Dreams and Spirituality is a pastoral handbook that offers a comprehensive overview of the nature of dreams as understood from a range of diverse professional perspectives. Dreams are a universal phenomenon, feature frequently in biblical narratives and have a long established role in religious faith and practice. Yet many pastors feel ill-equipped to deal with this area of human consciousness. The approach of this volume is both systematic and practical, enabling ministers, spiritual directors and counsellors to understand the nature of dreams and the role they play in the lives of those in their pastoral care. Twenty-two contributors from a wide variety of disciplines explore the potential of dreams to bring about renewal, healing, reconciliation and encounter with the transcendent. Part One examines dreams from theological, psychological and cultural anthropological perspectives. Part Two explores the theme of dreams and religion through empirical data, theory and reflections. Part Three considers dreams and the practice of pastoral care for a variety of contexts and situations.

About the Author
Kate Adams is Reader in Education at Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln and a specialist in children's dreams. Bart Koet is Professor of New Testament and Early Christian Literature, Tilburg School of Catholic Theology, The Netherlands. Barbara Koning is a psychologist of religion and spiritual director, based at the Centre for Dreams and Well-Being, The Netherlands.

Reviews
"A valuable and intriguing read... pastoral counsellors will find an abundance of practical suggestions in Dreams and Spirituality." -- Patricia Garfield, author of Creative Dreaming
"In dreams God shows us our own truth and it is our work to reflect on the inner images of the dreams in prayer and meditation in order to let God's light illuminate them. Dreams are often signs, which show us the next steps on our journey." -- Anselm Grun OSB
"For many modern people, including Christians, dreams belong either to the realm of psychotherapy or to new age religion. The present volume is a thoroughly modern book that puts dreams and spirituality in dialogue with each other, recovering in cogent and unexpected ways for modern Christians the nexus between their dreaming, discerning, and prayer." -- Canon John Gibaut, Anglican Communion Director for Unity, Faith and Order



Book Information
ISBN 9781848257313
Author Kate Adams
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint Canterbury Press Norwich
Publisher Canterbury Press Norwich