A study of bereavement and the (reactive) depression that may result from it : with specific reference to the function of faith
The purpose of this thesis was to examine the function of religious faith in the bereavement process. Contemporary studies which have a psychological orientation have tended to disparage the role of faith in working through grief. This tendency has contributed to the role of faith not being thoroughly investigated to discover why it is a poor predictor of the outcome of bereavement. A detachment process theory which analyses the function of faith from a theological perspective was proposed. This hypothesis, that the reservoir of the individual's inner resources: (i.e., i) meanings envisaged in hope, ii) faith as a life-force, and iii) the ordering of one's world) is basic in resolving grief to reach a normal state. To test whether this hypothesis is tenable a field survey was carried out among a group of bereaved persons and helping professionals to examine the function of faith during the bereavement process. This thesis is divided into five sections. The first section explores the historical approaches to bereavement, which concerns the development of attitudes towards death from Greek times to the contemporary era. The second section examines the past research and theories relevant to the bereavement process
Mbogori, Elijah K.
Bereavement ; Church work with the bereaved ; Depression, Mental ; Loss (Psychology)
A study of bereavement and the (reactive) depression that may result from it : with specific reference to the function of faith. The purpose of this thesis was to examine the function of religious faith in the bereavement process. Contemporary studies which have a psychological orientation have tended to disparage the role of faith in working through grief. This tendency has contributed to the role of faith not being thoroughly investigated to discover why it is a poor predictor of the outcome of bereavement. A detachment process theory which analyses the function of faith from a theological perspective was proposed. This hypothesis, that the reservoir of the individual's inner resources: (i.e., i) meanings envisaged in hope, ii) faith as a life-force, and iii) the ordering of one's world) is basic in resolving grief to reach a normal state. To test whether this hypothesis is tenable a field survey was carried out among a group of bereaved persons and helping professionals to examine the function of faith during the bereavement process. This thesis is divided into five sections. The first section explores the historical approaches to bereavement, which concerns the development of attitudes towards death from Greek times to the contemporary era. The second section examines the past research and theories relevant to the bereavement process
study bereavement reactive depression may specific_reference function faith purpose_examine function religious_faith bereavement process contemporary study psychological orientation tend role faith work tendency contribute role faith thoroughly investigate discover poor predictor outcome bereavement detachment process theory analyse function faith theological_perspective propose hypothesis reservoir individual inner resource meaning envisage hope faith life force iii order world basic resolve reach normal state test_whether hypothesis tenable field_survey carry among group person help professional examine function faith bereavement process divide_five section first_section explore historical approach bereavement concern development attitude_towards death greek time contemporary era second_section examines past theory relevant bereavement process