From Bedlam to Shalom : towards a practical theology of human nature, interpersonal relationships and mental health care
In essence this investigation seeks to answer three central questions: 1. What does it mean to be a human being? 2. What does it means to relate in a specifically human way? 3. What is mental health and how might the church enable people to develop and sustain it even in the midst of mental illness? The thesis will argue that these three questions are in fact inextricably intertwined. In order to understand mental health it is necessary to understand human nature and the character of interpersonal relationships. In answering these questions the investigation aims to provide an understanding of human nature, interpersonal relationships and mental health which the church can utilise as a constructive analytical framework that will enable it to structure, critique and develop its practice and understanding. The investigation examines the human condition from a variety of perspectives, theology, philosophy, psychoanalysis, social psychology and psychiatry, as it seeks to develop a holistic picture of human beings, a specifically human way of relating and an adequate, inclusive understanding of mental health. The study argues that human beings are essentially relational creatures, made in the image of a relational
Swinton, John
Philosophy
From Bedlam to Shalom : towards a practical theology of human nature, interpersonal relationships and mental health care. In essence this investigation seeks to answer three central questions: 1. What does it mean to be a human being? 2. What does it means to relate in a specifically human way? 3. What is mental health and how might the church enable people to develop and sustain it even in the midst of mental illness? The thesis will argue that these three questions are in fact inextricably intertwined. In order to understand mental health it is necessary to understand human nature and the character of interpersonal relationships. In answering these questions the investigation aims to provide an understanding of human nature, interpersonal relationships and mental health which the church can utilise as a constructive analytical framework that will enable it to structure, critique and develop its practice and understanding. The investigation examines the human condition from a variety of perspectives, theology, philosophy, psychoanalysis, social psychology and psychiatry, as it seeks to develop a holistic picture of human beings, a specifically human way of relating and an adequate, inclusive understanding of mental health. The study argues that human beings are essentially relational creatures, made in the image of a relational
towards practical theology human_nature interpersonal relationship mental health care essence investigation seek_answer central_question mean_human mean relate specifically human way mental health might church enable people develop sustain even midst mental_illness argue question fact inextricably intertwine order mental health necessary human_nature character interpersonal relationship answer_question investigation aim_provide human_nature interpersonal relationship mental health church utilise constructive analytical_framework enable structure critique_develop practice understanding investigation examines human condition variety_perspective theology philosophy psychoanalysis social_psychology psychiatry seek_develop holistic picture human_being specifically human way relate adequate inclusive mental health study argue human_being essentially relational creature make image relational