Is There Really A God? The Psychology of Christianity

Is there really a God? Why do bad things always happen to good people? These are two questions that I have asked myself time and time again. In my search to find the answer to this question, I researched various religions “searching for truth”. I studied Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Catholicism, Judaism, and a host of other religious beliefs and practices. I came across a great deal of articles, text, and journals that attempted to answer if there is really a God and why bad things happen to good people.

The book Psychology and Christianity presented four different perspectives on religion and psychology. David G. Myers is the representative of the levels-of-explanation approach, which maintains that all levels of reality are important. These levels include the physical, chemical, biological, psychological, social, and theological factors. This approach also posits that each dimension or level of reality is uniquely accessible to study by the unique methods used in each discipline and that boundaries of each should not be blurred. It is believed that by confusing the levels or reality will result in a misunderstanding of reality and confusion of reality. Understanding each of the different levels is believed to offer a distinct perspective essentially independent of each other level.

If we view psychology as a science, which validates all truths then the question now becomes what are you seeking to validate as your truth? I have always refused to accept an answer at face value; instead I would do my own research in order to find my own answer. While, this often got me into a lot of trouble, I often felt a great sense of accomplishment, and even autonomy in knowing that I found the answer based on my own self-determination. This view holds that in our search for truth we follow our own hunches, our biases, our cultural bent, and since personal values guide theory and research, truth becomes personal and subjective.

I have concluded that the awe of the universe is so extraordinary, that there has to be something bigger, more profound than what science can attribute for in research. Despite all of the research and theories conducted in science, questions will always remain, some answered and some not. But this leads to the question, if science isn’t the final determinant, then what else is out there? There will always be questions in this world, it is our nature to find answers to the unknown, it makes us check our own personal philosophies and makes us validate or thoughts. I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me ~ Job 42.3.

God has given us free will to believe in Him, or to not believe in Him. He has given us the freedom to put our faith in science or to put our faith in God. One thing is for certain, and that is that human beings are morally responsible, accountable for how we use whatever freedom we have. I challenge everyone to ask the tough questions in order to find your own truth. Do not simply accept what is told to you, do not purely believe the dreams that some religious leaders will “sell” you, because many people are led astray by misinformation or even by tradition! By often challenging and sometimes affirming our prejudgments, it helps keep alive the reason why we have faith in in what we believe. Seek your own truth, find your own path!