“Sed manet articulus”

Anregung der vorliegenden Untersuchung war die Beobachtung eines betimmten Formelements in Martin Luthers mitgeschriebenen Predigten aus den frühen dreissiger Jahren. Es ist allgemein bekannt, dass der Reformator in seinen eigenen Kommentaren zu seiner ars praedicandi, die sich vor allem in den Tischreden finden, die Konzentration der Textauslegung auf eine einzelne Kernfrage als etwas Wünschenswertes in Hinblick auf die Aufnahme des Evangeliums durch die Gemeinde befürwortete. Dass er in seinen praktischen Bemühungen, dieser Grundregel nachzuleben, sich mit Vorliebe einer Formel aus der christlichen Elementar-Unterricht bediente, geht aus den Predigten hervor, wird aber nicht direkt in seinen Bemerkungen reflektiert und ist m.W. auch nicht in der Forschung eigens wahrgenommen worden. Durch diesen Griff hat er in und unter der Verkündigung des Evangeliums die Katechismusstücke so pauken und einprägen können, dass sich die Gemeinde die evangelische Trost durch eben die Formeln aneignete und im Gedächtnis behielt, die auswendig zu lernen ihre christliche Pflicht war. Der Aufsatz stellt einen Versuch dar, dies Merkmal nachzugehen und im Zusammenhang zu bewerten. Luther betrachtete bekanntlich das Symbol als Konzentrat der ganzen christlichen Aussage und setzte voraus, dass die Katechismusstücke mündlich hervorgesagt wurden “wie die Kinder tun”, um die Gemüter zum Gebet zu stimmen. Die Qualifikation, die das Können der Stücke und das Wissen um ihre frohe Botschaft darstellt, galt dem Reformator als eine Sicherung des Glaubens und mag wohl, ob bewusst oder unbewusst, zu seinen ständigen Wiederholungen dieser Formeln an den zentralen Stellen in seinen Predigten beigetragen haben.     

History as a Literary Weapon: The Gospel of Barnabas in Muslim-Christian Polemics

Even if religion is not in itself a concept intrinsic to Christian doctrine, dogmatics need to develop its understanding of religion. Interpretating both early and late writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-45), the article takes us to the different understandings of religion to be found in Bonhoeffer. It focuses on the relation between religion and (the dogmatic notion of) sin in Bonhoeffer's thinking. In this very relation one finds the motives behind Bonhoeffer's wellknown criticism of religion. But surprisingly Bonhoeffer's hamartiological approach to religion also leads him to a positive understanding of religion which has escaped the attention of most Bonhoeffer scholarship. This positive understanding of religion is finally developed further by the article which shows how Bonhoeffer also connects religion and (the dogmatic notion of) man's God-likeness.     

Stress,sense of coherence and emotional symptoms in adolescents

This paper aims to investigate the association between the domains of stress, sense of coherence (SOC) and emotional symptoms (depression and anxiety) in adolescents, as well as the potential moderating role of SOC on the relationship between stress and emotional symptoms. The study is based on a cross-sectional sample of 1183 adolescents aged 13–18 who attend public elementary and secondary schools in Mid-Norway. The results showed that girls scored higher than boys on stress related to peer pressure, home life, school performance, school/leisure conflict and emotional symptoms. Conversely, boys reported higher SOC than girls. Results from multiple hierarchical regression analyses showed that for boys, stress related to school performance was positively associated with symptoms of both depression and anxiety, whereas stress from peer pressure was associated with depressive symptoms. For girls, stress from peer pressure, romantic relationships and school was associated with more depressive symptoms. SOC was strongly and inversely associated with emotional symptoms, especially anxiety in girls. SOC also moderated the association between stress related to peer pressure and depressive symptoms in both genders. The study provides evidence of the association of SOC with stress and emotional symptoms during adolescence.     

Predictors of mental distress and poor physical health among homeless women

Abstract

We tested a latent variable path model in which situational, personal, and social resources predicted several mediators and the key health outcomes of mental distress and poor physical health among 871 homeless women. Mental distress was predicted by risky sexual behavior, less social support, avoidant coping, less self-esteem, client abuse history, social support from deviant sources, less drug self-efficacy and health care utilization. Poor physical health was predicted by a client abuse history, less drug self-efficacy, fewer perceived rewards for drug use, higher perceived costs for drug use, and a doctor visit. Current risky sexual behavior was predicted by a parent drug abuse history, less drug self-efficacy, and more social support from deviant sources. Current drug use was predicted by parent drug abuse history, less drug self-efficacy, more social support from deviant sources and by high perceived costs for drug use. Implications of results for intervention and theory are discussed.     

Society for Personality Assessment 1971 Program

The aim was to study the validity of 2 personality instruments, the Health-Relevant Personality Inventory (HP5i) and the Junior Temperament and Character Inventory (JTCI), among adolescents with a substance use problem. Clinical interviews were completed with 180 adolescents and followed up after 12 months. Discriminant validity was demonstrated in the lack of correlation to intelligence in both instruments’ scales. Two findings were in support of convergent validity: Negative affectivity (HP5i) and harm avoidance (JTCI) were correlated to internalizing symptoms, and impulsivity (HP5i) and novelty seeking (JTCI) were correlated to externalizing symptoms. The predictive validity of JTCI was partly supported. When psychiatric symptoms at baseline were controlled for, cooperativeness predicted conduct disorder after 12 months. Summarizing, both instruments can be used in adolescent clinical samples to tailor treatment efforts, although some scales need further investigation. It is important to include personality assessment when evaluating psychiatric problems in adolescents.     

FREUDS PSYKOANALYS

According to Walter Benjamin, we find in the images of recollection and dreams access to a potential of not yet actualized meaning. The images of recollection and dreams are images of the unfulfilled in history, both general and personal. The past has left traces which primarily are the traces of absence. They are traces of something unrecognized in their own time, overseen and forgotten by the course of history. In the sudden moment of recollection, this course can be brought to a standstill, and the images can reveal their salvaging value.     

Relational-oriented character analysis

Referring to the diversity of psychoanalysis of today, a position called relational-oriented character analysis is discussed. It is stated that relation and character as concepts refer to different and partly contradictory points of view in psychoanalysis, the first one emphasising mobile, dynamic aspects of personality, the second underlining stable, structural aspects. The principle aim of the article is to argue how the two perspectives can be theoretically combined in an overriding object-relational (two-person) conception and to discuss some implications for analytic technique. Finally, convergences and differences with other positions or schools in contemporary psychoanalysis are suggested.     

Gender and Transference

Despite an early interest, Freud explicitly rejected philosophy, because of its “speculative” character. He struggled with balancing the intellectual appeal of philosophy with the certainty he hoped to find in positivist science. Putting aside the scientific status of Freud's work, the author re-examines Freud's attitude towards philosophy. Failing to recognize the assumptions of his investigations, Freud segregated psychoanalysis from philosophy on the charge that philosophers equated mind with consciousness, putatively propounded unfounded speculations, and assumed false conclusions about comprehensiveness. However, Freud never completely abandoned his initial philosophical proclivities. His own contributions to cultural history, social philosophy, notions of personal identity, and the humanistic thrust of psychoanalysis, demonstrate that he continued to address his earliest interests in philosophical questions. The author elucidates the philosophical complexity of psychoanalysis and concludes that a reconsideration of Freud's self-appraisal of his intellectual commitments is warranted.