John Swinton – författare

I mötet med psykisk ohälsa, räcker det inte med ”tunna” diagnoser och förklaringar som riskerar att stigmatisera och ge människor en stämplad identitet. För en djupare förståelse behövs ”tjocka” beskrivningar. Sådana kan endast växa fram i en öppen dialogprocess där människors unika berättelser blir lyssnade på med respekt.

Utifrån kvalitativa forskningsintervjuer med personer som vill ”leva med Jesus” och som samtidigt lever under någon av diagnoserna depression, schizofreni och bipolär sjukdom, strävar John Swinton i boken Möta Jesus i stormen efter just en sådan djupare förståelse. Han reflekterar teologiskt – i dialog med medicinska, psykologiska och filosofiska perspektiv – över såväl samhällets som psykiatrins och kyrkans bemötanden, och hur ett helande bortom botandet kan se ut.

Resultatet är en enastående och prisbelönad bok som handlar om personer i stället för symtom, beskrivningar i stället för diagnoser och om ett livgivande hopp för de som lever mitt i stormen. Boken vänder sig till alla som på något sätt berörs av psykiska hälsoutmaningar, oavsett om man arbetar inom kyrkan eller vården, vill vara en god medvandrare eller själv lever med en sådan utmaning.

John Swinton är professor i praktisk teologi vid Aberdeens universitet i Skottland, med särskild inriktning mot området teologi och funktionsvariation. Swinton har en mångårig bakgrund som sjuksköterska inom bland annat psykiatrin, har grundat Aberdeens Centre for Spirituality, Health, and Disability och är en flitigt anlitad föreläsare världen över.

This book brings together theologians, clergy, people with dementia, carers, clinicians and others to offer a holistic, interdisciplinary exploration of dementia which focuses not only on what dementia is and what it is not, but more importantly, what it means to live well with dementia and to find hope where sometimes it feels like there is no hope.Located within practical theology and theological anthropology, the diversity of perspectives on dementia presented in this book offers deep insights into what it means to be a human being, to live humanly in the midst of difficult situations, and helps us understand and navigate the complexities of the dementia journey. In offering foundational practical and theoretical knowledge, the book helps cut through the false consciousness of modernity and enter a world where personhood is defined not by our capacities or the loss of them, but by God’s loving presence. It offers a contextual theological framework to look beyond what we assume to be obvious and to recognize the “hidden” depths that can be discovered and encountered within individuals as they journey into dementia. In doing so, it takes seriously the lived experience of people with dementia and allows that to shape, form, and perhaps reform our understandings of God, human beings, and what it means to live well. Taken as a whole, the book posits that together, we can reflect upon and act out a hopeful future that makes people’s lives meaningful, purposeful and loving even in the midst of the challenges that Dementia brings. Still Waters Run Deep will be a key resource for academics, researchers, and advanced students of theology, divinity and religious studies, gerontology, psychology, mental health, and nursing. The chapters included in this book were originally published as a special issue of Journal of Religion, Spirituality & Aging.

This book brings together theologians, clergy, people with dementia, carers, clinicians and others to offer a holistic, interdisciplinary exploration of dementia which focuses not only on what dementia is and what it is not, but more importantly, what it means to live well with dementia and to find hope where sometimes it feels like there is no hope.Located within practical theology and theological anthropology, the diversity of perspectives on dementia presented in this book offers deep insights into what it means to be a human being, to live humanly in the midst of difficult situations, and helps us understand and navigate the complexities of the dementia journey. In offering foundational practical and theoretical knowledge, the book helps cut through the false consciousness of modernity and enter a world where personhood is defined not by our capacities or the loss of them, but by God’s loving presence. It offers a contextual theological framework to look beyond what we assume to be obvious and to recognize the “hidden” depths that can be discovered and encountered within individuals as they journey into dementia. In doing so, it takes seriously the lived experience of people with dementia and allows that to shape, form, and perhaps reform our understandings of God, human beings, and what it means to live well. Taken as a whole, the book posits that together, we can reflect upon and act out a hopeful future that makes people’s lives meaningful, purposeful and loving even in the midst of the challenges that Dementia brings. Still Waters Run Deep will be a key resource for academics, researchers, and advanced students of theology, divinity and religious studies, gerontology, psychology, mental health, and nursing. The chapters included in this book were originally published as a special issue of Journal of Religion, Spirituality & Aging.