Marjorie Gunnoe and Integrating Faith and Science
Feb 06, 2024
Marjorie Gunnoe is a psychology professor at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, MI. Her book The Person in Psychology and Christianity, is soon to be released. Today, Marjorie shares the story of how her fundamentalist background shaped her, the moment that allowed her to ask more questions, and why she was so interested in psychology. We also talk about the concept of original sin and why it’s time to rethink it. Marjorie’s story reminds us that Christian faith and sciences like psychology are not inherently locked in conflict.
Listen to Marjorie’s story now!
Stories Marjorie shared:
- Growing up in Michigan into a conservative, fundamentalist family
- Going to a Christian Reformed school
- Making a comment about the rapture in 9th grade and the results
- Her mother’s faithfulness to her understanding of Scripture
- The moment her husband gave her permission to ask questions
- Driving on the DC Beltway that shifted her perspective
- Allowing her hermeneutic to change
- How the last couple of election cycles rattled her
- Doing divorce research in graduate school
- Coming back to the two greatest commandments
- Studying the idea of original sin and how the doctrine affects us
- How our early experiences shape our views of God
Great quotes from Marjorie:
In some ways, the God that I knew growing up was always far away.
Every Christian prioritizes different Scriptures
I need the central orientating theme of love.
You don’t need to compartmentalize your faith and science.
Resources we mentioned:
- The Person in Psychology and Christianity: A Faith-Based Critique of Five Theories of Social Development by Marjorie Gunnoe
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