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. If you choose racism as was covered in class, you
will need to provide a unique contribution above what you posted in the
discussion boards. 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. As part of this discussion on depression, students should describe how
a psychological epistemology focuses on certain types of cause of depression as
well as certain therapeutics.
An example of a social issue would be to address the issue
of homelessness. Homelessness should be described using sociological data
focusing on the rates of homelessness in the US. Additionally, there should be
a review of the causes of homeless, and any sociological proposes to address
this issue. In terms of integration, rely on course materials and readings to
describe the Christian worldview domains of sin and salvation (or atonement)
and their relationship to the sociological findings. A main component of
comparing the sociological and Christian worldview aspects of homelessness
should focus on epistemology. That is, students should devote space to
describing the epistemology associated with the sociology of homelessness and
how that epistemology compares with the epistemologies described in Entwistle’s
text. Of importance for undertaking a social problems paper, students should
incorporate Strachan’s material on sin in chapter two of his book on sin. That
is, Strachan describes both the personal and social aspects of sin, and
students should develop this personal and social distinction of sin when
describing the Christian worldview understandings of sin as it relates to
homeless.
Specific paper requirements:
You will then explore your topic from both theological and
behavioral science (psychology OR sociology) viewpoints by conducting a
literature review, including at least five academic citations from a
theological viewpoint, and five from a behavioral science 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.
The paper will be at least 6 pages in length (6 pages of
content, does not include title and reference page), with 1” margins, and will
be double spaced in Times New Roman. You will also include a Title and
Reference page, and the paper will be in APA format. OPS has adopted the most
current APA professional standards. An abstract is not needed for this paper.
Overall, the organization of the essay will be
as follows: (a) Title page, (b) introduction, where you will outline what you will accomplish in the
paper and introduce your topic, (c) Worldview issues section, where you will explore the types of
worldview perspectives (cosmology, anthropology, sin, and atonement) and how
these relate your topic, (d)  a Literature Review section,
where you will summarize the psychological or sociological research and
scripture on the topic (this section should describe the epistemology
associated with the social science research), and (e) Discussion section where you
will develop your personal theory based on your course work and the behavioral
science research conducted on the topic and (f) Reference page, in APA format.