Chaplain Jim Rowland on a methodology for assessing ontological crisis

Recovering Meaning and Restoring Hope

Hope is restored through the recovery of meanings and/or functional narratives within the individual ontology of persons. In 1954, Paul Tillich defined what some call the core beliefs and others call a world view of an individual, as ontology, [1] which is composed of an individual’s narratives [2] pertaining to philosophical, spiritual, and psycho-sociological issues within human existence. These narratives are a combination of mystical and factual beliefs that the individual uses to function, or to make sense of existence in the past, present and future context. Tillich also described what happens when these core narratives, or ontology, do not function well in the face of a new crisis or circumstance such as anxiety. [3]

Every time an individual is met with a new situation or circumstance, an inventory of their ontological narratives begins. Their mind searches for those narratives that are similar enough to lend meaning to the current situation. When enough of these similar narratives are found within the individual’s ontological makeup, meaning is given to this new situation or circumstance, and anxiety subsides. On the other hand, if there is a shortage of meanings, or the meanings fail to be functional in the new circumstances, the result is increased anxiety. An anxiety is what Tillich defines as a fear that has no object attached to it. [4]

The person’s mind automatically searches for functional narratives/meanings to address their anxieties. Once this object (functional narrative/meaning) has been attached to an anxiety it then becomes a fear which can be faced creatively and dealt with. If no functional narrative/meaning is found then the anxiety will increase and potentially can result in despair, which is commonly referred to as hopelessness. [5] The human mind will continually search for meaning/functional narratives to address its anxieties because its sense of well-being is heavily dependent on a sense of hope. [6]

I believe that Chaplains can learn how to directly assist individuals that are going through this search for meaning/functional narratives. Since we know how dangerous the loss of hope is, and we know how crucial these functional narratives/meanings are in forming and re-forming the core narratives so that a sense of hope can be re-secured, then it follows that we will also understand why being trained to specifically assist people in this search is so important. One thing that Chaplains do, almost instinctively I have discovered, is to help people recover a sense of meaning, ontologically, so that they can restore or re-frame their core narratives pertaining to existence, which includes a sense of hope.

What many Chaplains don’t know is that this pattern of helping can be expanded and taught so that this form of helping can become more intentional, focused, and consistent. A methodology for assessing ontological crisis, and for treating this within the hospital Chaplain’s context, which tends to be a fairly brief encounter, is being developed. This method is already being used in the field of long-term Pastoral Counseling. [7] I will be presenting what I have found thus far at the APC Conference in Albuquerque this April. I am convinced that Chaplains can assist in the creation of specific functional narratives and meanings that can help people restore harmony within their ontology.

[1] Tillich, Paul. The Courage to Be, 2^nd ed., Yale University Press, London. 2000: 42.

[2] Lester, Andrew. Hope in Pastoral Care and Counseling, Westminister John Knox Press, Louisville, 1995: 27-42.

[3] Ibid., Tillich, 32-63.

[4] Ibid., 36.

[5] Newberg, Andrew, Eugene D’Aquili, and Vince Rause, Why God Won’t Go Away, Ballantine Books, New York. 2001: 69- 70.

[6] Ibid., Lester, 59.

[7] Ibid.

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