The pastoral and theological literature has been notably quiet about the now-epidemic disorder of anorexia nervosa. In pursuit of a theological and pastoral understanding of this affliction, it is proposed here that beliefs and practices of anorexics share a common rejection of incarnated presence with advocates of the ancient Christological heresy of gnosticism. Examined are three parallel theological errors expressed in claims of specialness, all-or-nothing reasoning and asceticism.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
American Psychiatric Association (1980). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
2.
AndersonH. (1984). Incarnation and Pastoral Care. Pastoral Psychology, 32, 239–250.
3.
BeckA.J., RushA.J., ShawB.F.D., & EmeryG. (1979). Cognitive theory of depression.New York: Guilford Press.
4.
BemisK. (1978). Current approaches to the etiology and treatment of anorexia nervosa as a disease. Psychological Bulletin, 85, 593–617.
5.
BergerP.L. (1979). The heretical imperative.New York: Doubleday.
6.
BettensonH. (1961). Documents of the Christian Church.New York: Oxford.
7.
Boskind-LodahlM. (1976). Cinderella's stepsisters: A feminist perspective on anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 2, 342–356.
8.
BruchH. (1979). The golden cage: The enigma of anorexia nervosa.Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
9.
CailleP., AbrahamsenP., GirolamiC., & SorbyeB. (1977). A systems theory approach to a case of anorexia nervosa. Family Process, 16, 455–465.
10.
CrispA.H. (1978). Some aspects of the relationship between body weight and sexual behavior with particular reference to massive obesity and anorexia nervosa. International Journal of Obesity, 2, 17–32.
11.
CrossF.L. (Ed.). (1966). Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church.London: Oxford University Press.
12.
DallyP., & GomezJ. (1980). Obesity and anorexia nervosa—A question of shape.London: Faber and Faber.
13.
DaviesJ.G. (1967). The early Christian church.New York: Anchor.
14.
DayringerR. (1981). Anorexia nervosa: A pastoral update. Journal of Religion and Health, 20, 218–223.
15.
DeRougementD. (1962). Passion and society.London: Faber and Faber.
16.
EdwardsJ. (1969). A treatise concerning religious affections. In SmithJohn E. (Ed.), The works of Jonathan Edwards. (Vol. 2.) New Haven: Yale University Press. (Original work published 1746)
17.
FinklesteinL. (1938). The Pharisees (Vol. 1). Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society.
18.
GarnerD.M., GarfinkelP.E., & BemisK. (1982). A multidimensional psychotherapy for anorexia nervosa. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 1, 3–46.
19.
HoganC.C. (1983). Technical problems in psychoanalytic treatment. In WilsonC.P. (Ed.) Fear of being fat: The treatment of anorexia nervosa and bulimia (pp. 197–215). New York: Aronson.
20.
HornerA. (1979). Object relations and developing ego in therapy.New York: Aronson.
21.
JonasH. (1963). The Gnostic religion.Boston: Beacon Press.
22.
JungC.G. (1963). Memories, dreams and reflections.New York: Random House.
23.
KayeW.H., EbertM.H., GuirtsmanH.E., & WeissS.R. (1984). Differences in brain serotonergic metabolism between nonbulimic and bulimic patients with anorexia nervosa. American Journal of Psychiatry, 141, 1598–1601.
24.
KellyJ.N.D. (1960). Early Christian doctrines.New York: Harper and Row.
25.
KronerR. (1959). Speculation and revelation in the age of Christian philosophy.Philadelphia: Westminster.
26.
MacLeodG.P. (1955). Colossians. In The Interpreter's Bible (Vol. 11). Nashville: Abingdon Press.
27.
MacQuarrieJ. (1983). In search of humanity: A theological and philosophical approach.New York: Crossroad Books.
28.
MastersonJ.F. (1977). Primary anorexia nervosa in the borderline adolescent—An object relations view. In HartocollisP. (Ed.) Borderline personality disorders.New York: International University Press.
29.
MicksM.H. (1964). Introduction to theology.New York: Seabury.
30.
MintzI.L. (1983). Psychoanalytic development: The clinical picture of anorexia nervosa and bulimia. In WilsonC.P. (Ed.) Fear of being fat: The treatment of anorexia nervosa and bulimia (pp. 83–113). New York: Aronson.
31.
MinuchinS. (1978). Psychosomatic families: Anorexia nervosa in context.Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
32.
MoleyV. (1983). Interactional treatment of eating disorders. Journal of Strategic and Systematic Therapies, 2, 10–28.
33.
MoltmannJ. (1969). Religion, revolution and the future.New York: Scribner's.
34.
MossC. (1965). The Christian faith.London: SPCK Press.
35.
NeumannP.A., & HalvorsonP.A. (1983). Anorexia nervosa and bulimia.New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
36.
NockA. (1964). Early Gentile Christianity and its Hellenistic background (2nd ed.). New York: New York Press.
37.
OglesbyW.B.Jr. (1980). Biblical themes for pastoral care.Nashville: Abingdon.
38.
PagelsE. (1979). The gnostic gospels.New York: Random House.
39.
PannenbergW. (1985). Anthropology in theological perspective.Philadelphia: Westminster Press.
40.
PruyserP. (1968). A dynamic psychology of religion.New York: Harper and Row.
41.
PruyserP. (1974). Between belief and unbelief.New York: Harper and Row.
42.
SabomW. S. (1980). Heresy and pastoral counseling. Journal of Pastoral Care, 36, 76–86.
43.
SabomW.S. (1983). Immortality Experience: A Response to Haule. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 11, 123–126.
44.
SalzmanL. (1982). Treatment of the obsessive personality.New York: Aronson.
45.
Selvini-PalazzoliM.S. (1974). Self-Starvation: From the intrapsychic to the transpersonal approach to anorexia nervosa.Chaucer: Human Context Books.
46.
SobosanJ.G. (1977). Self-fulfillment, asceticism and the function of authority. Journal of Religion and Health, 20, 218–223.
47.
SpencerS. (1963). Mysticism in world religions.New York: Barnes.
48.
StierlinH. (1983). Family dynamics in psychotic and severe psychosomatic disorders. Family Systems Medicine, 1, 41–50.
49.
VaughnC. (1978). Colossians. In GaebeleinF.E. (Ed.) The Expositor's Bible Commentary (Vol. 11, pp. 163–169). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
50.
WhiteM. (1983). Anorexia nervosa: A trans-generational system perspective. Family Process, 22, 255–273.
51.
WilkenR.L. (1984). The Christians as the Romans saw them.New Haven: Yale.
52.
WillimonW. (1984). The God who can't keep quiet. Christian Century, 101, 1167–1168.
53.
WilsonG.T., & EvansI.M. (1978). The therapist-client relationship in behavior therapy. In GurmanA.S., & TazinamB. (Eds.) Effective psychotherapy: A handbook of research.New York: Pergamon Press.
54.
YagerJ. (1984). Clinical notes on anorexia nervosa: A grand rounds consultation. Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 48, 427–442.
55.
ZellerC.L. (1982). Treatment of ego defects in anorexia nervosa. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 52, 356–359.