Agape: Moral Meaning and Pastoral Counselling

by Simon Robinson

Faced by counselling theory which demands moral neutrality and respect for the autonomy of the client pastoral theologians have argued for greater ethical reflection and challenge in the counselling relationship. But how far is it possible for pastoral counsellors to genuinely respect the counsellee and also challenge her moral meaning? It is the argument of this book that the balance between autonomy and ethics has not been successfully struck. Theologians have paid lip service to the freedom of the counsellee whilst at the same time asserting a priori values. Robinson argues that the balance can only be effectively achieved in and through agape and the related empathy. Properly understood agape provides both the environment of care, and also the core moral meaning which is central to change and healing. Agape provides the relational environment in which the counsellee learns to frame her own narrative. It is a way of being, knowing and empowering which enables the counsellee to develop autonomy in community. As such it is firmly based in spirituality. Agape also informs moral meaning at a cognitive as well as affective level through an ethic of unconditional and forgiving love embodied in the counselling relationship. This enables the counsellee to move from a narrative based in conditional worth and shame to one of worth based on the care of others as well as the contribution she can make to the community. Agape in this provides the key criteria for testing all moral narratives, including the counsellee’s and the churches. Far from being a threat it can strengthen both and provides a focus of continuity and trust for dialogue in post modern ethics and care. Robinson shows how that dialogue is played out in the counselling relationship itself, and in so doing challenges both secular counselling theory and much of modern Christian ethics.

Kindle Edition

Published July 10, 2015

About the author

With three decades of experience in customer experience design, Simon is an internet pioneer and award-winning innovator, having co-founded British Telecom’s Genie Internet, the world’s first mobile internet portal, and contributing to the design and launch of the world’s first smart phones. He is the CEO (Worldwide) of Holonomics, co-founder of the Deep Tech Network, a Harvard Business Review author, and coauthor of Deep Tech and the Amplified Organisation, Customer Experiences with Soul: A New Era in Design and Holonomics: Business Where People and Planet Matter. Simon is respected globally for his contributions to customer experience strategy and Deep Tech, having created numerous design methods and frameworks such as the New 4Ps and the Holonomic Circle.