Therapeutic turn

Abstract

This paper offers a systematic and critical exploration of contemporary theology of pastoral care in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland in light of the history of the practice of care-giving and Western cultural change. Currently, pastoral care is characterized by a therapeutic approach that aims to offer sincere help for earthly suffering and to promote the good things that the individual chooses to reach for. This has been drastically different than historical models from Luther to the early twentieth century that were spiritual and paternalistic in nature. The therapeutic turn connects to the therapeutic culture that has set self-actualization as a central idea determining Western cultural ethos. The therapeutic approach calls into question how the spiritual task of the church is carried out. The prevailing pastoral-psychological theology of pastoral care proves to be problematic. The spiritual task of pastoral care should be based on the basic Lutheran theology of God as objective and not conditioned upon the human mind. Yet, the therapeutic aim should still be maintained as the basic approach of care.