Bouwen aan morgen met het bouwmateriaal van gisteren: Tobit 7-8 over de rol van geliefden als hoenders en verzorgers van elkanders psychische kwetsuren

A painful past can spoil a person’s perspective on the future, which, in the case of a couple, can put pressure on their future together. For these people, as well as for all those who tackle this problematic in their research, the Tobit novella can provide some significant and fundamental insights...

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Main Author: S. Veulemans
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of the Free State 2008-06-01
Series:Acta Theologica
Online Access:https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/2194
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author S. Veulemans
author_facet S. Veulemans
author_sort S. Veulemans
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description A painful past can spoil a person’s perspective on the future, which, in the case of a couple, can put pressure on their future together. For these people, as well as for all those who tackle this problematic in their research, the Tobit novella can provide some significant and fundamental insights. Sarah’s mysterious affliction, which symbolises all possible afflictions, is an unwelcome part of the couple’s relationship. Tobias, however, understands that loving one another implies not only that one is called to care about, be dedicated to, and take responsibility for one’s own behaviour, but also that one is subject to an appeal made by events from the other’s past, even if one was oneself not involved in these events. He realises that it will only be possible to share a future together if the chaos of Sarah’s past can be transformed, which begins when Tobias kills the voracious fish in the Tigris River, a symbolic representation of destructive chaos. Once this has been defeated, Tobias is also able to triumph over Asmodeus, the demon responsible for the misfortune Sarah has had in her relationships and who also personifies the dark forces of chaos. This adventure story gives metaphorical expression to the idea that partners can descend with each other into the chaos of the past in order to bring about a new order, through which the future is made possible. In this way, “to love” becomes synonymous with the generation of a future in which the ideal of Paradise is brought ever closer.
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spelling doaj-art-072411bc0e4a454ab2726fa0f854e6fc2025-02-11T10:07:42ZengUniversity of the Free StateActa Theologica1015-87582309-90892008-06-0128110.38140/at.v28i1.2194Bouwen aan morgen met het bouwmateriaal van gisteren: Tobit 7-8 over de rol van geliefden als hoenders en verzorgers van elkanders psychische kwetsurenS. Veulemans0KU Leuven, Belgium A painful past can spoil a person’s perspective on the future, which, in the case of a couple, can put pressure on their future together. For these people, as well as for all those who tackle this problematic in their research, the Tobit novella can provide some significant and fundamental insights. Sarah’s mysterious affliction, which symbolises all possible afflictions, is an unwelcome part of the couple’s relationship. Tobias, however, understands that loving one another implies not only that one is called to care about, be dedicated to, and take responsibility for one’s own behaviour, but also that one is subject to an appeal made by events from the other’s past, even if one was oneself not involved in these events. He realises that it will only be possible to share a future together if the chaos of Sarah’s past can be transformed, which begins when Tobias kills the voracious fish in the Tigris River, a symbolic representation of destructive chaos. Once this has been defeated, Tobias is also able to triumph over Asmodeus, the demon responsible for the misfortune Sarah has had in her relationships and who also personifies the dark forces of chaos. This adventure story gives metaphorical expression to the idea that partners can descend with each other into the chaos of the past in order to bring about a new order, through which the future is made possible. In this way, “to love” becomes synonymous with the generation of a future in which the ideal of Paradise is brought ever closer. https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/2194
spellingShingle S. Veulemans
Bouwen aan morgen met het bouwmateriaal van gisteren: Tobit 7-8 over de rol van geliefden als hoenders en verzorgers van elkanders psychische kwetsuren
Acta Theologica
title Bouwen aan morgen met het bouwmateriaal van gisteren: Tobit 7-8 over de rol van geliefden als hoenders en verzorgers van elkanders psychische kwetsuren
title_full Bouwen aan morgen met het bouwmateriaal van gisteren: Tobit 7-8 over de rol van geliefden als hoenders en verzorgers van elkanders psychische kwetsuren
title_fullStr Bouwen aan morgen met het bouwmateriaal van gisteren: Tobit 7-8 over de rol van geliefden als hoenders en verzorgers van elkanders psychische kwetsuren
title_full_unstemmed Bouwen aan morgen met het bouwmateriaal van gisteren: Tobit 7-8 over de rol van geliefden als hoenders en verzorgers van elkanders psychische kwetsuren
title_short Bouwen aan morgen met het bouwmateriaal van gisteren: Tobit 7-8 over de rol van geliefden als hoenders en verzorgers van elkanders psychische kwetsuren
title_sort bouwen aan morgen met het bouwmateriaal van gisteren tobit 7 8 over de rol van geliefden als hoenders en verzorgers van elkanders psychische kwetsuren
url https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/2194
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