The Nature of Disease as a Pastoral Key: A Theological Reflection
Do disease and suffering, in their deepest essence, represent blessings? Are they allowed or even intended by God? Are they, primarily, a test of faith and a cryptogram which needs to be decoded and responded to, or does their presence rather obscure the true nature of salvation? Specific ways of th...
| Published in: | European journal of theology |
|---|---|
| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
|
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Amsterdam University Press
[2019]
|
| In: |
European journal of theology
|
| IxTheo Classification: | CB Christian life; spirituality NBE Anthropology RG Pastoral care |
| Further subjects: | B
Healing
B Pastoral Theology B Religious Aspects B SUFFERING; Religious aspects B GOODNESS of God B God B Diseases |
| Summary: | Do disease and suffering, in their deepest essence, represent blessings? Are they allowed or even intended by God? Are they, primarily, a test of faith and a cryptogram which needs to be decoded and responded to, or does their presence rather obscure the true nature of salvation? Specific ways of thinking about diseases, such as those of Smoli'k, MacNutt, Grun, Dufner and others, substantially influence the objectives and methods of pastoral work. In addition to some relevant biblical texts, this article deals with considerations of how the burden of suffering can be shared with other people, how the disappointed expectation of healing can be coped with, and how the goodness of God can be perceived in this context. The author gives the advice to enter the area of trust, because it is trust which primarily changes the very perception and experience of the reality, as it provides a new view of Christ, part of which is also healing by God's grace. For this reason, the service of healing is a common part of life in the Christian community, not merely a memory of the practice in the Early Church or even an unexpected and completely surprising manifestation of the Spirit of God. (English) |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2666-9730 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: European journal of theology
|