The World at Heart

07 November 2020, Version 1
This content is an early or alternative research output and has not been peer-reviewed by Cambridge University Press at the time of posting.

Abstract

As initially presented in the context philosophical theology, the title indicates a two-fold perspective. On one hand: That which is usually described as conversion is at heart an insight (with or around some religious content) - the outcome for the person having undergone such an experience puts the world in context while also putting concerns that affect the wellbeing of the world and of being in the world at the heart of said human being. Indirectly the authors explains, how a process that could even be described as the momentary insight into the core of a non-buddhist koan led to a new comprehension of Christian mystical theology. The author finds herself on a threshold, unable to call herself 'religious in the common sense of the word - yet deeply drawn, compelled even - to structure her life with and through the new insight.

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Comment number 3, Barbara Schaefer: Apr 19, 2021, 13:36

Presented on this platform is a compilation of papers presented by the author, summarising her life’s work. Based on autoethnographic research, the author argues, that meaning and recovery can be found by embracing reality – through recovering not child’s play but the freedom of the mode of playing, waking up to a sense of freedom – i.e. not by turning to Buddhism but by turning to Reality in a playful way, as she has experienced it herself in and through Psychodrama. Much of the author’s life is about the joy and challenges this inner freedom can bring: As a philosophical mind she came to understand why religion had not appealed to her even as a child; as a social worker she walked the tight rope of creativity between caring for individuals in contexts where social justice is in short supply, as a tutor in HE she experienced how the teacher - inadvertently or otherwise - teaches orientation, as social justice campaigner she experienced her resilience and clarity of mind. Throughout her career her biggest challenge: Dealing with her inner paradox. To illustrate, her conceptual philosophical work will be sprinkled with personal narrative, all based on the author’s original personal research: A Life lived unconditionally, on Resilience and Hope may indeed become a work of art.

Comment number 2, Barbara Schaefer: Nov 07, 2020, 18:44

The third submission, originally presented at an international conference at the University of Utrecht in June 2020, on the conference theme of poetic justice - citizenship and narratives of personhood, is title 'Barbed Wire in Between'. It is an auto-ethnographic study of motivation and conscience - a process not without its own inner paradox.

Comment number 1, Barbara Schaefer: Nov 07, 2020, 11:55

This piece of work was in fact peer-reviewed by the then Head of the Theology Dept at Newman University (then still Newman College) in 2004 - who commented, the work already showed the criterion for PhD-level work - being an 'original contribution to the body of knowledge'. It is closely linked with another submission 'Insight at Rockbottom', presented after peer-review at Loyola Marymount University (Lonergan symposium) in 2003.