Page 100 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 12

Roland Mahler (Switzerland)
Comment to “The Courage Roland Mahler,
Dr., Theologist,
to be a Person“ Psychologist
MSc, Psycho-
therapist SPV,
The term courage is used by Lorgus as an exi- was the Direc-
stential keyword. Existentialism (in Kierkegaard’s tor of the Insti-
meaning?) is therefore the basic concept of all of tute of Christi-
his propositions. an Psychology,
Human being is called for courage as an existential Psychotherapy
task to fulfill in order to run up to his own perso- and Educati- on, Switzerland, www.
nal self (with a reference to A.Längle’s analytical icptp.ch. He is the author of “Gewissen und
and existential understanding of terms like self Gewissensbildung” in der Psychotherapie
or person) beyond all personal (Kelly) and social (Conscience and Forming of Conscience in
(Raskin) constructs that might keep him from be- Psychotherapie), 2009 and of “Christliche
coming himself. Courage to be and it’s four exi- Soziale Arbeit – Menschenbild, Spiritua-
stential outcomes provide the fundamental pillars lität, Methoden (Christian Social Work -
of a creative and goal achieving life. Human Image, Spirituality, Methods), 2018
As a reader the question arises wether it is enough . From 1986 – 1998 he directed the thera-
and fulfilling to look at a personale life just by it’s peutic center Best Hope.
existential structures and dynamics. What about
the essential values and meanings of creation and Former articles by Roland you can see here:
it’s «crown» the human being Is there an essence http://emcapp.ignis.de/2/#/116
(i.e. faith) to destille from a formal existence of http://emcapp.ignis.de/4/#/52
things or man? Lorgus doesn’t make any attempt to http://emcapp.ignis.de/9/#p=42
pose or answer questions like these. But neverthe-
less he gives quite some hints to a fitting response.
Courage and it’s existential meanings show the
problems and finally the impossibility of any diffe- as an equivalent procedure of becoming one-
rence between existence and essence as creational self and that psychotherapy eventually reveals
categories. Let me explain this. Courage is not the (what life itself not always does so obviously!)
essence of a personal life – obviously not. But it’s a that the real self is often not what we expected
instrumental value for all existing life to give itself a or claimed to be. Courage to be means therefore
meaning – in terms of a worldly fulfillment as well the right to be what we really are – even when
as in terms of an eternal spiritual reward. So exi- we or others tend to deny this (by our personal
stence is the essence of creational life for it means or social constructs).
the existence of a creator. The courage to be is the Eventually I come to resume my inner debate
responsive action of existence towards the creator. with Lorgus’ essay. I appreciate the clear and
That more ore less what Lorgus finds as one of his conclusive points he makes to an existentially
conclusions. The courage to be, though facultati- transcendent human life. What struck me is the
ve in itself, is the existential statement («Stellung- necessity to enter this world alone by leaving all
nahme» as Längle says) for personal responsabi- kinds of childish dependency and delegation of
lity, selfawareness, acceptance of the worldly cir- responsability. This underlines the existential
cumstances, development and change and last but power of christian faith (Rom 14,4b). Therefore
not least godly transcendence of human life (so I the main task of christian psychotherapy (if not
would interprete Lorgus’ propositions). the church !) is to encouage individuals to leave
What makes Lorgus’ considerations so helpful ot what they meant to be an become truly free!
only for philosophical deliberations but also for I wrote a song the other day for a friend of mine
psychotherapy is the fact, that the latter can be seen called «Trust Yourself»

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