Abstract
Taking up a suggestion of Michael Cavanagh in a recent issue of this journal, Marcel Sarot contributes to the theological task of distinguishing conceptions of God that are psychospiritually unhelpful from those that are helpful. More specifically, he argues that the conception of God as compassionate and co-suffering is psychospiritually more helpful than that of God as blissfully impassible. In the final section, he shows that there is some empirical research confirming this conclusion.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bickley, H. J. (1979). Communications, as Ministry, with the Terminally Ill.Abstracts of Research in Pastoral Care and Counseling, 8, 107–108.
Cavanagh, M. (1992). The Perception of God in Pastoral Counseling.Pastoral Psychology, 41, 75–80.
Creel, R. E. (1986).Divine Impassibility: An Essay in Philosophical Theology. Cambridge: CU.P.
Fiddes, P. S. (1988).The Creative Suffering of God. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Hartill, P. (1952).The Unity of God: A Study in Christian Monotheism. London: Mowbray.
Kelsey, D. H. (1990). God, Doctrine of, and Pastoral Care. In R. J. Hunter (Ed.).Dictionary of Pastoral Care and Counseling (pp. 462–465). Nashville: Abingdon.
Nouwen, H. J. M., McNeill, D. P. & Morrison, D. A. (1989).Compassion: A Reflection on the Christian Life. London: Darton, Longman & Todd.
Randles, M. (1900).The Blessed God: Impassibility. London: Charles H. Kelly.
Sarot, M. (1992a). Omnipotence and Self-limitation. In G. van den Brink, L. J. van den Brom & M. Sarot (Eds.).Christian Faith and Philosophical Theology: Essays in Honour of Vincent Brümmer (pp. 172–185). Kampen: Kok Pharos.
Sarot, M. (1992b).God, Possibility and Corporeality. Kampen: Kok Pharos.
Van der Ven, J. A. (1993).Practical Theology: An Empirical Approach. Kampen: Kok Pharos.
Varillon, F. (1975).La Souffrance de Dieu. Paris: Le Centurion.
Woollcombe, K. J. (1967). The Pain of God.Scottish Journal of Theology, 20, 129–148.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sarot, M. Pastoral counseling and the compassionate God. Pastoral Psychol 43, 185–190 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02253786
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02253786