Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Part 1. The Responsibilities and Limitations of the Task - 2. Psychology and the Care of Souls - Psychology and Confession
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
PSYCHOLOGY AND THE CARE OF SOULS
method of treatment does not include moral exhortation or
condemnation.
The distinction to which Landquist thus draws attention is
important. There is a profound difference between what may
be described as a ‘judicial’ and a ‘therapeutic’ morality.
Brought into the presence of a man with a broken leg, the
moralist, adopting a judicial attitude, enquires how the injury
was sustained and then proceeds to deliver to the victim a
lecture on the evils of absent-mindedness when crossing the
street. The surgeon rolls up his shirt-sleeves and devotes his
attention to the work of healing. The parable of the Good
Samaritan suggests that the mind of Christ would strongly
sympathise with the surgeon’s point of view.
Psychology and Confession
Medical psychology has notonly contributed to our knowledge
of personality and enriched our understanding of our
responsibilities in the care of souls; it has also confirmed the value of
methods of treatment that are in the direct line of descent from
Christian tradition: confession, for example. The practice of
confession has largely fallen into disuse in the evangelical
Churches. A great deal would be gained if its use were renewed.
In confession, the spiritual adviser meets his fellow human
being as a sinner. Many are of the opinion that nothing more
than this is necessary for the exercise of the ministry of spiritual
healing and soul care; and since no knowledge of psychology is
needed for the hearing of a confession they see no reason why
those who care for souls should study it.
It is significant, however, that many who have had great
experience of the confessional, and believe fervently in its value,
are yet of the opinion that confession alone is not enough. Its
healing work is incomplete.
This point has been stressed by Professor J. R. Oliver? the
well known American priest and psychiatrist who writes from
intimate and long experience both as a spiritual director and
medical consultant. ‘It has been said,’ he writes, ‘that the
confessional is not a suitable place for psychological
consultations, for the dispensing of advice, or for giving the lengthy
1 Psychiatry and Mental Health, New York, 1932.
29
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
