Unseen Worlds

“Unseen Worlds offers a totally new Pastoral approach. Bernhard Udelhoven presents both a framework how pastoral care can rescue those who are afflicted by spirits, witchcraft and demons, and he presents numerous case studies and practical examples. These cases are often matters of death or life. Experience teaches that the possession by demons always is closely connected with and related to problems on an interpersonal level. Consequently, the core point of Udelhoven’s approach is to thoroughly study and heal the frictions in these relationships. For me as a professional counsellor Udelhoven’s path to healing coincides very often with methods developed in modern schools of psychology. The importance of his findings and proposals should not be underestimated. This book is a must for every pastoral agent.” Dr Toni Görtz, MISSIO By building on cultural and relational experiences of life, UNSEEN WORLDS provides a new entry into the deliverance ministry. It goes beyond quick fixes and also beyond the timeworn divide of the superstitious versus the real. Religious beliefs in spiritual evil affect World Christianity in fundamental ways. This is true also in African settings, where the unseen world comes with a maze of pastoral problems for Christian communities and their pastors, which this book takes up: A person-centered approach for helping people who are or who feel attacked by spiritual forces (Catholic and ecumenical ministry in multi-cultural settings). Case studies from Zambia demonstrate how a pastor can help with simple but meaningful steps even in very complex cultural situations. Readers ready to be challenged by relational experiences of life and African notions of selfhood will find an easy entry into the theme of this book that goes beyond the timeworn divide of the ''real'' versus the ''superstitious''. The book has been developed in dialogue with theologians, historians, psychologists, anthropologists, traditional healers, pastoral teams with extensive experience in the ministry of deliverance, and — most of all — with affected families, the subject group of the book. Its person-centred method is applicable beyond Africa to multi-cultural settings, where different ideas about the occult stay side by side. Gap filled by the book: The reader will find concrete pastoral steps towards a deliverance ministry that work with African insights into the mysteries of life, not against them. The authentic case studies show the complexities of the deliverance ministry, which are rarely noticed in the available “prayer manuals” in which demons are but prayed away. How will the book be read? The book covers seven topical themes: The first draws out the successes and failures of mainstream, inculturation and charismatic approaches of combating evil spiritual forces in Africa on the example of Christian Zambia. The second outlines the principles of the person-centred approach, with its demands of listening and empathy, and introduces the notions of “inner worlds” and “outer worlds” through which the healer/pastor can clarify different levels of truths and the scope for public action. The next three themes deal with helping people who are or see themselves as victims of spirits, witchcraft, and Satanism. Another theme concerns helping people who stand accused as witches, looking at possible interventions from the time that rumours are expressed up to the time that suspicions turn into witch-hunting. The last part introduces biblical and theological concerns that give a place to people's own experiences with the unseen world.