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EMCAPP Journal 2

46 Comment on Werner May „The Healing No, an example of Christian psychology“ Gilberto Safra To turn our attention to the healing potential of saying no as proposed by Werner May in his paper is to have in mind Christian anthropology, in which man is presen- ted as a being of freedom. Man was created in the image of God and has as part of his destiny to strive to acquire the likeness of Christ. In this perspective it is essential, as Werner May has shown us in his text, that we figure out how the “No” is posited in man´s relationship with God. Werner May chose the Ten Commandments as a focus of his consideration. What are the possible meanings of the “No” in the Sacred Commandments? Werner May points to us that a huge difference exists if we receive the “No” as a way of loving care or if we consi- der it a mere prohibition. The key word here is confidence and love. In this perspective “No” is one of the guardians of our freedom. Is it possible to approach the question of freedom saying at the same time that, to reach it, is necessary to obey? The gift of freedom offers to man the possibility of crea- tivity. However, to create without considering reality or others could not only lead someone to madness but also to a spiritual disease. Here is one of the paradoxes of hu- man life: to create is only possible with obedience: obe- dience to God, to the reality of other human beings, to the context of existence of human life. Clinical experience shows us that obedience, the accep- tance of the “no” is possible if the one that posits the healing word is loved and if the word “no” is offered as an act of loving consideration. In this perspective, as Werner May tell us: “The Healing No”, a no which creates and deepens relationships and also enables wounds to be bound and healed. Maybe we could see the question of saying no as close to the point of view of obedience to the different aspects of reality: God, the other, our inner reality. As we say “no”, we not only establish boundaries, but at the same time we respect the boundaries that already exist. We may say that the word “no” is not only the guardian of our freedom, but is principally the guardian of our ethos, the image of Christ in us. I must agree with Werner May that the appropriate me- thod to discuss the question of “Healing No” is the dia- logical perspective, because this approach is the one that contemplates the essential aspect of Christian anthropo- logy: Love. Christian Psychology Gilberto Safra Full Professor in the Institute of Psy- chology of the University de São Pau- lo, Brazil. Teaches psychotherapy and psychoanalysis and is a researcher on contemporary psychopathology, psychology of religion. Presents a perspective in psychotherapy where there is a need to approach the human being in his ontological perspective. We may say “no” as care for the other when we respect and consider him and all his singularity. We are able to say “no” in loving care when we are able to say yes to the “No” said by The One Who is Love and Who said: If an- yone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

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