Page 30 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 18

Comment

Friedemann Alsdorf’s ar�cle permits the reader to reflect on
the emo�on of shame from mul�ple perspec�ves. At first rea-
ding this ar�cle offers an accessible reflec�on on some of John
Bradshaw’s key ideas about the causes, expressions, and effects
of shame in a person’s life. Owing to the fact that there is an
enduring quality to these ideas the succinctness of Alsdorf’s re-
flec�ons has the capacity to draw the reader to reflect on their
own experiences of shame and the role of shame in their life.

Next, the depth of Alsdorf’s reflec�ons is evident the fact his
discussion illustrates three important components of emo�o-
nal experience. First, our bodily-felt emo�ons inform us about
our percep�ons or knowledge of the world (e.g., fear tells me a Kelvin F. Mu�er
situa�on is unsafe), others (e.g., anger may be a response to (Canada)
being treated unfairly), and ourselves (e.g., toxic shame con- Registered Psychothe-
veys the message that I am a failure or “the problem”). Second, rapist and Cer�fied
when handled well emo�ons such as healthy shame can contri- Psycho-Spiritual Thera-
bute to a sense of well-being and integrity. However, all too pist, DTh in Prac�cal
o�en this poten�ally posi�ve outcome is crowded out by nega- Theology.
�ve self-appraisals such as occur with toxic shame and the Sha- Kelvin Mu�er is a Re-
me-Fear cycle. Lastly, Alsdorf’s reflec�ons are a reminder that gistered Psychothera-
emo�ons have a mo�va�onal quality, i.e., an ac�on tendency, pist who is interested
that results in behaviours that either harm self and others or in the intersec�on bet-
are life-giving. ween religious faith,
spirituality, and the

Two major contribu�ons of this ar�cle are the author’s humility lives of clients.
and his efforts to reflect theologically and biblically on both the Kelvin currently tea-
problem and the solu�on. Humility is a key feature of Alsdorf’s ches courses related to
reflec�ons in the sec�on “Escape.” This is seen in his willingness the prac�ces of coun-
to locate himself as one who both knows what it means to selling and spiritual
struggle with shame and nega�ve self-esteem and who is also care at McMaster Divi-
aware of his tendency to use coping strategies that are harmful nity College (Hamilton,
to himself and others. As for his biblical and theological reflec- ON) where he is an affi-
�on, Alsdorf’s reflec�on on the process of change and healing liate member of facul-
is informed by two theological mo�fs–i.e., Christ’s iden�fica�- ty.
on with humanity in the incarna�on and His death, and the be- Former contribu�ons
liever’s experience of new life in Christ and reflect their iden�- in our eJournal by Kel-
fica�on with Christ. vin you can see here:
h�ps://emcapp.ignis
All in all, readers are invited to sit and dwell with this ar�cle so .de/7/#/72
that its heartbeat speaks to the inner person.

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