COMPASSIONATE MINISTRY
COMPASSIONATE MINISTRY
edited by Gary L. Sapp
Summary: This volume clearly is the finest book ever published on religious compassion. It treats compassion in a depth and in a breadth found nowhere else. The first part of the book gives a superb treatment of the biblical, theological, psychological, and sociological bases upon which the exercise of religious compassion rests. The second part offers highly practical ways to assist religious educators, pastoral counselors, and all those in the helping professions to successfully use religious compassion.
Spirit of the Book: The basic spirit pervading every page of this book is the highest form of love, namely compassion to others. This book shows over and over again that by being compassionate, religious educators, pastoral ministers, and counselors share in one of the highest attributes of God, the unconditional love for others..
What this Book Gives You: This book gives you almost everything you need to know about religious compassion in order for you to be truly compassionate not only in your educational, pastoral, and counseling ministry, but also how to be compassionate to yourself. In short, this book teaches you why and how to be compassionate in the most religious and human sense of this word.
Distinctiveness: Why this Book is Special: What makes this book special is not only because it is the finest treatment of religious compassion ever published, but also because it marshals all of biblical, theological, psychological, sociological, religious educational, and pastoral counseling research in such a deliberate manner so as to help persons be more deeply compassionate to those with whom they work
Major Features: Major features of this important book include: (1) an in-depth treatment of both the theoretical and practical aspects of religious compassion; (2) a multidisciplinary view of religious compassion; (3) a holistic conceptualization of religious compassion encompassing cognation, affect, and lifestyle; (4) the actual human dynamics involved in compassioning other persons.
Chapters
1. Compassion in the
Bible
2. Compassion in Theology
3. The Psychology of Religious
Compassion
4. The Sociology of Religious Compassion
5. Compassion in
Religious Counseling
6. Compassion in Religious Instruction
Contributors: Chapter contributors include some of the most honored names in their fields: Dianne Bergant, Wayne Whitson Floyd Jr., James Michael Lee, Donald Ratcliff, Anthony Headley, and Gary Sapp.
Praise for this Book: This wonderful book has received generous praise from around the world.
RONALD HABERMAS of John Brown University and senior author of TEACHING FOR RECONCILIATION says: "Our Lord's solitary test for authentic Christianity is nothing less than genuine love for one another. This book offers comprehensive assistance for this critical task."
RALPH HOOD of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and editor of HANDBOOK OF RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE writes: "No other volume exists in which compassion is so forcefully explored both in theory and practice. It might well require some fundamental rethinking on the part of Christian theology and ministry"
EDITH PRENDEGAST, R.S.M , Director of Religious Education for the Los Angeles Archdiocese states: "A marvelous contribution. An in-depth exploration of religious compassion, together with its pastoral applications, make it an invaluable and insightful resource."
A review in THE FURROW (Ireland) says: This book has the potential to influence in a positive fashion the relation between belief and compassion and to challenge all Christians to the action required of true compassion as a response to the suffering in the world."
A review in CHAPLAINCY TODAY states: "This vital book ought to be read by every pastoral caregiver and especially those involved in Clinical Pastoral Education."
Price and
Such:
236 pages List Price;
$21.95 ISBN 0-89135-090-X