Integration Paper

For the critical assignment, you will be developing your own theory of integration, taking into consideration the concepts of worldview, i.e, cosmology, anthropology, sin, and atonement, and psychology or sociology. In particular, you will select a specific topic in the field of psychology, e.g., mental illness, divorce, alcohol dependence, sexual orientation, domestic violence, or sociology, e.g., social problems like homelessness, to view through an integrative lens. You should rely on your personal theory regarding the worldview issues developed earlier in the course to discuss how your worldview relates to a behavioral science perspective on your topic.
As an example, for the topic of mental illness such as depression, you will explore how depression is related to human nature, sin, and what to do fix it. Further, a cosmological perspective will help identify epistemological issues (naturalism vs. supernaturalism). Stated differently, you will try to better understand how worldview shapes your understanding of the chosen topic. If, for example, you select depression as your topic, you will explain what it means to be human and psychologically functioning in a healthy manner, what our purpose in the world is so as to function in a psychologically healthy manner, what goes wrong that leads to depression, and how can depression be “fixed,” according to your theory as its been developing in the course.
You will then explore your topic from both theological and psychological viewpoints by conducting a literature review, including at least five academic citations from a theological viewpoint, and five from a psychological/scientific viewpoint. Again, to use the illustration of depression, you will explore the psychological literature on depression, as well as what the Bible says, if anything, about depression. Finally, you will synthesize these findings into some sort of personal theory of integration. For the example of depression, you might write about how you reconcile a psychological understanding of depression with what scripture says about depression and low mood, and how this relates to your personal theory.