Title: Chapter 02
Course: Exploring Psychology and Christian Faith Test Bank

Q: Explain how methodological naturalism differs from naturalism and why this distinction might be an important one for Christians.

Q: Explain how insufficient knowledge and humans’ limited agency might impact psychologists’ attempts to predict a specific behavior, such as when people get angry.

Q: What does it mean to say that psychology’s findings regarding human behavior and moral questions might better be seen as descriptive rather than prescriptive?

Q: Explain how a psychologist’s worldview might influence what she might study as a scientist.

Q: Explain how the propensity toward meaning-seeking might impact how or why psychologists conduct research.

Q: Methodological naturalism may be appealing to Christian psychologists because it
- assumes that all scientific answers have a spiritual basis.
- uses the methods of science as a naturalist would without necessarily assuming that the causes of all events are physical.
- denies the basic assumptions of naturalism, leaving Christians to develop uniquely Christian forms of science.
- states that science and religion use the same methods of understanding.
A: uses the methods of science as a naturalist would without necessarily assuming that the causes of all events are physical.

Q: Bert Hodges, in advocating a Christian approach to dealing with the problems of bias in science, suggests
- putting aside Christian perspectives and viewing science objectively.
- bias is a healthy and natural part of being in right relationship with other Christians.
- that because God reveals himself in relationships, knowledge is acquired by working through the diversity of Christians’ viewpoints.
- bias can be overcome best individually through prayer.
A: that because God reveals himself in relationships, knowledge is acquired by working through the diversity of Christians’ viewpoints.

Q: Moes and Tellinghuisen state that “God’s relationship with people is both eternal and present.” According to these authors and C. S. Lewis, this biblical concept indicates
- God’s will for our lives but does not indicate what to do in every situation.
- specific rules for how to approach every situation with others.
- the best parenting practices, regardless of culture or time.
- how psychological processes function throughout life.
A: God’s will for our lives but does not indicate what to do in every situation.

Q: The notion that creation is theocentric means that
- it reflects God’s nature because God created it.
- people can know God better by studying creation.
- God is interested in creation, and humans in particular.
- all of the above are correct.
A: all of the above are correct.

Q: According to Moes and Tellinghuisen, human behavior is not completely predictable because
- psychologists lack full knowledge about humans, and people can make choices.
- psychologists focus too much on the physical aspects of humans and not on their spiritual lives.
- nature has no predictability, and humans are part of nature.
- much of human behavior cannot be measured, so there is no hope of predicting it.
A: psychologists lack full knowledge about humans, and people can make choices.

Q: Human limited agency plays a role in human behavior showing real chance because
- there is no end to the sort of things people might do in any situation.
- to some extent, people can exert free will.
- while it might be possible to predict simple things like when people will learn a new word, it is impossible to predict anything about more complicated things, such as which people are more likely than others to get married.
- rather than human behavior resulting from choices, most human behavior is simply random, resulting almost entirely from chance.
A: to some extent, people can exert free will.

Q: Saying that predictions in psychology are probabilistic means that
- predictions tell us what is likely but not guaranteed to occur.
- human behavior is largely random.
- psychologists can tell us what people will definitely do.
- psychologists are better at telling what a particular person will do rather than what a groups of people are likely to do.
A: predictions tell us what is likely but not guaranteed to occur.

Q: Which of the following is a question that science can answer?
- Does God exist?
- Is capital punishment wrong?
- What happens to the person after death?
- Does test anxiety result in lower school performance?
A: Does test anxiety result in lower school performance?

Q: Which of the following would be an example of using psychology’s findings in a prescriptive way?
- Using research to help diagnose a psychological disorder.
- Treating a psychological disorder with a medication.
- Using psychology as a basis for asking how to best live one’s life.
- Describing a person’s normal behavior according to psychological theories.
A: Using psychology as a basis for asking how to best live one’s life.

Q: Why, according to VanderStoep (cited in Moes and Tellinghuisen), is it unacceptable for Christians to simply reject a research finding that seems disagreeable by saying, “I don’t believe it!”?
- If personal preferences alone dictate the validity of research, science has little hope of discovering anything useful.
- Christians should point to their religious basis for rejecting science.
- All ideas need to be accepted regardless of their scientific basis.
- Science is always more important than faith.
A: If personal preferences alone dictate the validity of research, science has little hope of discovering anything useful.

Q: When Christians evaluate research that appears to conflict with Christian beliefs, Moes and Tellinghuisen suggest that they should
- begin by respecting science’s rules.
- remember that research is descriptive rather than prescriptive.
- examine their own beliefs to determine if they have misinterpreted Scripture.
- do all of the above.
A: do all of the above.