Abstract

Important new developments within practical theology and, in particular, within pastoral theology have taken place over the past decades. In terms of a post-foundational practical theology, this article endeavours from a hermeneutical perspective to explore overlaps between various domains of sciences. As part of a re-described spiritual embodied anthropology, it is claimed that the mind-body dualism is outdated and that the roots of human corporeality are to be rediscovered. The article investigates the effect of an emphasis on the biological for a pastoral anthropology in terms of its implications for one’s concept of God, one’s view on personal identity, the affirmation of being relation-orientated, and the importance of context. Taking these perspectives to the marketplace, the article considers the meaning of the spirituality of an embodied soul at work. In formulating these perspectives, the emphasis is on an engagement with the other and his/her world.

Highlights

  • In the late 1970s, a German anatomist, Gunther von Hagens, developed the plastination technique, revealing inner anatomical structures

  • Soul is followed, “we are essentially disembodied Souls not of this world ... focused on transcending all the things of the world” (Lakoff & Johnson 1999: 564). Such an understanding gives rise to the dangerous pos­sibility that our re­­lationship with God and the world can in totality be attenuated and, for a variety of reasons, may be ignored as a theological problem. This article addresses this problem by arguing that an enriched understanding of pastoral anthropo­ logy and spirituality implies that “faith is always embodied in concrete living” (Ahner 2007:19)

  • Research indicates that numerous new developments have taken place over the past decades within the field of practical theology (Dreyer 1998:14-15) and in the formation of pastoral theory (Louw 1999:21-27; Ganzevoort 2001:53-58; Louw 2003:36), with specific emphasis on pastoral therapy (Stone 2001:185-193; Immink 2003:224-228; Scholtz 2005:140-141)

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Summary

INTRODUCTION

In the late 1970s, a German anatomist, Gunther von Hagens, developed the plastination technique, revealing inner anatomical structures. Focused on transcending all the things of the world” (Lakoff & Johnson 1999: 564) Such an understanding gives rise to the dangerous pos­sibility that our re­­lationship with God and the world can in totality be attenuated and, for a variety of reasons, may be ignored as a theological problem. This article addresses this problem by arguing that an enriched understanding of pastoral anthropo­ logy and spirituality implies that “faith is always embodied in concrete living” (Ahner 2007:19)

THEORETICAL DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN PASTORAL CARE
CONCLUSION

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