The Logic of the Spirit Human Development in Theological Perspective

by Loder, James E.

• ISBN13: 9780787909192
• ISBN10: 078790919X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-10-23
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass

Summary

Those . . . prepared to grapple with science, social science, and Christian theology, will find [this book] important, thought-provoking, and rewarding. ?Sharon Daloz Parks, Whidbey Institute In this deep and enlightening discussion, psychologist, and theologian James E. Loder demonstrates how a theological perspective enlarges our understanding of how humans grow and develop from birth through the life span. Loder examines the intimate relationship between human nature and the divine and provides moving case studies, bringing the work of psychologists Freud, Erikson, and Piaget to that of seminal Christian theologians Kierkegaard, Barth, Torrance, and Pannenberg. Loder acknowledges that psychological stage theories enable us to understand the logic of humans' evolving relationship with the world and with God. At the same time, he demonstrates that the divine spirit has a logic of its own, which is not bound by stages. Seminarians, theologians, ministers, and pastoral counselors will benefit from this rich, thought-provoking guide. James E. Loder is the Mary D. Synnott Professor of the Philosophy of Christian Education at Princeton Theological Seminary and author of The Transforming Moment and coauthor of The Knight's Move.

Author Biography

JAMES E. LODER is the Mary D. Synnott Professor of the Philosophy of Christian Education at Princeton Theological Seminary and author of The Transforming Moment and coauthor of The Knight's Move.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix	(6)
The Author	xv
PART ONE The Cry of the Spirit	3	(78)
1. What Is a Lifetime, and Why Do I Live It?	3	(14)
2. Examining the Relationality Between the Human Spirit and the Divine	17	(29)
3. Human Development Reenvisioned: The Case of Helen	46	(35)
PART TWO The Triumph of Negation	81	(48)
4. Infancy in Psychological Perspective: The Emerging Ego	81	(28)
5. Infancy in Theological Perspective: The Spirit's Confrontation with Nothingness	109	(20)
PART THREE The Struggle of the Spirit	129	(74)
6. The Toddler: Conformity and the Root of Human Freedom	129	(20)
7. The Oedipal Child: Sex, Death, and the Origin of Worship	149	(24)
8. The School-Age Child: Work and the Ambiguity of Achievement	173	(30)
PART FOUR The Release of the Spirit	203	(136)
9. Adolescence in Psychological Perspective: Five Axes of Youth Identity	203	(28)
10. Adolescence in Theological Perspective: Coming into the Presence of God	231	(20)
11. Young Adulthood: Risking Identity in the Service of Love	251	(30)
12. The Middle Years: Ego Transitions and Transfigurations of the Soul	281	(35)
13. Beyond 65: Dreaming Dreams and Talking with God	316	(23)
Conclusion	339	(4)
Index	343