인간이해를 매개로 한 신학과 심리학의 만남

Abstract

Pastoral theology is not just a branch of practical theology, but it is a “bridge discipline” bridging theory and practice, theology and psychology (including other social sciences), and the public God-concept and the private God-image. This work of bridging can be more efficacious when theology changes its mode to pastoral theology. Pastoral theology is “function-centered,” which brings theology and psychology together and results in an amicable dialogue between the two. By doing pastoral theology the gospel can bring a more dynamic and fruitful spiritual life. The mainline theological anthropology has identified human nature with sinner under the original sin, while relatively neglecting human nature as God’s image-bearer. It seems that the official theology of the church has employed the (total) loss of the Image of God in humanity in order to fortify the doctrine of fall of humanity. In addition to that the official theology has confirmed the image of the soul’s imprisonment in the flesh. Then the flesh has been regarded as being inferior and degraded as a means for sinning based on the theological dualism. However, pastoral theology, the changed mode of theology, rediscovers the value of the human fleshness. The flesh created by God contains sacred in it and plays its role as a channel between the gospel and life. For Christians, it has been a path toward experiencing God and a means for imaging God. We are not supposed to alienate the flesh from the whole personality. Christian way of understanding human beings rooted in the Image of God which has never been lost or damaged and is supposed to be embodied in our lives to the likeness to God. In this sense, we need to pay close attention to the human fleshness, including emotions, intuitive senses, and physical senses and desires, through which we can image God. Pastoral theological anthropology examines theological meanings of the loss of the Image of God and the degradation of the flesh in the whole personality. Then, pastoral theology asks for a new theological anthropology for more efficacious imaging God. Psychological anthropology focuses on the human nature of seeking for selfhood, while pastoral theological anthropology emphasizes the human nature of imaging God. When the Image of God faithfully meets individuality in us, we can image God joyfully and continuously. Pastoral care and counseling encourages and empowers caretakers to image God in their own situations, more efficaciously and playfully. For this, pastoral theology needs to change its mode as necessary to bridge and play on the bridge more actively.