Title:
From the spirit of play to the play of the spirit: playfulness and its role in spiritual life
Author:
Roch Lapalme
Committee Member:
Kevin Gillespie
Committee Member:
David Newton
Degree Granting Institution:
Loyola University Maryland--College of Arts and Sciences
Place:
Baltimore (Md.)
Publisher:
Loyola University Maryland
Date Created:
2007
Type of Resource:
text
Genre:
thesis
Language:
eng
Format:
application/pdf
Physical Form:
electronic
Digital Source:
reformatted digital
Abstract:
This thesis explored the concept of play as opposed to work, by following Robert Neale's phenomenology of play exposed in his book In Praise of Play (1969). At the foundation of Neale's theory is the relation (harmonious or conflicting) between two basic needs, discharge of energy and design of experience. Play was analyzed as an adventure comprising the elements of peace, freedom, delight, and illusion; and, unfolding as a story or as a game. This was followed by a presentation of the perversions of play (i.e., work disguised as play) and a brief mention of the role of human development in regard to the range (full or partial) of play. Apart from Neale, other consulted authors included Roger Caillois (Man, Play and Games, 1961), Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (Flow, 1990), Jacques Ellul (The Technological Society, 1964 and The Technological Bluff, 1990) Sigmund Freud ("Beyond the Pleasure Principle", 1955), Karl Groos (The Play of Man, 1901) and Friedrich Schiller ("Letters Upon the Aesthetic Education of Man", 1910). The two last chapters applied the notions presented previously to the domain of spirituality, through different biblical themes such as Sabbath, Creation, Exodus, forgiveness, and the Kingdom of God, and showed how the Eucharist can function both as a story and a game. The three main authors that inspired that part of the thesis were Romano Guardini (The Spirit of the Liturgy, 1935), Robert Johnston (The Christian at Play, 1997) and Hugo Rahner (Man at Play, 1972). In its conclusion, this thesis suggested that the moral education elaborated by the Church throughout its history would find a beneficial complement in aesthetic education.
Subject:
Play--Religious aspects--Christianity
Subject:
Psychology, Religious
Subject:
Electronic theses
Degree:
Master of Arts
Level:
Master
Discipline:
Spiritual and Pastoral Care
Restrictions on Access:
Author has given permission to make this work available online.
Use and Reproduction:
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Identifier:
LapalmeR-07
