Friday, August 12, 2011

We have a publishing date for our new book on Paul and PTSD


We have a publishing date for The Apostle Paul and Post-Traumatic Stress, From Woundedness to Wholeness. The book and blog both have the same name, but the blog is more personal, of course. The book is both biblical and biographical.

Perhaps you have read Winston Churchill’s comment on writing a book. It begins as a hobby and ends with you killing it before it kills you!It all ends, not with a bang, but with a whimper. It suddenly occurred to Annelie that one of the reviewers who wrote a blurb for the back cover might prefer to have her title listed as “clinical social worker,” rather than as a retired mental health counselor at the community mental health center. I could not get Joan on the phone; we had to go ahead; a date had been set for the first week in September.

I got a return a couple of days later. She had been away. “Of course, just print it the way I signed the review.” That’s Joan. No pretentiousness. She is one of the persons on the Session at First Presbyterian. I had asked her because I wanted a psychotherapist who had worked with women’s abuse groups. Usually an author gets reviewers for the cover who are “big names,” hoping to impress the reader. I went the opposite direction: I asked persons who impress me. To celebrate now having to read that manuscript one more time, I will just post Joan’s review.

 Review by Joan Coslow, retired mental health counselor at  Park Center, Ft Wayne

The authors weave the stories of Paul, Stephen, Jesus and other biblical figures into a narrative of hope for those who are traveling from woundedness to wholeness. In joining a new understanding of Paul in context of surviving Post Traumatic stress Syndrome, it is a wonderful example of overcoming a severe threat to one’s mental health and a worthy study for us all.
As a former therapist in a mental health setting, I have studied the syndrome and worked with those who suffered from trauma. This study is encouraging and rewarding to those women and men who have felt despair, defeated, alone, fearful, and embarrassed by heir story and the accompanying negative feelings.
How marvelous that the author’s capture the biblical perspective. It is crucial for members of the church to understand PTSS, s many may be called upon to be caregivers, friends, and supporters of those who are suffering.
Reading The Apostle Paul and Post-Traumatic Stress was challenging and wonderful experience. 

You never know how a reviewer will respond. I had thought she would pick up the different perspective that a woman gets on Paul when viewed as a person having had a post-traumatic experience. One of the characteristics is usually having radical difficulties with intimacy, particularly with those of the opposite sex. Well, my wife thought through the issue all the way with me. We will just have to see what women readers think of this new perspective on the evolution of Paul’s feelings, and consequently his belief system.

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