| The field of psychology encompasses many aspects | | | | process is reversed because religion is used to clarify |
| that must be dealt with on a daily basis. Psychologists | | | | a particular set of circumstances based on the lack of |
| and others working in the field are often faced with | | | | information that can be gathered at a given time. |
| moral dilemmas that may cause them to question the | | | | There are also times where one can support the |
| place of morals and spirituality in psychology. Those | | | | other. Religious beliefs are often used to support the |
| who practice some form of religion may use their | | | | reasoning behind many ethical situations whereas |
| specific values and morals when it comes to finding | | | | psychology is often used to prove various religion |
| resolutions in these situations. There still lies the | | | | based ideas. This is where the two can be used in |
| question of whether religion has a place in the | | | | tandem to come up with a truly unique solution that will |
| day-to-day practice of psychology and if so, where to | | | | work. |
| draw the line. | | | | It has also been argued that faith plays an important |
| In part, psychology is considered a science. Though it is | | | | role in a psychologist's ability to use the information |
| not exact in all situations, it does carry with it various | | | | found in the code of ethics and psychological practices |
| similarities to science where theories and decision | | | | that are present everyday. This is based on the belief |
| making are concerned. Ethics play a big role in | | | | that people who possess strong faith are better able |
| psychology for both the roles of the psychologist or | | | | to understand the science of psychology because |
| psychological professional conducting evaluations and | | | | they can use the two together to come up with |
| providing treatment and the client or patient receiving | | | | answers that are suited to each new set of |
| the services or treatment. The code of ethics was put | | | | circumstances. Here psychologists are not heavily |
| into place to protect both parties involved. Ethics is | | | | relying on either faith or science, but instead are using |
| based on right and wrong and, can therefore be | | | | them both to gain a better understanding of the |
| closely related to morality in many instances. Because | | | | situation as a whole. Those who believe in the |
| of this, it can be argued that religion plays a role in the | | | | contents of the code of ethics understand its |
| ethical decisions that are made everyday. Though the | | | | importance and why it must play a role in psychology |
| code of ethics does not specifically site religion as a | | | | on a daily basis (Kafka). Those who possess strong |
| part of what is contained there in, various aspects of | | | | religious beliefs usually strive to use them everyday |
| morality and common values are found. | | | | when making ethical decisions and are often working |
| Spirituality as a whole has become even more | | | | toward an outcome built on both science and faith. Still |
| prevalent in the field of psychology over the past | | | | there is a very important line between when to use |
| several years as evidenced by the number of | | | | the science of psychology and when to rely on the |
| Christian counseling centers that have opened around | | | | beliefs and values that often assist many in making |
| the country. The professionals working in these | | | | daily life decisions. |
| settings offer what some say is the perfect | | | | When it comes to the co-mingling of psychology and |
| combination of treatment, psychology based on | | | | spirituality, each has its own place. The scientific |
| Christian values and beliefs. Here the psychological | | | | aspects of psychology are necessary in order to |
| principles and ethics are used with various aspects of | | | | solve a wide range of problems and provide |
| religious values and beliefs interwoven into the | | | | successful treatment to those in need. Still, spirituality |
| treatment plans. Patients are often counseled on how | | | | can play a very important role in the rehabilitation of |
| spirituality can help them through their difficult situations. | | | | patients by making it easier to understand the |
| In these settings, professionals strive to find a balance | | | | psychological ramifications and why they exist. |
| between psychology and religion, a challenging task at | | | | Spirituality and science can be used both during and |
| times. Psychology is based on various principles, | | | | after treatment. During treatment, religious beliefs may |
| theories and ethics while religion is based mostly on | | | | guide both the psychologist and patient toward making |
| faith. Psychological issues are proven in a scientific | | | | the right decisions and understanding difficult situations |
| way while a good part of religion is based on belief in | | | | along the way. After treatment, religion can continue to |
| the unseen. While many people don't question their | | | | help the patient as he or she moves onward through |
| faith, it can be difficult to intermingle what can be | | | | life while the scientific aspect may still remain present in |
| physically seen with what cannot. This causes many | | | | the form of ongoing counseling or use of medication. |
| people to question the place of spirituality in | | | | Psychologists can use both in their profession to make |
| psychology. | | | | difficult decisions and deal with hard to solve problems. |
| Because faith is often questioned, it has become | | | | Aspects of each can be relied upon to provide the |
| necessary to receive proof. This proof often comes in | | | | means by which to draw important conclusions that |
| the form of answers that are a direct result of the | | | | may help throughout the entire treatment process. |
| testing of ideas (Myers). When ideas are tested and | | | | Evidence has also shown that psychologists who |
| found to be correct, faith is easier to maintain; | | | | know their profession but also possess strong religious |
| however, then they do not survive the test, faith can | | | | beliefs are able to help their patients throughout |
| become a very shaky prospect. When this principle is | | | | treatment by passing on various virtues that promote |
| applied to psychology, the outcome can change on a | | | | positive thinking (Myers). |
| regular basis. Different situations call for different ideas | | | | The end results of melding together both science and |
| which may or may not prove to work. Also, what | | | | spirituality have been studied for a number of years. |
| works in one situation may prove impossible in another. | | | | Some argue psychology should remain only a science |
| The key to understanding where spirituality fits in is | | | | while others feel the intertwining of science with religion |
| knowing how to apply it to each individual situation and | | | | can only serve to improve the overall outcome of |
| idea and make determinations and assessments | | | | treatment situations. The argument is also made that |
| based on the information that is gathered and the | | | | science as a whole has strong ties to religion and the |
| particular values that are relevant to the end result. | | | | two often give cause for the questioning of each |
| To better understand where religion fits into the | | | | other. Science can often prove what religion cannot |
| psychological realm, let's take a closer look at the | | | | and religion was the basis for the need to know, thus |
| human attributes that make up each. Where religion is | | | | people began studying the how and why of scientific |
| concerned there is the theological wisdom. This deals | | | | matters (Myers). |
| with the acceptance of divine love in order to enable | | | | Some have explained the boundaries between |
| individuals to accept themselves. Psychological | | | | psychology and religion by bringing up a few points |
| wisdom, however, deals with self-esteem, optimism | | | | that express how one relates to the other. One point is |
| and personal control (Myers). The ability to use the two | | | | the correlation of scientific ideas presented in |
| together to make important decisions will provide the | | | | everyday human nature to religion and being able to |
| freedom to use what we know, admit what we don't | | | | site the information to show how it is all related. |
| and search for the answers. Because we are both | | | | Another important point is the link between religion, |
| the creatures and creators of our own social world, | | | | prejudice, altruism and overall well-being (Myers). |
| people and situations matter (Myers). While ultimate | | | | When dealing with various psychological situations, it is |
| control lies beyond us, we carry responsibility for | | | | just as important to realize the importance of the |
| making important decisions that have a lasting effect | | | | science as it is the religion. This is often difficult to do |
| on us as well as others. | | | | because of the differing beliefs and values possessed |
| Psychologists face these dilemmas everyday. They | | | | by each professional working in the field. Because of |
| must make important decisions that will directly effect | | | | this, it is necessary for each to make decisions based |
| their patients. Each decision is made on an individual | | | | on the psychological code of ethics along with the |
| basis and is dependent on each specific situation and | | | | specific circumstances of each given situation. For |
| its own set of circumstances. Each decision will carry | | | | those who are religious, spirituality will most likely play a |
| with it a separate set of ethical issues and dilemmas | | | | role in the decision making process in a professional |
| and the solution will remain unique to each. Religion is | | | | setting because it very likely does in any other. Those |
| said to heal people while medicine was designed to do | | | | who utilize spirituality in day-to-day situations often rely |
| the same. The two often work in different contexts, | | | | on it to guide them in their professions. Though the |
| but it can be argued that medicine was discovered | | | | psychological code of ethics may not have been |
| because of ideas and values based on religious beliefs. | | | | created based specifically around the religious beliefs |
| Because of this, it is believed in many situations the | | | | and values directly associated with spirituality, there are |
| two are used together to come up with treatment | | | | many similarities between ethical dilemmas and |
| plans that will be both effective and long lasting. | | | | resolutions and those of a moral nature. |
| In many ways, people who have great faith have | | | | Correlations have also been reported between faith |
| found the insights and critical analyses of psychology | | | | and subjective well-being. One example of this can be |
| to be supportive of the understanding they possess of | | | | found in a National Opinion Research Center survey of |
| human nature. Their assumption that religion is | | | | 42,00 Americans that was conducted after 1972. Here |
| conducive to happiness and good health is also | | | | 26 percent who never attended religious services |
| attributed in great part to psychology. The science of | | | | reported being very happy while 47 percent of those |
| psychology offers principles that can be applied to the | | | | participating in spiritual services on a regular basis, |
| construction of messages that will prove both | | | | sometimes more than weekly reported also being |
| memorable and persuasive. Here the tasks of | | | | very happy (Myers). Though this does not sho3w a |
| peacemaking and reconciliation are promoted in a way | | | | direct link between religion and well-being, it does |
| that offers solutions that will provide the means by | | | | indicate that many people seek spirituality in various |
| which others can achieve happiness by establishing | | | | aspects of their lives. Whether the science of |
| healthy relationships (Myers). While the science may | | | | psychology and spirituality should be co-mingled in a |
| challenge our way of thinking, the same can be said of | | | | professional setting can be a bit subjective as it is |
| religion. Faith is often questioned in an effort to find | | | | dependent upon the differing situations and those |
| answers. This has proven to be helpful in many | | | | directly involved in the treatment processes. While |
| situations where the answer wasn't clearly defined. | | | | there are correlations between the ethical code used |
| Here, the science of psychology is used along with the | | | | by psychological professionals everywhere and the |
| religious beliefs to find solutions to problems that | | | | morality associated with religion, the two remain |
| seemingly have no immediate or clear resolution. Still, | | | | separate and can be called upon in any given situation |
| faith is not always a negative aspect of psychology. | | | | where they may be deemed necessary or important. |
| A strong value and belief system can help a | | | | The code of ethics is used every day in the |
| psychologist working as a professional in the field deal | | | | psychological setting, but whether or not spirituality is |
| with situations where the traditional psychological | | | | involved may be up to each professional working in |
| theories aren't showing a definite answer. Here the | | | | the field. |