Tuesday, April 3, 2012

The fossil record

Darwin stated that if one can’t find all of the fine, graduated evolutionary steps in the fossil record, then one can rightly reject the theory.

If speciation requires many thousands of morphological changes, there should be some fossil evidence of those changes – Darwin agreed they weren’t there, but only because we hadn’t dug up enough fossils

120 years after Darwin’s time we have a lot more fossil evidence than he did, but we have even less support for his evolutionary theories

Theory of punctuated equilibrium – offered by evolutionist Gould because of the lack of evidence in the fossil record; purports immediate speciation to account for the missing links

Icons of Evolution – used for years as “proof” of evolution – all are inaccurate and outdated

Theory of directed panspermia – purports that the first living cell was sent to earth from another planet – offered by Crick because evidence was overwhelmingly against spontaneous generation

Evolution again fails Darwin’s own test

Transformational Psychology View - John H. Cole and Todd W. Hall

This view could be summed up in this statement, "Central to our transformational psychology is that these core realities and tenets of the faith not only inform psychology of its origin and goals, which observation and reflection alone cannot grasp; they also shape the entire process, product and person doing psychology" (Johnson, p. 205). This view addresses how the character of the person doing psychology affects the outcome. This view also emphasizes the need to do psychology from a Christian perspective. The heart of the view is the authority of scripture and the role it plays in understanding human beings.


Works Cited

Johnson, E. L. (2010). Psychology and Christianity Five Views. Downers Grove, IL, USA: InterVarsity Press.

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Christian Psychology View - Robert C. Roberts and P. J. Watson

The integration view operates within professional counseling type settings, but this view is more involved on the local church level, counseling centers, and school level. The Christian Psychology view is focused on the development of distinctly Christian psychological theories. This is accomplished by placing a high view on scriptures, "Much of the foundational work in Christian psychology will therefore require a careful reading of scripture" (Johnson, p.155). This view, from a cursory glance, will appear not much different from postmodern psychology. The difference will be seen in the worldview from which it is approached. Once again, like the previous views this view places much weight in scientific research. This view will differ with regard to how society influences behavior. It focuses more on healing the soul and counseling in general. The central beliefs are that God is at the core of life, and people are part of an unfolding revelation of God's glory through creation. This view believes that we are created in the image of God. It also tells us that via the Fall recorded in Genesis, we are sinners separated from God. It concludes that we can only be redeemed through the redemptive work of Christ. this view has a distinctive eschatological view. This view also contains a multi-level model of human nature. We are soul and body. Within the soul resides the spiritual, ethical, and psychosocial part of our nature while the body is the biological part of our nature.

Integration Model - Stanton Jones

The main idea of this model is the total integration of theology and psychology, or what can be referred to as interdisciplinary integration. The goal is to form a proper interpretation of psychology through a Christian worldview. The secondary goal is to live out the Christian life personally and in the workplace. "We believe that Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord of all of life" (Johnson, p. 102). The integration view posits that God is glorified through the use of His truth. One problem with buying into a total integration view is that it tends to legitimize all viewpoints of psychology as equally true. Like other models, this model places a high importance on scientific research. It, unlike some views, looks to faith to interpret psychological ideas. This is a very engaging view. It appears to seek out engagement with the society.