No 143

Spiritual Pain: origins, nature  and management

Rod Burton

Abstract: Contending the existence of spiritual pain as a discrete and recognisable form of a widely experienced human pain, the author offers a description of the condition. Drawing both on a general familiarity with other forms of pain, and on a holistic, explicitly Christian anthropology, whose goal is increased levels of personal complexity, integration and engagement leading to theosis, he proposes a model to explain the possible origins, nature and management of spiritual pain within Christian pastoral care. He suggests that principal features of spiritual pain include: either 'eccentric' personal development, or 'disintegration', within seven dimensions of human being; the disruption of, or failure to establish, adequate interpersonal relationships; incidents of unresolved injury, distortion, or waywardness within one's personal narrative(s); failure to develop or maintain a relationship of personal unity with God, in the Spirit: or sharing in the growing pains of the cosmos through an interconnectedness in the Spirit; and experiences of growth and transition in one's own life. The author suggests that this model represents a distinct contribution to contemporary pastoral theology and pastoral care practices.

Hell in Scotland: a survey of where the nation's clergy think some might be heading

Eric Stoddart

Abstract: This paper reports findings from a survey of Scotland's ministers into their beliefs as to what lies beyond the grave for those who find themselves outside of salvation. We look to the official positions of the Scottish denominations to set the findings in a doctrinal context. We then evaluate the available literature that offers a pastoral response to the implications of believing in hell and/or its torments. Pastoral experience illuminates how this doctrine works on the ground and will suggest areas of concern and further research.

Counselling, Spiritual Accompanying and Pastoral Care

Andrew De Smet

Abstract: Counselling and spiritual direction and pastoral care contain considerable overlap but have differing starting points and focuses, and differing contracts. The relationship between counselling and spiritual direction is examined and placed in the context of pastoral care. Certain psychological processes such as projection and transference play a part in all three. Projection can be a powerful means of exploring spiritual and emotional issues.