A study of St. John of the Cross's theology of transformation from the perspective of psychoanalytic object relations theory

While St. John of the Cross's mystical theology provides an important resource for the study of contemplative development, both historical distance and the difficult nature of the subject can lead to misunderstanding and misappropriation. Some problems in understanding and applying John's theology have to do with the distinction of dark night experiences from purely emotional reactions or breakdowns, and the sense of self and the nature of relations to others required in the practitioner of contemplative prayer.;This dissertation analyzes the dynamics of contemplative transformation as described by John from the perspective of some current contributions of psychoanalytic object relations theory to the study of religious development. A constructive-relational methodology is employed which allows both the theological and the psychological perspectives to speak to the primary data of contemplative development without either discipline subsuming the other (Rogers, 1980). This nonreductive dialogue allows for a fuller, synthetic understanding of the data addressed.;Chapter one explores the life and times of St. John of the Cross. Chapter two exposes John's theological anthropology. Chapter three examines some contemporary trends in the relationship between psychology and religion and then suggests that object relations theory, which has moved away from the reductionism of earlier psychoanalysis, provides an adequate psychological model for studying contemplative development. Chapter four examines some contributions of object relations theory (Winnicott, Rizzuto, Meissner, Engler, et al.) that provide valuable insight into the study of spiritual development and religious experience. The dynamics of object relations; the role of transitional phenomena, especially the God image; and the self-in-relation to others are analyzed. In the final chapter, John's theology of transformation is exposed according to the scheme of contemplative development set forth in his collected works. Each contemplative stage is analyzed from the perspective of object relations theory in order to provide greater insight into the relational dynamics and psychic process involved in contemplative development. The importance of interpersonal relationship and the role of the God image in contemplative development, as well as the continuity between the conventional and contemplative stages of development, are illumined in this constructive dialogue.