The actual foundations of psychotherapy are not science, but rather various philosophical world views, especially those of determinism, secular humanism, behaviorism, existentialism, and even evolutionism. This is what makes psychology "worldly."

I cannot overstate the dangers of Christians relying on worldly wisdom to guide their lives. So-called "Christian psychologists" and other practitioners of psychology who claim to be Christian deceive the saints by trying to make the saints think that we can combine worldly philosophies with the truth of God's word. In so doing, they're essentially trying to join Christ to a harlot.

"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness." - 1 Corinthians 3:19 -

"...what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?" - 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 -

[LaGirl]

Originally Posted by Chan

Psychology is a worldly philosophy, yes. It is wicked simply because it is worldly.

to you it is worldly. that is your opinion, simly because it is.