Abstract
A study of biblical lament psalms can help present-day sufferers express their own pain to God, and this can result in personal, social, and biological healing. In this empirical study, Zulu “pain-bearers” first studied Psalms 3 and 13 and then wrote and performed their own laments, using the biblical laments as a model. The use of poetic form is shown to have advantages over narrative therapy approaches. The empirical compositions and performances fit with the insights gained from cognitive psychotherapy approaches as well as the therapeutic steps proposed by Judith Herman. Moreover, apart from facilitating healing of the soul and interpersonal relations, the research insights of Cozolino and others suggest that lament can stimulate the biological healing of the brain, allowing for the healthy processing of the trauma memories. https://doi.org/10.17159/2312-3621/2019/v32n3a7
Highlights
A study of biblical lament psalms can help present-day sufferers express their own pain to God, and this can result in personal, social, and biological healing
The empirical compositions and performances fit with the insights gained from cognitive psychotherapy approaches as well as the therapeutic steps proposed by Judith Herman
Apart from facilitating healing of the soul and interpersonal relations, the research insights of Cozolino and others suggest that lament can stimulate the biological healing of the brain, allowing for the healthy processing of the trauma memories
Summary
Psychological theories, especially those relating to the effects of trauma and criteria for healing, intersect with an understanding of biblical lament and the advantages it offers for trauma sufferers. In this paper attention is first given to the impact of trauma on the brain, and in particular to the disruption in the processing of memories This requires an understanding of the way the limbic system operates, to transform raw sensory data into long-term memories. Participants (Zulu youth who are “pain-bearers”) write and perform their own poems, incorporating some of the features of biblical lament. The characteristics of this process are compared with those suggested by trauma therapists as being essential for healing, and conclusions are made as to how lament could assist within the therapeutic program
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