Abstract

LOUW, D.J.. A Christian spirituality of imperfection: Towards a pastoral theology of descent within the praxis of orthopathy. Acta theol. [online]. 2021, vol.41, n.2, pp.70-95. ISSN 2309-9089.  http://dx.doi.org/10.18820/23099089/actat.v41i2.5.

The endeavour towards perfectionism in a praxis pietatis is most of the time described and portrayed as the preferential "narrow way", resulting in a kind of "theology of ascent" (the legalistic upgrading of human beings equipped with super, spiritual abilities). Rather than a spirituality of self-improvement, the article proposes a theology of descent (engaging with human suffering, weakness, brokenness, frailty, and imperfection), as well as a paradigm shift from orthodoxy to orthopathy. In a theology of descent, the following question emerges: How does the pastoral ministry address the painful realities of failure and existential imperfection as related to the limitations of suffering human beings? The author develops a Christian spirituality of imperfection, which implies the following spiritual movements of the human soul, namely from having to sharing; from possession to communion; from competition to compassion, from withdrawal to solidarity; from estrangement to engagement, and from hostility to hospitality. In this regard, Henri Nouwen's notion of a "wounded healer" plays a decisive role.

Keywords : Christian spirituality; of imperfection; Theology of ascent; Theology of descent; Orthopathy; Christelike spiritualiteit; van feilbaarheid; Teologie van opportunistiese voorspoed; Teologie van neerbuigende ontferming; Outentieke medelye.

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