Bøger af Dr Donald (Princeton Theological Seminary) Capps

The basic idea of this book derives from Paul Ricoeur's view that since texts and meaningful human actions are sufficiently similar, methods and theories developed for interpreting texts may also be used for interpreting human actions. Donald Capps applies this view to the broad range of pastoral actions and, in the process, formulates a unique and helpful hermeneutical model of pastoral care. Capps maintains that such a model can be extremely useful for understanding what a particular pastoral action means to those involved in it, and for evaluating its effects on these persons.

The case study method is popular and effective in the pastoral care of individuals. This book outlines a method for using the case study approach on a congregational level, offering guidelines for analyzing and refining such aspects of ministry as worship, preaching, and Christian education.

Social phobia is recognized by contemporary psychology as an anxiety disorder that significantly reduces effectiveness in personal interactions. Its exaggerated fear of negative evaluation in social situations leads people either to avoid social situations or to experience great discomfort in unavoidable ones. In this age of self-promotion, social phobics can find themselves at a distinct disadvantage in a society that values dominance. Social phobics rarely seek treatment for their disorder, but they do tend to seek out supportive social affiliation. They are likely to attend church services rather than more personally demanding social gatherings. Thus, religion can be a resource for creative adaptation to life with social phobia. This book helps pastoral counselors, ministers, and other religious partitioners understand social phobia from both the psychological and pastoral theological points of view. Donald Capps describes the condition and its psychological roots, surveys various therapeutic responses and their effectiveness, and points to the possibilities of religious alleviations. Throughout, he expresses a helpful sensitivity to the lived experience of social phobics and offers insights for healthy and adaptive ways of life. For those who experience social phobia and those who interact with them, this book will be a valuable resource.