Living in Two Worlds - Pastoral Responses to Possession in Singapore. Dissertationsschrift

This is a study of Singapore pastors' worldview & understanding of the epidemiology, symptomatology and management of possession behaviour. The pastors' accounts are compared with those from the scientific disciplines, and convergences and divergences noted. Factors shaping both the pastors' and the scientific discourses are examined. The pastors are shown to respond to competing scientific paradigms by reinforcing their two-worlds worldview. They either live mainly in the other world, or in each world at a time, or between the two worlds. Based on theological reflection focusing on epistemology, theodicy & cosmology, the author shows that the paradigm of living in both worlds simultaneously is the most appropriate pastoral response. The theological vision of the coexisting worlds and the pastoral task of unmasking and resisting evil in all its varieties and depths are then discussed.

List of contents

Contents: Possession Behaviour in Singapore: pastors' Beliefs, Interpretations, and Practices - Perspectives and Models of Possession - Factors Shaping the Worldview of the Pastors - Clash of Epistemologies and Theodicy (evil masked and unmasked) - Cosmology (embodied spirituality and a sacred cosmos) - Pastoral Ministry and the Demonic. The Two Worlds and the Art of Unmasking Evil.

About the author

The Author: Robert Solomon studied medicine at the University of Singapore and worked as a medical doctor for several years before studying theology and intercultural studies in the Philippines, receiving his M.Div and M.I.S. degrees in 1984. He was ordained in the Methodist Church in Singapore in 1984 and pastored a Tamil Church from 1984 to 1989. He received his Ph.D. from Edinburgh University in 1993 and is currently lecturer in Pastoral theology and Registrar of the Graduate School of Trinity Theological College in Singapore.

Product details

• Authors: Robert Solomon, Robert M. Solomon
• Publisher: Peter Lang
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.01.1994
• EAN: 9783631469255
• ISBN: 978-3-631-46925-5
• No. of pages: 352
• Dimensions: 156 mm x 18 mm x 229 mm
• Weight: 480 g
• Series: Studien zur interkulturellen Geschichte des Christentums / Etudes d'histoire interculturelle du christianisme / Studies in the Intercultural History of Christianity; Studien zur interkulturellen Geschichte des Christentums / Etudes d'histoire interculturelle du christianisme / Studies in the Intercultural History o; Studien zur interkulturellen Geschichte des Christentums / Etudes d'histoire interculturelle du chri; Studien zur interkulturellen Geschichte des Christentums / Etudes d'histoire interculturelle du christianisme / Studies in the Intercultural History o; Studien zur interkulturellen Geschichte des Christentums / Etudes d'histoire interculturelle du chri
• Subject: Social sciences, law, business > Ethnology > Ethnology