Psychological Assessment Involving Spirituality With Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Interest in including spiritual assessments in therapeutic settings has increased in recent years.Even though many psychologists view spirituality as very important to clients’well-being,many report that they do not discuss spirituality in their practice.An inclusion of spirituality may be particularly important when dealing with specific groups for which spirituality/religiosity is a large part of their worldview,such as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Therefore,this study examined a number of comprehensive spiritual assessment tools to consider when working with members of the Church of Jesus Christ.These tools were evaluated by 100 clinicians.In general,this set of tools was moderately to be mostly consistent with the culture of the Church,with each one having specific strengths and limitations.

Jesus Christ,a Man for Others and With Others

This article focuses on an important aspect of the Son of God and redeeemer of humanity,who became man in the incarnation.The study delves into the human dimension of Jesus Christ as a man for others and with others.His closeness to fellow men and women is striking.This closeness is accomplished through his pedagogical method by means of the stories(parables)he vividly narrated,as well as through the miracles he astonishingly carried out to help or heal others.Both parables and miracles lie at the basis of his proclamation of the Kingdom of God.Jesus was particularly close to those who were at the fringes of society.Jesus’social behaviour is also highlighted,with special reference to his especially unique style of table fellowship,going counter to the strict norms of his people.The climax of his being for others and with others is reached in his paschal mystery,namely his total self-offering in his passion,death and resurrection from the dead.

Grounds for a Christian Statement on Suffering in the Thought of Pope John Paul Ⅱ

The article seeks to address the problem of suffering in the world by offering a Christian statement on this great issue which has affected and perplexed humanity throughout the ages. The content of the statement is obtained by a presentation of the theme in a wide spectrum of writings and pronouncements made by Pope John Paul II who led the Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005, and who is considered to be one of the most prominent voices regarding human dignity and existential issues in contemporary times. Contemplating the crucified and risen Christ enables Christians to talk about a new meaning to suffering as well as of a ＂Gospel of suffering＂. The article enters into themes such as the human predicament when faced with suffering, the mission of those who suffer and solidarity with the suffering.

The Teachings of Christianity About Peace： Some Basic Principles

Authentic peace is much more comprehensive and far-reaching than the absence of war. The Jewish concept of shalom and its concrete experience entail harmony with nature, with oneself, with others and with God. This article delves into the Hebrew scriptural foundations of Christianity＇s teachings about peace, and then proceeds to give an overview of some of the key references to the same theme in the New Testament. A number of key affirmations about peace and its various aspects were made during the Second Vatican Council （1962-1965）. These were followed by several official statements made by the Popes in their annual World Day of Peace Messages since 1968 The Christian concept of peace offers a number of practical applications which can be embraced by all men and women of good will, namely the creation of a purified mentality, as well as a sincere pedagogy of dialogue.

Two Christological Documents on Their Approaching 25th Anniversary: Dominus Iesus (2000) and Chapter Two of Novo Millennio Ineunte (2001)-Comparing and Contrasting Their Tone and Content

Within the span of five months during the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000,the Catholic Church published two documents focused on Jesus Christ:Dominus Iesus and Novo Millennio Ineunte(with emphasis in this article on its second chapter).Although in various instances,both documents converge and deal with the same subject,one can observe how the perspectives and attitudes expressed in both differ in various ways.Their aim is different because Dominus Iesus was issued to oppose certain erroneous positions in the context of theories of religious pluralism,while Novo Millennio Ineunte is a pastoral reflection on the fruits of the Jubilee and the state of the community of Christ’s faithful at the turn of the last century.This article seeks to address the content of the two documents,while highlighting the differences in their style and approach.