목회상담적 돌봄을 위한 엄마됨에 관한 현상학적 연구

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to examine how women experience motherhood, to propose Christian understanding of motherhood based on the theology of the Trinity, and to offer practical suggestions of pastoral counseling through this theological model. Moreover, through the study I contend that the model will be helpful for women to prepare their motherhood for themselves and their children. I specifically find five elements of maternal experience: body experience as a creative space, nurturing experience, women’s identity, becoming mature through parentchild relationship, and faith traditions. First of all, as a theological foundation I draw an analogy between the Trinity of God and human maternal experience. The Trinity has ontologically relational, life-oriented, and maternal aspects. On the basis of the Trinitarian model, I maintain that the motherhood of God is related to five areas: creation, physical care, emotional care, education, and training for maturity. Secondly, I explore the phenomenological experience of motherhood through in-depth interviews of six Christian mothers. Through the interviews I attempt to categorize the motherhood into some basic types which include the preparation for motherhood, its meaning, the awareness, the crucial factors influencing it and so on. Finally, I name the maternal attributes of the Triune God as “divine vitalizing motherhood.” The ultimate aim of “divine vitalizing motherhood” is for mother and children to grow into God’s abundant life, not to be parenting expert. “Divine vitalizing motherhood” is not a methodology of pastoral care but aims at the maternal attributes of the Trinity. That is to say, becoming a mother is to realize God’s care and to be united with the Holy Trinity. From the perspective of pastoral education, “divine vitalizing motherhood” is to help prepare the motherhood and the role of parent as a nurturer. Through the thesis, I find some important factors which influence the motherhood-faith, the image of God, childhood experience of nurture, husband’s participation in parenting, and the intimacy between husband and wife. Therefore, pastoral counselors will be able to help family members to handle the factors with the approach to family therapy. In conclusion, I propose that pastoral care can promote a healthy and intimate relationship through the concept of perichoresis of the Trinity, the mutual indwelling of the love. The perichoretic concept of pastoral care will be beneficial to the understanding of the church as a nurturing community.