Toward a Pastoral Theology of Holy Saturday: Providing Spiritual Care for War Wounded Souls - Hardcover

by Adam D. Tietje (Author), Deborah Van Deusen Hunsinger (Foreword by)

Veterans who experience the overwhelming trauma of war are often still stuck in the far country. In the aftermath, many feel abandoned by God. Adam D. Tietje suggests that Holy Saturday, Christ's descent into hell, is the place where God fully identifies with our God-abandonment. In light of the resurrection, it can be seen that the complete hiddenness of God on Holy Saturday is in fact the fullness of revelation. God has chosen to be revealed precisely through the cross and the grave. The author takes a Chalcedonian approach to the problem of relating a theology of Holy Saturday to the psychology of trauma. Through the use of this method, he suggests that pastoral caregivers might understand trauma and moral injury as soul wounds. Sanctuary, lament and confession, and forgiveness and reconciliation are found to provide a direction for the care of such wounds.

Author Biography

Adam D. Tietje is a ThD student at Duke University Divinity School. He served as an active duty US Army chaplain for nine years, including a deployment to Afghanistan.