The Angry Christian

by Lester, Andrew D.

• ISBN13: 9780664225193
• ISBN10: 0664225195
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-05-01
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Pr

Summary

The Christian tradition has long held that anger is sinful and to be avoided, but respected scholar Andrew Lester argues that the capacity for anger is one of God's good gifts. Here, Lester incorporates the newest behavioral research models, biblical and theological scholarship, constructivist philosophy, and narrative theory into a pastoral theology of anger. Comprehensive and critically important, The Angry Christian will be of help to Christian caregivers and counselors, to clergy, and to all individuals looking to understand the experience of anger. Book jacket.

Author Biography

Andrew D. Lester is Professor of Pastoral Theology and Pastoral Counseling at Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	ix
Introduction: The Problem with Anger	1	(1)
The Church and Anger	2	(2)
What's the Problem? Anger Can Be Destructive	4	(3)
Why I'm Writing This Book	7	(2)
Constructing a Pastoral Theology	9	(2)
A Map of the Journey Ahead	11	(3)
Limited Perspectives	14	(5)
Part 1----Thinking about Emotion
The Significance of Emotion	19	(16)
What Is Emotion?	19	(1)
The Philosophical Case against Emotions	20	(2)
The Postmodern Recovery of Emotion	22	(5)
Neuroscience and Emotion	27	(6)
Neuroscience and Pastoral Theology	33	(2)
The Christian Tradition and Emotion	35	(19)
Emotion and the Bible	36	(4)
Historical Factors Affecting the Christian Tradition	40	(3)
A Word from the Theologians	43	(11)
Theological Reflections on Emotion	54	(13)
Emotion and Embodiment	55	(2)
In the Beginning---Emotion	57	(1)
Created in God's Image	57	(1)
The Gift of Emotion	58	(2)
Head and Heart: A Wholistic Approach	60	(2)
We Are Responsible for Our Emotions	62	(5)
Part 2---Understanding Anger
Anger or Aggression?	67	(10)
Science and Aggression	67	(6)
Aggression as Life Force	73	(1)
Theological Reflections	74	(3)
Where Does Anger Come From? The Neuroscience Contribution	77	(13)
The Brain and Anger	77	(4)
The Significance of Memory	81	(1)
Anger and Fear	82	(2)
A Capacity, Not an Instinct	84	(1)
The Threat Model of Anger	84	(1)
The Flexible Brain	85	(1)
Science in Process	86	(1)
Contributions to a Pastoral Theology of Anger	87	(3)
Why Do People Get Angry? A Constructionist Narrative Perspective	90	(25)
Constructivist and Constructionist Theory	91	(4)
Narrative Theory: Life as Story	95	(2)
A Constructionist Narrative Understanding of Anger	97	(3)
The Freedom to Change Narratives	100	(2)
Identifying and Changing Dominant Narratives from the Past	102	(6)
Contributions to a Pastoral Theology of Anger	108	(7)
Part 3---A Constructive Pastoral Theology of Anger
Why Is Anger One of the ``Seven Deadly Sins''? The Christian Tradition	115	(22)
Dominant Narratives and the Formation of Tradition	115	(6)
Anger in Christian Theology: The Early Church	121	(8)
Anger in Christian Theology: The Reformers and Beyond	129	(4)
Twentieth-Century Theologians	133	(2)
Contributions to a Pastoral Theology of Anger	135	(2)
Biblical Perspectives: The Alternative Story about Human Anger	137	(13)
Stories in Hebrew Scripture	138	(4)
New Testament Stories	142	(5)
Contributions to a Pastoral Theology of Anger	147	(3)
The Anger of God and Jesus	150	(19)
Was God Angry?	151	(2)
Was God Abusive?	153	(4)
Why Was God Angry? An Expression of Love!	157	(3)
Jesus' Anger	160	(6)
Contributions to a Pastoral Theology of Anger	166	(3)
Toward a Pastoral Theology of Anger	169	(20)
Embodiment	170	(2)
Anger Is Rooted in Creation, Not in Sin	172	(1)
Created in God's Image	173	(3)
Anger as Gift: Blessed by God	176	(1)
Anger Is a Moral Issue	177	(2)
Freedom to Choose	179	(2)
Personal Responsibility	181	(3)
Summary	184	(5)
Part 4---Dealing with Anger: Christian Care and Counseling
Anger as Spiritual Ally	189	(16)
Anger and Hope	190	(3)
Anger and Courage	193	(2)
Anger and Recovery of Self	195	(3)
Anger and Intimacy	198	(2)
Anger as Idol Detector	200	(2)
Anger as a Guide toward Self-Understanding	202	(3)
Compassionate Anger	205	(21)
Anger and Love	205	(1)
Good Christians Should Be Angry	206	(6)
Compassion and Anger	212	(6)
Love Should Direct Anger	218	(3)
Christian Care and Counseling	221	(5)
Handling Anger Creatively	226	(27)
Recognizing Anger	227	(2)
Acknowledging Anger	229	(2)
Demobilizing the Body	231	(1)
Identifying the Narratives That Are Threatened	232	(4)
Evaluating the Validity of the Threat	236	(2)
Transforming Narratives	238	(3)
Changing Previous Patterns of Dealing with Anger	241	(2)
Creative Expressions of Anger	243	(4)
Christian Care and Counseling	247	(6)
Notes	253	(28)
Bibliography	281	(13)
Scripture Index	294	(2)
Author Index	296	(3)
Subject Index	299