Book Review on Care for Souls by David Benner
Reflection Paper -
Care of Souls: Revisioning Christian Nurture and Counsel
by Swanie Khoo
In the work of professional psychology, we have now a forray of theories, therapeutic techniques, and modern psychotherapies which has all too frequently ignore the spiritual element in human life. In Care of Souls, Dr David Benner recaptures the place of the spiritual in psychological work. Among the many benefits of the use of modern therapies and medical science, he has also emphasised putting God's priorities above one's own in the practice of Christian soul care. Care of Souls provides an account of Christianity's historical practices of soul care through a culmination of his many years of scholarship, teaching and clinical work. However, I found its dense prose difficult to comprehend and some times confusing and it was also difficult to capture his train of thought. I have to say it was not an easy book to read. Benners starts the book helping me understand soul care. He asks “What is soul care?” He claims soul care as “the support and restoration of the well-being of persons in their depth and totality, with particular concern for their inner life.” Benner posits that care of souls came from a latin word, cura animarum, where this word embraces both care and cure of the soul. Many times in the text, he interchanges the words care and cure of soul. However, both care and cure have both very different implications and it made me uncomfortable to claim that the 'Cure of the Soul' is part of the work of a psychotherapist. Psychotherapists treat the soul by easing suffering, helping people in emotional pain to reclaim meaning and purpose and encouraging people to see themselves, others and the world more accurately. I believe that psychotherapists care for the soul. The cure of the soul is God's work; it is the result of God's redemptive work in one to completely heal and repair one's damaged soul. I agree with Benner that clinical tools and integrated
Care of Souls: Revisioning Christian Nurture and Counsel
by Swanie Khoo
In the work of professional psychology, we have now a forray of theories, therapeutic techniques, and modern psychotherapies which has all too frequently ignore the spiritual element in human life. In Care of Souls, Dr David Benner recaptures the place of the spiritual in psychological work. Among the many benefits of the use of modern therapies and medical science, he has also emphasised putting God's priorities above one's own in the practice of Christian soul care. Care of Souls provides an account of Christianity's historical practices of soul care through a culmination of his many years of scholarship, teaching and clinical work. However, I found its dense prose difficult to comprehend and some times confusing and it was also difficult to capture his train of thought. I have to say it was not an easy book to read. Benners starts the book helping me understand soul care. He asks “What is soul care?” He claims soul care as “the support and restoration of the well-being of persons in their depth and totality, with particular concern for their inner life.” Benner posits that care of souls came from a latin word, cura animarum, where this word embraces both care and cure of the soul. Many times in the text, he interchanges the words care and cure of soul. However, both care and cure have both very different implications and it made me uncomfortable to claim that the 'Cure of the Soul' is part of the work of a psychotherapist. Psychotherapists treat the soul by easing suffering, helping people in emotional pain to reclaim meaning and purpose and encouraging people to see themselves, others and the world more accurately. I believe that psychotherapists care for the soul. The cure of the soul is God's work; it is the result of God's redemptive work in one to completely heal and repair one's damaged soul. I agree with Benner that clinical tools and integrated