1 / 12

Rev Prof Elizabeth MacKinlay AM PhD, RN Centre for Ageing and Pastoral Studies

Pilgrims in a Strange Land: Aging, Illness and Personhood The spiritual journey in later life: A unique model of spiritual tasks and process of ageing. Rev Prof Elizabeth MacKinlay AM PhD, RN Centre for Ageing and Pastoral Studies School of Theology, Charles Sturt University

sheena
Download Presentation

Rev Prof Elizabeth MacKinlay AM PhD, RN Centre for Ageing and Pastoral Studies

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Pilgrims in a Strange Land: Aging, Illness and PersonhoodThe spiritual journey in later life: A unique model of spiritual tasks and process of ageing Rev Prof Elizabeth MacKinlay AM PhD, RN Centre for Ageing and Pastoral Studies School of Theology, Charles Sturt University www.centreforageing.org.au

  2. Ways of looking at ageing: How old is old? • Chronological ageing? • The third age of life? • The fourth age of life?

  3. Attitudes to ageing How do I see myself in later life? • Do I look forward to being older • What does retirement mean? Is this a word that has passed its usefulness? • What value do I put on being an older person?

  4. How we look at ageing: Does it make a difference? Later life: • Age of decline (focus on ageing body)? • Successful ageing? • Spiritual journey? To what extent can we choose our ageing journey?

  5. Ageing and decline? What do we expect of our ageing? • Physical decrements, more aches and pains, decreased energy? • Living with more chronic illnesses? • Losses of loved ones • Moving to assisted living or a nursing home? • Fear of becoming dependent?

  6. Ageing and growth? Does that seem to be possible? • Psychosocial development: Erikson-integrity versus despair. • Spiritual development: finding meaning in later life, transcending losses and disabilities. Growing closer to God Ageing is the time when it all (potentially) comes together. How do we find meaning and wholeness in the face of increasing losses and frailty-and even dementia?

  7. Spirituality:A Definition That which lies at the core of each person's being, an essential dimension which brings meaning to life. Constituted not only by religious practices, but understood more broadly, as relationship with God, however God or ultimate meaning is perceived by the person, and in relationship with other people. (MacKinlay, 2001)

  8. Spirituality and Religion S P I R I TU A L I T Y- Ultimate Meaning Mediated through Creation / Environment: Nature, sea, mountains, gardens, work, human imagination Relationship: Intimacy with others and/or God Religion: Worship Prayer Reading of Scripture Meditation The arts: Music, art, poetry, drama, dance

  9. Spirituality in Ageing: Themes Wisdom / provisional to final meanings self sufficiency/ vulnerability Response to Ultimate Meaning Ultimate Meaning in Life relationship/ isolation hope/fear MacKinlay 1998

  10. Spiritual Tasks & Process of Ageing: A continuing process To find final meanings Transcend loss/ disabilities Response to Ultimate Meaning Ultimate Meaning in Life Find intimacy with God and/or others To find hope MacKinlay 1998

  11. Spiritual Tasks of Ageing for Christians:A Continuing Process Dying to self (self-transcendence) God’s story+my story (Growing in wisdom & final meanings) Response to Ultimate Meaning: Spiritual strategies Ultimate Meaning in Life: Life Centred in God Spiritual strategies: including worship, prayer, study, meditation Growing into Christ (Intimacy with God) Hope now & future (MacKinlay 2006)

  12. Growing Old in Christ • Struggles and joys, • Flourishing and fruitful • Intimacy with God and or others • Being and becoming

More Related