Views of our Fundamental Human Nature
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Views of our Fundamental Human Nature Archie Smith Jr 1 Accepted: 3 September 2020/ # Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract
Metaphor is a way of seeing. Are we among those who pass along the way–clapping and hissing and pointing the finger of blame and shame? Perspectives or “windows” on the person “opened” or “created” varies by certain theological commitments of pastors active in ministry, and the pastoral counselor. Windows (or perspectives, and limitations) are among the important metaphors in this essay. Metaphor is the key term. Views of our fundamental human nature are described by way of metaphor. If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and if one cannot step into the same flow of water twice, because it changes and we change, then it can mean many different things. Beauty, as metaphor, is emotional and transient and cannot be objectively measured. What is beauty to one person may not be to another. A subjective use of metaphor is intended. Therefore, I shall argue that beauty is in the eye and emotions and experiences of the beholder. This essay makes use of metaphor as a way to talk about beauty, emotions, change, the natural environment, and our fundamental human nature. Pictures or selected photos are employed. Metaphor (and paying attention to small detail are) important parts of gathering information in pastoral care. Certain questions are raised about our fundamental human nature. Pastors, active in ministry, ought to be interested in the many metaphors used to describe change in human emotions and relations, behavior and nature. Keywords Beauty . Creative . Change . Fundamental human nature . Metaphor . Nature
“All who pass along the way Clap their hands at you. They hiss and wag their heads At the daughter of Jerusalem; Is this the city that was called
* Archie Smith, Jr
1
El Cerrito, CA, USA
Pastoral Psychology
the perfection of beauty, the joy of all the earth?” — Lamentations 20: 15 “Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder” — Greek Philosopher, Plato “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man." —Heraclitus (544-483, BCE).
Questions and changing views of our fundamental human nature What does our outlook, perspective or theological commitments permit (or not permit) us to see? It may be the case that we cannot step into the same flow of water twice, because it changes and we change. If so, then is our fundamental human nature essentially generous and kind, good, bad, ambiguous, altruistic, self-absorbed, malleable, indifferent, or flat-out ridiculous? Are we free to become whatever we want? Does human change always benefit whatever it is that may be called ‘beautiful’ or ‘good’? Does context matter? Pastoral theology, care, and counseling struggles, in many different ways and perhaps indirectly, with questions about change and views of our fundamental human nature. Furthermore, are we fundamentally anxious, selfish, and short-sighted or creative, kind, and becoming naturally beautiful? The 1925
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