In the Master’s Thesis, author surveys experiencing the decision for consecrated life in the light of relationships in the primary family. Relation theories emphasize that child’s sense for God and an intrapsychic image of God are related to child’s parents in a very complex way. A child can experience parents as good or bad, and the intrapsychic image may be consistent or completely opposite to this. All this can lead to a decision to live in a relationship with God in a manner of a consecrated life.
A qualitative phenomenological research included ten participants who decided to enter monastical community. The data were obtained using a semi-structured interview with which we obtained in-depth insight in the experience of the decision for consecrated life, experiencing family relationships, and experiencing relationship with God. The results reveal that intrapsychic image of God in majority is created on the foundation of the intrapsychic image of a loving parent that is present with the child. For the majority of the participants, findings at the primary relationship level revealed a deficit of mother’s emotional warmth, and experiencing intrapsychic image of God as a parallel of the relationship with father. At the same time, it was established that all participants who decided for consecrated life originate in families leading a modest life, and majority of them come from larger families in which women prevailed. The results further reveal that in some participants we can find parallels between their relationship with God and relationships in their primary families. Nevertheless, they made a decision for consecrated life irrespective of these relationships.
Results of the Master’s Thesis give an insight in deeper relation needs and wishes that lead a human being to leave a known world and unconditionally serves others. A decision for consecrated life is presented in the light of relationships in which a person grew up. Consequently, this also revealed the importance of experiencing the relationship with God and a decision for consecrated life as aspects that can also be understood from the relation perspective.
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