The Question

Does psychology honor God? I understand Freud and Jung were opposed to Christianity. Isn’t psychology a platform for teaching Freudian and Jungian religion? How do families with chronic schizophrenia manage the therapeutic quagmire?

SM from Florida

What God Honors

I’ll start off by saying that I don’t remember enough from my collage days about the roots of modern psychology to say what Freud or Jung believed. I don’t have a background in psychology so I thought maybe I’d do some research and then I changed my mind. I’m going to go at this from a different angle.

Rather than wonder if psychology honors God I think there are three things that can be stated with certainty. Knowledge honors God. Wisdom honors God. Truth honors God. To the extent that any academic discipline is based on these, God is honored. Perhaps psychology is a mixed bag but wherever psychology gets it right, let’s acknowledge it.

I’ve always liked this scripture, which demonstrates the great open handedness and generosity of God to ALL. Jesus said in Matthew 5:45, “’For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.’”Does he give gifts (even great intelligence) to those who are his enemies? Yes. Does he bless the lives of those who do not serve him? Often. Does he use those men and women who do not acknowledge him for his own purposes and for the good of mankind? Definitely.

If in fact the modern psychology movement has some rotten roots, I am of the opinion that they can be redeemed. For instance, if we find out an invention was hatched in the mind of an atheist does it mean we cannot benefit from it or use it? I don’t think so. I believe psychology has come a long way from its beginnings and there are many who have redeemed it and are using it with integrity and truth.

Of course those who seek remedies from within psychology need to use wisdom and discernment. This would certainly be true of Christian parents seeking help for children with mental diseases or behavioral problems. They would not want to choose care-givers who are hostile to God or their own religious belief. Many questions should be asked before beginning therapy.

I do not believe psychology need be automatically dismissed out of hand but should be used with a dose of discernment and a large helping of prayer.