Moriarty's Integrating Faith And Psychology

While the comparison of Old Testament theology may seem somewhat contradictory or unrelated to many fields of study, with careful consideration for the essence of the Old Testament, one may come to find that the study of the Old Testament can be enhanced by his or her field or that his or her field may be enhanced by studying the Old Testament. The field of psychology in comparison to the Old Testament can be considered in this way too because the Old Testament provides examples as well as is better understood with a psychological background. One is better able to serve others through increased understanding from a combination of Old Testament and psychological understandings, and also being able to apply Old Testament themes to the study of …show more content…
Glendon Moriarty’s Integrating Faith and Psychology: Twelve Psychologists Tell Their Stories provides the autobiographical stories of how some psychologists were able to unite their Christian faith to the study of psychology. One story that of Siang-Yang Tan relates how his study of psychology actually helped to strengthen his Christian faith by allowing him to serve Christ by pursuing the field of psychology (Moriarty). He states, “My interest in helping people in their struggles and problems also grew as a result… I sensed even more strongly that the Lord was leading me to serve him and to serve people in the field of clinical psychology” (Moriarty, 72). While my future career path is still debatable, if I choose to remain in an occupation using psychology, I am interested in becoming a clinical counselor in order that I will be able to help others, acting as a kind of advocate of God’s will or goodness. Throughout the Old Testament, an extremely common theme is following the will of God and the appointment of advocates who try to point the Israelites to his will. In a similar way, the service of helping God’s creation to reach their full potential or to overcome intense struggles can be applied to the field of …show more content…
Whether it is through the gaining of examples from the Old Testament as a literary source or relation of scientific findings to the glory of God such as the intricacy of the human brain. Study of both subjects and the addition of my faith can help me to grow in knowledge and understanding, so being able to relate the two topics will give be a multifaceted approach to psychological situations. Through application of key topics, ability to help others grow and overcome challenges of behavioral, mental, or spiritual matters, and strengthen my and the faith of others, I can use Old Testament to compliment the knowledge I gain as a psychology major and enables me to better serve others through a multidiscipline