Open AccessGeloofsvolwassenheid en Christelike spiritualiteit binne die knyptang van prestasiedruk tydens vroegbejaardheid
Author(s) -
Daniël J. Louw
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
in die skriflig/in die skriflig
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2305-0853
pISSN - 1018-6441
DOI - 10.4102/ids.v39i3.396
Subject(s) - spirituality , maturity (psychological) , hermeneutics , erikson's stages of psychosocial development , asceticism , courage , subject (documents) , order (exchange) , aesthetics , flourishing , theology , sociology , philosophy , psychology , psychoanalysis , social psychology , developmental psychology , medicine , alternative medicine , finance , pathology , library science , computer science , economics
Spiritual maturity and Christian spirituality within the crush between performance pressure and adjustment to early pre-elderliness In this article it is argued that a developmental understanding of the different stages of life is appropriate for a pastoral hermeneutical approach. In order to link spiritual maturity to life issues, both J. Fowler’s and E.H. Erikson’s developmental models are discussed. However, little attention has been given in existing subject-related research to the “in-between stage”: between performance and preparation for retirement. In order to focus a pastoral hermeneutics on the unique needs this phase has for Christian spirituality, it is argued that an understanding of the Biblical notion of parrhēsia can play a decisive role in helping people to discover continuity and courage “to be in order” and to cope with the eventual demands of old age. For this purpose a new aesthetics should be rediscovered: the existence of the sublime within the ridiculous. (The paradox of hope and beauty despite fraity and disfigurement.