Mental Disorders & Spiritual Healing: Teachings from the Early Christian East
Jean-Claude Larchet Translated by Rama P. Coomaraswamy G. John Champoux
“Regardless of historical period or the nature of society involved. mental illness has always been with us. And even within any given society one often finds contradictory attitudes taken towards the insane. [...]In view of the many problems which current psychiatry faces, the difficulties in understanding, the proper treatment of mental illness, and the manner in which society responds to those afflicted, we shall try to offer some insight into the manner in which early Christians viewed, understood, and treated insanity, and to show the benefits, however modest, that the thought and experience of the early Christians can provide.” —“Introduction”
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 1 ANTHROPOLGICAL BACKGROUND: THE HUMAN COMPOSITE Body and Soul Spirit, Soul and Body 2 INSANITY DUE TO SOMATIC PROBLEMS 3 INSANITY OF DEMONIC ORIGIN Forms and Causes Christian Attitudes Treatment 4 INSANITY OF SPIRITUAL ORIGIN Mental and Spiritual Illness First Cause—The Frustration of Desires Second Cause—Anger Unmotivated Sadness Demonic Activity The Nosology of Acedia Treating Sadness Treating Acedia 5 A MOST SINGULAR KIND OF FOLLY—THE FOOL FOR CHRIST The fool for Christ, the Illiterate, the Simple, and the Innocent A Simulated Folly Scriptural Foundations First Motive: Humility Second Motive: Detachment From This World Solitude The Status of Stranger Poverty Third Motive: Charity Spiritual Presuppositions of Foolishness for Christ A Call from God or a Personal Vocation Approved by God An Already Highly Accomplished Spiritual Life Conclusion BIBLIOGRAPHY Patristic Sources Lives Studies
Item Number: BKSPP735 Publication Data: Hillsdale, NY: Sophia Perennis, 2005 Format: softcover Number of Pages: iv + 172 Dimensions (l × w × h): 22.9 cm × 15.3 cm × 1.1 cm ISBN: 1‒59731‒045‒X
