INTRODUCTION

Existential crises are now intertwined with the paradigmatic framework and noetic system of people’s lives in their search for meaning, significance and value. In this respect, a close connection exists between thought processes and values.

The core issue in the research is to unlock the hermeneutical connection between thinking patterns, philosophical systems, and meaning structures at the level of noetic understanding.

Basic Hypothesis

The basic hypothesis is that spiritual healing is realised within the qualitative interaction between systemic-hermeneutic networks and the attempt to determine how certain thinking patterns within frameworks, especially schemas of interpretation, the behaviour and attitudes of people regarding the meaning of life is determined.

In this regard philosophical counselling in pastoral care can play a crucial therapeutic role. Philosophical counselling differs from Rational Emotive Therapy in the sense that meaning perception comprises more than rational thought categories (cognition) with the possible pathology of irrational thoughts.

Sense Meaning

Sense meaning refers to attitudes as determined by idea-moderate wisdom systems such as embedded in cultural convention, attitudes and value systems that motivate behaviour, and a form of calling and commitment determined by existential pathos.

God-Images

The connection between religious thought and the dimension of God-images must be investigated. In this regard the research works with the basic presupposition that philosophical counselling can play a supportive role in a pastoral diagnosis that focuses on distinguishing between appropriate and inappropriate God-images. It is to examine how ideas about God’s involvement in human suffering (theodicy question) processes suffering within existential realities.

Connection to Philosophical Counselling

Particular attention is given to how P. Raabe’s four-stage model of philosophical counselling can play a role in pastoral care and the making of pastoral diagnosis. Therefore, to look at the connection between faith, hope and meaning. We also look at the dynamics between noetic philosophy, life convictions, life perspectives and processes of conceptualization in a pastoral epistemology.

Pastoral Theology

In this respect the research joins the classical connection between wisdom and insight with the tradition of cura animarum (soul care) and the current approach in pastoral theology to enlarge cura animarum with cura vitae (the healing of life).

Conclusion

This article is based on research conducted by Shawn Stützner and published by Stellenbosch University. The complete research can be accessed on the Stellenbosch University website.