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With the dominance of psychotherapeutic theories and methods in the field of pastoral theology, the typical pastoral encounter has been understood to be a private conference in which a pastor addresses a sufferer’s thoughts and emotions. What results is a kind of dualism that is contrary to a historically Christian affirmation of—and concern for—the body. The phenomenon of moral injury further problematizes this model of pastoral care in part due to a greater awareness that trauma is imprinted as much in the body as in the mind. Re-embodying Pastoral Theology uses the problem of moral injury in veterans to propose a pastoral theology that recognizes ritual as the means by which the Christian community addresses the body in pastoral care. In advancing this new approach to "ritual care," the author draws from the fields of psychology, ritual studies, liturgical studies, and historical theology, as well as the experiences of veterans throughout history. This book endeavors to re-think the Christian approach to moral injury and re-embody the field of pastoral theology.
List of contents
Chapter 1: Moral Injury as a Pastoral Theological Construct
Chapter 2: Ritual and the Problem of Moral Injury
Chapter 3: Contributions from Moral Injury and Ritual Care Literature for a Pastoral Theological Approach to Moral Injury
Chapter 4: Non-humanistic Ritual Care for Moral Injury: A Pastoral Theological Commentary
Chapter 5: Concluding Thoughts: Implications for Further Research
About the author
Johann Choi, PhD, is an independent scholar, who has served as a chaplain for both the Veterans Health Administration and the United States Air Force.
Summary
Re-embodying Pastoral Theology uses the problem of moral injury in veterans to propose a pastoral theology that recognizes ritual as the means by which the Christian community addresses the body in pastoral care. The author endeavors first to re-think moral injury and then to re-embody the field of Pastoral Theology.
