There Seems To be a slight misunderstanding about the role of churches in addressing the mental health crisis.
Training pastors in psychology is commendable, but the role of the clergy is fundamentally different. In academic terms, pastors serve the socio-ontological foundations of society.
Their contribution to mental health is indirect. Human beings possess a soul comprising body, psyche and spirit, which develops within a social context.
Psychology at times suffers from an exaggeration of the ego, while life is, in essence, a ‘being-with’.
A person who feels emotionally distressed in the middle of the night is a soul lost in its own emptiness – and this is not surprising at all.
In contrast, there are faithful Namibians who pray every three hours, day and night, for the good of the country. Other congregations offer daily or weekly services.
It does not matter whether the participant or the pastor is in a good mood – God understands the challenge and responds in unexpected ways.
What is crucial is that the faithful follow regular liturgical practices reminding them of God’s central role in life.
Philosophically speaking, the existentialism of Heidegger, Sartre and others can lead to a depressive outlook on life.
Yet the world does not end because of individual problems. Emptiness and loneliness can serve as turning points, redirecting a person towards a new beginning with family, friends and society at large.
Together, we are on the verge of a new beginning.
Those struggling with mental health are often the most sensitive indicators of whether society is moving in the right direction.
– Andreas Peltzer
