Page 28 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 8

Christian Psychology as a Challenge

Within the sphere of the helping and healing extent ‘soul’ is not necessarily associated with
professions, differentiation is extremely impor- the quality of human relationships, corporeal
tant in order to develop a multi-disciplinary ap- issues and the existential realm of life.
proach to human wellness and wholeness. The
quality of care is determined by the basic an- In many professional circles, due to the impact
thropology applied in a very specific discipline. of the human sciences on anthropology, ‘soul’
It is argued that in the cooperation between psy- has become merely a psychological entity. Ho-
chology and pastoral caregiving, the term ‘soul’ wever, the question should be posed whether
is often confused with ‘psyche’. Despite neces- ‘soul’ is only a variant for ‘psyche’.
sary overlaps, it is important to understand the
tradition of cura animarum against the back- With reference to a Christian understanding
ground of the wisdom tradition in Christian of our being human, does ‘soul’ point to ‘more’
spirituality. Instead of a pessimistic anthropo- than merely developments in personality theo-
logy with its focal point on human sinfulness ries, psycho-social dynamics and neurological
and guilt, or an optimistic life view that assesses systems as connected to different functions of
human beings in terms of an inner goodness the brain?
and basic need-fulfilment, a spiritual approach
to anthropology understands ‘soul’ in terms of Is the ‘human soul’ in Christian anthropology a
a relational and qualitative approach. Thus, the category sui generis?
argument that ‘soul’ (psuché‚ anima) signifies
the centre of human life (Hebrew: nēphēsh) as it With reference to the very old tradition of
is directed to God, and manifested in the dyna- cura animarum, what is the unique meaning
mic, systemic relationships of agapē-love (soul of ‘soul’ in pastoral caregiving? Despite many
as a relational concept referring to the quality correspondences, what is unique in a Christian
and meaning of life). A qualitative approach to understanding of ‘soul care’? How should one
healing in soul care connects the hope-giving differentiate between ‘psyche’ and ‘soul’?
factor to issues of meaning (significance) and
human dignity. Within the parameters of a pa- Towards the essence of the Christian,
storal theology, soul care exhibits and embodies spiritual tradition
the paracletic dimension in care. Pastoral care I was utterly surprised to discover in Ludwig
displays in comfort and compassion, the passion Feuerbach’s book on the essence of the Christi-
of a suffering God. The emphasis on meaning in an faith: Das Wesen des Christentums (1904),
spirituality and the dimension of ‘spiritual’ (the a struggle to free traditional, and therefore ‘or-
striving for freedom, dignity, creativity, aesthe- thodox theology’, from its abstract God-ideo-
tics, well-being, universal interconnectedness) logy and to turn theological reflection to the
in an increasingly pluralistic and secularised so- praxis issues of life. The essence of Christianity
ciety should be viewed as supplementary to the should be focused on human suffering and our
primary challenge in soul care namely to link basic quest for meaning within the realm of so-
human beings to the comforting compassion of cial contexts and tragic life events. He sees the
God. focal point and essence of the Christian faith,
the well-being (heil) of humans (Feuerbach
In general, the human soul in Christian anthro- 1904:283). His intension was to challenge Chri-
pology is normally associated with issues like stian faith and theology to bring hope to human
sin, repentance, conversion, change of heart, the beings and heal the pain of a human soul within
focus on heaven, eternal life and the kingdom the transience of life. Faith should deal with our
of God. ‘Soul’ is viewed as a spiritual organ; i.e. human exposure to anguish and hopelessness.
that our self-awareness and inner aptitude are Christians should therefore be agents of hope
connected through faith with the divine dimen- and promote the quality of human life. Thus, his
sion and religious realm of life. ‘Soul’ is not in proposal to shift an abstract understanding of
the first place viewed as a ‘life issue’. To a large an immutable and impassable God-image, to a

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