The Marriage of Mr. Superior Theology and Ms. Naïve Psychology
(Brian Campbell)
The following post is incomplete. However, it provides an illustration of how you could
approach the GDB questions in an interesting, and insightful, manner. .
Think…think…think….
Pastor Integration: Dearly beloved,
We are gathered here today to join in holy matrimony, Ms. Naïve Psychology and Mr.
Superior Theology. Who gives this woman to be married to this man?
Mr. Protestantism: Her mother and I do.
Pastor Integration: Friends and family, please be seated. I would like to take a moment
to introduce this couple.
As you can see, Ms. Naïve Psychology is a relatively young woman—at least in
comparison to her fiancé, Mr. Theology. She was born in the late 1800’s, (Entwistle,
2010, p. 36), in Wilhelm Wundt’s laboratory in Germany (Entwistle, 2010, p. 41). Her
birth was notable for the fact that Dr. Wundt, whose father was a Lutheran pastor
(Entwistle, 2010, p. 41), delivered her by means of the newly fashioned procedure called,
“the experimental method” (Entwistle, 2010, p. 41).
Unfortunately, Ms. Psychology grew at a time in history when there was great suspicion,
and outright prejudice, concerning Dr. Wundt’s revolutionary “scientific method.” Chief
among those who later opposed his methods were Evangelical Christians, who were
especially vehement and hostile toward the birth of Ms. Psychology (Entwistle, 2010, p.
47).
Although she was born in Leipzig, Germany, Naive spent most of her early years in
Vienna (Entwistle, 2010, p. 40), where she grew up under the care of a neurologist named
Sigmund Freud. Dr. Freud, who was an atheist, taught Naïve the art of psychoanalysis,
and it was not long before Ms. Psychology and all of her friends were “psychoanalyzing”
everyone they met. Unfortunately for Ms. Psychology, the Catholic Church hated Dr.
Freud and his techniques of psychoanalysis. In fact, they considered that anyone who
practiced psychoanalysis was committing a mortal sin (Entwistle, 2010, p. 44).
More recently, Ms. Psychology moved to the United States, where she was adopted my
Mr. and Mrs. Protestantism, who were busy starting new universities throughout the
country (Entwistle, 2010, p. 27). She was a student resident at Harvard University, and
eventually became a student of B. F. Skinner, the founder of behaviorism. More recently,
she studied under Dr. Arron Beck, at the University of Cognitive Studies. Although she
was never formally trained in theology, she loves God and has made a habit of studying
His Word.
Pastor Integration: Now let me introduce you to the groom, Mr. Superior Theology.
Mr. Superior Theology studied at the Superior Theological School of Truth. While
attending this school, his principle teacher and mentor has been God. He looks to God as
his only source of knowledge.
He had a troubled childhood. At one point, he got into trouble with the laws of God
when he murdered anyone who challenged his church or his way of thinking.
During our premarital counseling sessions, Mr. Theology admitted that had great
reservations about marrying Ms. Psychology. It took a great deal of convincing to help
him understand that Ms. Psychology is a bright woman.
(Continue Here…)
Pastor Integration: Now if there is anyone here who has reason to believe that this couple
should not be integrated in holy matrimony, speak now, or forever hold your peace.
Dr. Jay Adams: I do, pastor. I object. I believe that these two people are entirely
incompatible (Entwistle (2010), p. 12). After all, Ms. Naïve Psychology is a sinner.
(Entwistle, 2010, p. 12). She has no right to be marrying Mr. Theology.
She is inferior in so many ways. She will never be a good mother. I have heard that most
of the time she doesn’t even pray or seek knowledge from the Bible, or from the Holy
Spirit. Granted, her house tends to be pretty clean and organized, as she straightens
everything up scientifically.
Mr. Protestant (Naïve’s Father): Now wait just a minute! I want to defend my
daughter’s character. She may be a sinner, but so are you Dr. Adams. As the Bible says,
“Let he who is without sin, cast the first stone.” After all, theologians like you sin every
day, so who are you to talk about my daughter’s sin. You are trapped and condemned by
your own “superior” reasoning. You have been hoisted by your own petard.
Just remember, you are a finite creature with a finite brain. Even when you feel you hear
directly from God, it is like a father trying to talk to his two-year-old son about
trigonometry. In fact, I think you should take heed of what God has told you, time and
time again: “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your
ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).
So, don’t think you are so clever; after all, people like you [Theologians] used to
believe—no, insist--that the earth was the center of the universe (Entwistle, 2010, p. 21).
In fact, you and your kind [Theologians] have been taking the “High and Mighty,” road
since one of your people (St. Thomas Aquinas) claimed that knowledge from theology is
superior to human reason (Entwistle, 2010, p. 22). You’ve been using that statement to
judge my daughter [Psychology], since the time I [Protestantism] gave birth to her
(Entwistle, 2010, p. 22).
Just because you don’t like Darwin . . .
Mr. Protestant:
(To Be Continued…)