There are immense opportunities for a Christian in psychology. Psychology is about understanding people and is often used to help individuals and communities (for example in the areas of childcare and education or mental and physical health).
There is the potential for mutual enrichment between psychology and the Christian faith, whose vision of the kingdom of God is one of wholistic peace and wellbeing. There are also some particular challenges because, unlike many other areas of science, psychologists deal with issues that have traditionally been the province of faith (for example the question of why people do bad things) and they can come up with answers that sometimes appear to contradict a Christian understanding.
This leaflet aims to encourage you in your calling as a psychologist and to affirm that it is not only possible to be a Christian in psychology but also important; the world of psychology needs a Christian presence, and the churches have much to gain from the expertise and wisdom that psychology can often provide.
What is psychology?
Psychology is usually defined as the ‘scientific study of behaviour and mental processes of human beings’ either as individuals or in groups. Psychologists are interested in what people do and why; and how they feel, think, and relate to each other. Psychologists use empirical methods such as experiments, surveys, or in-depth qualitative approaches to study these questions.
Points of tension between Christianity and psychology
Christian psychologists need to develop their own understanding of how their faith is relevant in psychology, and they also need to learn how to navigate their interactions with other psychologists and professional colleagues in a way that is both true to their own faith and professionally appropriate.
Some common misunderstandings of psychology include the assumption that it has explained faith away or that psychology and the therapies it has generated have made faith obsolete. This is a form of reductionism (sometimes called ‘nothing buttery’). For example just because psychology has shown that the way we relate to God is influenced by our early relationship with our parents or caregivers, it doesn’t follow that God is ‘nothing but’ an idealised parental figure in our heads.
Starting with Freud, many psychologists have believed that religion is bad for your mental health or is itself a form of mental illness. While it is true that many mental health conditions can have religious content (e.g. hearing voices or being obsessed with guilt for an unforgiveable sin), psychologists today are also aware of the very large body of empirical literature indicating that religion is good for mental and physical health. This has made them much more respectful of faith, though they see Christianity as just one among many faith traditions.
Points of connection between Christianity and psychology
The word ‘psychology’ literally means the study of the soul (from the Greek psuchē). We can see from this that there is a close relationship between psychology and faith; indeed western psychology has its historical roots in Christianity.
Modern scientific psychology has largely separated itself from those roots; as with other sciences, it studies its subject matter (in this case human beings) without invoking supernatural or spiritual causal factors. This does not mean that it is atheistic; it is simply an academic discipline that does not engage directly with theological questions.
Nevertheless, many findings in contemporary psychology converge with Christian understandings of the world. For example the finding that the most profound personal growth and transformation occurs in the context of suffering and adversity; that healthy self-esteem is not based on achievements but on a sense of unconditional acceptance; that true humility involves looking to the needs and interests of others rather than self-denigration. An exciting positive challenge for the Christian is to bring findings like this into conversation with Christian theological understandings of the human person.
Psychology as a calling
While psychology can be studied at undergraduate level for purely academic interest, it is also the gateway into a number of helping professions:
- Clinical psychology
- Counselling psychology
- Health psychology
- Educational psychology
- Occupational psychology
- Forensic psychology
- Neuropsychology
The practice of psychology, especially when it is used to empower those who are deprived or on the margins or in distress of various kinds, is a high calling. For the Christian it involves the weaving together of the best scientific knowledge with an understanding that each human being is loved by God and that even in the most apparently intractable situations there is hope of transformation. Quietly modelling this resurrection faith is of immeasurable benefit not only to ‘clients’ and their families but also to colleagues.
Psychology serving the church
Most Christian psychologists are involved in a local church, and are often interested in making a contribution as a psychologist to its life. This may be in the area of improving understanding of common mental health conditions such as depression, or conditions affecting the brain such as dementia.
A Christian psychologist can be a trustworthy advisor for people considering undergoing therapy or who have encountered ideas from popular psychology and want to know if they are reliable.
One area that has proved controversial and in which Christian psychologists have been able to help is that of mindfulness: is it OK for Christians to get involved with this popular practice? In their book Being mindful, being Christian Roger Bretherton and colleagues suggest that it is; for example it helps avoid judgmentalism of self and others, in harmony with New Testament teaching.
Psychology can also be helpful in understanding relationships in church settings, elucidating the factors that can make things go wrong but also contributing to the support of healthy congregations. One simple insight from psychology is that if communities grow beyond a certain size (‘Dunbar’s number’), the quality of relationships quickly breaks down. This has relevance for the organisation of large churches and church planting programmes.
Psychology can also serve theology, and help us connect more deeply with biblical themes, for example by enriching our understandings of what it means to say that God is our loving, nurturing parent.
Further information
Suggested reading
- Bryan, J. (2016). Being Human: Insights from Psychology and the Christian Faith. London: SCM Press.
- Jeeves, M. A. & Ludwig, T. E. (2018). Psychological Science and Christian Faith: Insights and Enrichments from Constructive Dialogue. Philadelphia: Templeton Press.
- Savage, S. (2007). The Human Face of Church: A Social Psychology and Pastoral Theology Resource for Pioneer and Traditional Ministry. Norwich: Canterbury Press.
- Watts, F. (2019). Theology and Psychology. London: Routledge.
- Watts, F., Nye, R. & Savage, S. (2002). Psychology for Christian Ministry. London: Routledge.
Useful websites
About the authors
Laura Pellegrini
Laura is doing her PhD study at the University of Lincoln. Her research is evaluating the effectiveness of mindfulness programmes on physiological markers of stress, cognition and wellbeing in adults. She is sponsored by the Mindfulness Association and having worked in a variety of environments, Laura hopes the research will help inform support to a wide range of people. Laura is happy to field any questions via email: LPellegrini@lincoln.ac.uk.
Joanna Collicutt
Joanna lectures in psychology of religion for the Oxford Faculty of Theology and Religion, is an Associate Tutor at Ripon College Cuddesdon, and a priest in a West Oxfordshire parish. She is a chartered clinical psychologist and registered specialist neuropsychologist.
After many years working in the British National Health Service, Joanna moved into the field of psychology of religion and was director of the MA programme in psychology of religion at Heythrop College, University of London, and then Lecturer in Psychology and Spirituality at Ripon College Cuddesdon, and Adviser on the spiritual needs of Older People for the Diocese of Oxford.
Her most recent books include The Psychology of Christian Character Formation (SCM, 2015), Being Mindful Being Christian (Monarch, 2016), Thinking of You: A Theological and Practical Resource for the Spiritual Care of People with Dementia (BRF, 2017), and Neurology and Religion (CUP, 2019).