Psychopathology and a Christian Worldview

            A worldview, simply put, is how one views the world around him.  It is how they look at the “big picture” of life and their beliefs, and how it helps them understand reality.  It forms the basis for how one makes daily decisions and is important in their life (Baggett & Baggett, 2013).  For Christians, having a Christian worldview means viewing the world from a Christian point of view.  Having a Christian world view helps me to understand that I am created by God and I was designed to be in fellowship with him.  I am guilty of sin because of the original sin committed by Adam and Eve, but thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God has redeemed me.  Believing in a Christian worldview helps me believe in morality, miracles, and redemption (Baggett & Baggett, 2013).

            Psychopathology is a continually developing field and involves the study of and treatment of psychological disorders (Kring, Johnson, Davison, & Neale, 2016).  Psychological disorders are the most stigmatized conditions in our society and I believe are misunderstood.  Society labels people normal and abnormal so we have to first understand what is normal and what is not and this can be quite subjective.  A person who washes their hands before dinner or wiping down the handle of a shopping cart at Walmart may be normal for some, while others would simply walk in to the store and push the cart away.  Does washing your hands several times a day using a new bar of soap each time you touch something considered abnormal?  Experts define normal in terms of an individual having an accurate perception of reality and a good concept of self-knowledge and self-esteem, accepting themselves for who they are (Kring, et.al., 2016).  The Christian worldview of normal involves being dependent on God but having free will to make decision based on His will.  Being a fallen creation, we act out of selfish and self-centered behavior rather than seeking to please God.

            Abnormality from a Christian worldview describes how we are alienated from God because of the original sin, but it does not take in to account any biological causes.  Secular views of abnormality consider being abnormal as having a biological problem; it can also involve breaking the rules of society.  Problems with the secular views of abnormality is they do not consider nurturing factors or how this view may change within cultures or between cultures. 

If you or someone you know are suffering from addiction and you are ready to seek help, contact Coastal Wellness Counseling now for a free consultation.

References

Baggett, D., & Baggett, M. (2013). Epistemic humility: Engaging a Christian worldview. Christian Teachers Journal, 21(2), 28-31.

Kring, A. M., Johnson, S. L., Davison, G. C., & Neale, J. M. (2016). Abnormal Psychology. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Thomas, J. & Dumont, K., (n.d.).  Psychopathology and counseling: An overview [slide presentation].  Retrieved from https://learn.liberty.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-17392926-dt-content-rid-154927381_1/courses/COUN646_B53_201730/COUN646%20ISpring%20Presentations/Module%2001/PsychopathologyandCounselingAnOverview%20%28LMS%29/res/index.html