psychology

1. No.

2. Yes.

3. Psychology is not a science. A science involves tests that are done over and over again and verified by a consistent result. Psychology varies and is therefore not a science.

4. Throw it all out. God said: All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Well, what can psychology add to thoroughly equipped? Nothing of value.

5. It is not a real disease anymore than drunkards, sexually immoral, or arsons are diseased. Perhaps if people stopped trying to find medical reasons they are in sin, they would repent and turn from it.

 

Hi Girla:

I don't consider Christian psychology an oxymoron. There are a lot of good Christian psychologists who adhere strictly to scripture when treating patients.

Some people are not very sympathetic to mental or nervous illnesses on this board. If something is caused by a chemical imbalance; it is a disease and not a sin.


Sue

 

With this we agree, at least I do. So perhaps you can tell us what chemical is imbalanced in OCD. Tell us how it is tested and verified.

 

There may be chemical imbalances and physical causes for mental problems, but they should never give excuse to sin.

 

Biological factors involving brain structure and activation are associated with OCD. Abnormalities of the frontal lobes, basal ganglia, and cingulum are common in people with OCD. Basal ganglia are involved in routine behaviors, like grooming, and the frontal lobes in organizing behaviors and in planning. The cingulum consists of fibrous bands that assist in communicating the brain’s behavioral and emotional messages. Support for its role in OCD is the fact that surgical severing of the cingulum has relieved and even cured people with the disorder.

The Serotonin Hypothesis
An abnormally low level of serotonin is perhaps the most well-established link between the brain and OCD. Serotonin is a chemical neurotransmitter that transmits information from one nerve to another throughout the brain. It is released by one synapse(nerve ending), crosses a gap, and is picked up by another synapse. After a message is sent, enzymes in the brain clean serotonin out of the synapses.

There is no laboratory test for OCD. Diagnosis is made with the following:
Close clinical examination of emotional past
Criteria for diagnosis
Current symptoms
Differential diagnosis
Examination of family history (see risk factors)
OCD can be mild or severe. There are four essential factors in the diagnosis of OCD that distinguish OCD from ordinary, mildly intrusive worries or brooding. They are the following:
Symptoms cause significant distress
Symptoms take up more than 1 hour a day
Symptoms significantly interfere with work, relationships, or daily functioning
The person recognizes that his or her obsessions and compulsions are unreasonable or excessive

OCD Information

 

Psychology is a secular attempt to interpret the soul. Secularists who do not recognize the true nature of the soul are ultimately incapable of understanding it. Why do some Christians want to mix these two together?

Secular psychology has a limited use for the Christian in that it is often helpful in describing a condition. It also uses statistics so that sometimes it can assist in determining factors that influence a condition. However, because of a mindset which denies basic truth about the soul, as we find truth in scripture, psychology is unable to give real cures for the problems it describes.

Calling a disorder a disease is not a strictly scientific diagnoses. "Disease" is actually an analogy to describe the problem. The scriptures use "disease" to describe problems of the soul, but only by analogy, not in the sense of a physical disease. Disorders are not physical diseases per se, or at least I know of no proof for such.

 

swaimj, read Pastor Bob 63's post on this subject. It is thorough and accurate.

If disorders are not diseases; why are they treated by medical doctors?

I have stated before that I do not consider a Christian therapist who adheres strictly to biblical principles in his treatment to be secular.


Sue

 

For those who believe that OCD is an actual disease, I ask the following question:

Can it be overcome by the person becoming a believer and walking in the Spirit?

 

Dr.s treat it because drugs can relieve the symptoms. That doesn't mean that drugs cure the problem.

 

I had an emphasis on Phychology in my bachelor's degree. For anyone to deny the existence or the usefulness of it is absurd. Psychology is useful in that it allows us to more accurately predict behavior. This allows behavior to possibly be changed. Psychology is no panacea; it does not have all the answers, but it is very helpful.

 

Doctors perform all kinds of procedures and acts that are totally irrelevant to what the person needs.

I think the biggest joke is ADD.

 

Absurd? Hardly. Tell ya what, you present one problem that psychology helps that Scripture cannot?

I am blessed 16 , psychology is rooted in humanism. What biblical principles are involved in that? I will stick to the foolishness of preaching.

 

I Am Blessed 16 suggested...

Think about what Pastor Bob 63 said:

What? A disease which cannot be scientifically verified? It cannot be isolated and examined?

No matter what the personal past, this is not a method for proving a disease.

What is the criteria for diagnosis? Is it something from the lab or is it observation of a behaviour whose cause MAY be physical, but MAY not be. This is circular reasoning at its best.

Again, not a basis for proving a disease.

This does not prove that it is a disease.

Please don't misunderstand what I am saying. There MAY be physical factors in OCD. If drugs can relieve symptoms, I have no problem. However, there MAY be spiritual factors at the root of the condition. When I see a problem of behaviour, I HAVE to ask if a spiritual issue might be at its heart. If that is the root of the problem, then no medical doctor will ever be able to cure it. How sad if Christians buy into the secular world-view and offer no true help.

 

I reread Pastor Bob's post. He did not state that he agreed with OCD being a disease. He merely supplied the information that Larry had requested.


Sue

 

I am afraid that John 3:16 is not the total answer to every physical and emotional ailment known to society. It is the solution to one's eternal state and can result in some emotional stability, but not in all. Psychology is another tool to help work with people. Tools require craftsman. Just as every man with a hammer may not be a carpenter, so every so-called psychologist may not be a societal practitioner.

Wait until you have been in ministry a few years, and tell me what you think.

Cheers,

Jim

PS..Alzheimers can only be medically diagnosed in post mortum, but physicians have learned enough symptoms shared over time to suspect a diagnosis and so treat it. Hardly a science, but still reliable.

 

Jim, what about the passage I listed?

 

4. Throw it all out. God said: All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
______________________________________________

Preach,,if you mean this quote, it has nothing whatsoever to do with psychology.

Sorry,

Jim

 

Sure it does. You see, the passage not only proves the inerrancy of Scripture, it also proves the sufficiency of Scripture.

We are told that through proper doctrine, correction, and instruction, the man of God may be complete.

Where is the void that psychology helps fill?

I will ask you: can you provide any problem that psychology addresses that Scripture doesn't address better?