Die rol van godskonsepte vir pastorale terapie: 'n konstrukteoretiese benadering

[摘要] English: There are indications that mans' concepts of God are not adequately considered in models forpastoral counseling. These refer to the identification of concepts of God, differences amongpeople's concepts of God as a result of their stages of life, personal constructs, and the restructionof inappropriate concepts of God.The therapist's anthropological beliefs influence his pastoral therapy. With reference to Zerfaê'smodel for the correction of a Christian-church praxis, a dogmatic point of departure is motivatedfor a theological anthropology based on doctrines about God with Christ as the norm. Man isdescribed as the image of God, a party in the covenant, and existing in relations. From thisdescription some human characteristics, analogic and complementary to those of God, arededuced. Because people as the objects of pastoral therapy are sinners, sin is discussed in thelight of mans' relation to God and to God's creation.The pastoral therapist's therapeutic approach is not only determined by his anthropologicalorientation, but also by the pastoral model from which he operates. Thus, a number of pastoralmodels are evaluated and their pneumatological implications for anthropology and therapyindicated. A phenomenological model for pastoral work differs in important characteristics froma pneumatological model. The differences comprise inter alia the sphere of influence, new goalsand morals in life, and a specific way of counseling. These constitute pastoral counseling as atrialogue.The above-mentioned facts serve as directives for the development of a basic theory for pastoraltherapy. Inthat theory the covenant is indicated as the basic motivation for pastoral therapy. Theimportance of the eschatological perspective is stressed. The paradigm shift with regard to mans'concepts of God is discussed. Having the basic theory as criterion, a theory in practice whichincludes a psycho-pastoral anthropology, is formulated.The construct-theoretical approach in this study necessitates a cursory explanation of Kelly's personal construct theory. The empirical research comprises the identification of fifty individuals'concepts of God by means ofa modified form of the repertory grid. Evaluation of the empiricaldata reveals important differences in concepts of God among three groups of individuals indifferent stages of life. The differences comprise inter alia the metaphysical-ontological and thehuman characteristics of God, the paradigm shift to a metaphorical form of speech about God,and the evaluation of metaphors for God.Because inappropriate concepts of God can play a role in the problems clients present to theirpastor, directives for the therapeutic restruction of concepts of God are given. Of primeimportance is the paradigm from which the pastor facilitates the restruction process. Short andlong term goals for achieving spiritual maturity and the use of the Holy Scripture occupyimportant positions in the restruction process.On strength of the above-mentioned facts a supplementary model for pastoral counseling ispostulated. Concepts of God specific to a client's stage of life, personal constructs, and therestruction of concepts of God are implemented in the model.Conclusions drawn from the research are: (1) The repertory grid can be modified to identifymans' concepts of God. (2) People in different stages of the mature life cycle have differentconcepts of God. (3) The postulation of a supplementary model for pastoral counseling in whichthe preceding findings are implemented, is possible.Finally, recommendations for the use of the supplementary model for pastoral counseling andfuture research are made.

[发布机构] University of the Free State