A Mature Faith

Cover
Peeters Publishers, 1999 - 312 Seiten
A Mature Faith is an attempt to develop an anthropology for pastoral care and counseling which deals with both Christian perspective and important data from the human sciences, such as psychology. This book presents an integrative approach which views spirituality and our human quest for meaning as central to a psycho-pastoral approach. A doctrine of persons is designed which deals with both the dimension of creation (image of God) and of salvation (the new being in Christ). This book argues for an understanding of human beings in terms of their human identity before God (Coram Deo) as well as the empowerment of persons by the gift and fruit of the Spirit. Hence the importance of a pneumatological perspective on maturity and adulthood. The interplay between God-images and our human selfunderstanding is discussed. In this regard the question about diagnosis in pastoral counseling and the technique of storytelling receive attention. A pastoral hermeneutics which tries to understand our human predicament in terms of both the social and cultural context as well as our relationship with God is fundamental to the models presented in this book. In spiritual direction, the basic assumption is that God-images and the implication of different perceptions of God on life issues should play a decisive role. In terms of our human quest for meaning within a secularized society, the following metaphor for God is proposed: God as our "Soul Friend". The book is written for priests, ministers and pastoral caregivers involved in counseling and spiritual direction. Its main focus is on professional training within an academic setting. It will also be useful for the training of lay members within a congregational setting.

Im Buch

Inhalt

ANTHROPOLOGY IN A THEOLOGY
15
New Developments
27
Spirituality and
33
Soteriology
40
in the Image of God Creaturehood
57
the Function of Christology in Theological
63
the Ambivalence and Unity of Being Human
76
Spirituality and the Transcendental
92
Person
113
Maturity in Faith and the EmbodimentEnfleshment
123
Pastoral Model
145
Understanding of Maturity Adulthood
155
Design for a Psychology of Grace
193
Pastoral Care and Psychology
227
Godimages
246
Bibliography
301

TABLE OF CONTENTS
99

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