A Christian spirituality of imperfection: Towards a pastoral theology of descent within the praxis of orthopathy

The endeavour towards perfectionism in a praxis pietatis is most of the time described and portrayed as the preferential "narrow way", resulting in a kind of "theology of ascent" (the legalistic upgrading of human beings equipped with super, spiritual abilities). Rather than a sp...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Louw, D. J. 1944- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: [publisher not identified] 2021
In: Acta theologica
Year: 2021, Volume: 41, Issue: 2, Pages: 70-95
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Spirituality / Imperfection / Soul
IxTheo Classification:AG Religious life; material religion
FA Theology
Online Access: Volltext (kostenfrei)
Description
Summary:The endeavour towards perfectionism in a praxis pietatis is most of the time described and portrayed as the preferential "narrow way", resulting in a kind of "theology of ascent" (the legalistic upgrading of human beings equipped with super, spiritual abilities). Rather than a spirituality of self-improvement, the article proposes a theology of descent (engaging with human suffering, weakness, brokenness, frailty, and imperfection), as well as a paradigm shift from orthodoxy to orthopathy. In a theology of descent, the following question emerges: How does the pastoral ministry address the painful realities of failure and existential imperfection as related to the limitations of suffering human beings? The author develops a Christian spirituality of imperfection, which implies the following spiritual movements of the human soul, namely from having to sharing; from possession to communion; from competition to compassion, from withdrawal to solidarity; from estrangement to engagement, and from hostility to hospitality. In this regard, Henri Nouwen’s notion of a "wounded healer"plays a decisive role.
ISSN:2309-9089
Contains:Enthalten in: Acta theologica