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A Christian Pathological Diagnosis of Relationship Addiction

  • Journal of Counseling and Gospel
  • Abbr : Jocag
  • 2024, 32(3), pp.139-178
  • DOI : 10.17841/jocag.2024.32.3.139
  • Publisher : Korean Evangelical Counseling Society
  • Research Area : Humanities > Christian Theology > Pastoral Counseling
  • Received : September 27, 2024
  • Accepted : November 8, 2024
  • Published : November 30, 2024

Yoo, Ko Eun 1 Kyu Bo Kim 2

1로고스상담연구원
2총신대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to help relationship addicts achieve freedom from addiction and become God-honoring beings while practicing Christiformity. To this end, this paper examines the problem of relationship addiction through a Christian pathological approach. Christian pathology offers a holistic understanding of human pathology by moving beyond spiritual reductionism and exploring the categories of sin, disorder, disease, and suffering. From a sin perspective, relationship addiction is a narcissistic behavior in which a person constantly craves relationships to satisfy his or her needs. This sinfulness alters neurophysiology, psychological relationships, family systems, and the sociocultural order in terms of disorder and disease. In terms of suffering, relationship addiction causes psychoemotional distress, including shame, depression, and dysfunctional anger and fear of violence and intimate relationships. Based on these findings, this study proposes Christiformity as a solution to relationship addiction. Through the process of practicing Christiformity, relationship addicts can be transformed from anti-relational sinners who seek to escape God to those who form healthy, God-pleasing relationships that glorify God.

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