Anton Boisen Reconsidered: Psychiatric Survivor and Mad Prophet.
Journal of religion and health February 1, 2023 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1007/s10943-022-01697-0 via PubMed
Summary
Anton Boisen, an influential figure in the psychology of religion and pastoral psychology, faced skepticism regarding his theoretical contributions and stigma due to his psychiatric diagnosis. He argued that 'psychosis' and 'mystical experience' overlap and predicted the ecological crisis in 1920. His insights have been largely overlooked by scholars, who may benefit from re-evaluating his work to appreciate the unique perspectives he offered to these disciplines.
Study at a glance
| Key finding | Boisen's insights into the overlap between 'psychosis' and 'mystical experience' and his early prediction of the ecological crisis have been largely ignored by scholars. |
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Abstract
Anton Boisen was a seminal figure in the psychology of religion and pastoral psychology, but scholars have remained skeptical about his theoretical contributions and have perpetuated the stigma surrounding his psychiatric diagnosis and incarceration. I argue that Boisen was a prophet, ahead of his time, and that the academy has been slow to hear his salient critiques of the psychiatric system, and his contention that "psychosis" and "mystical experience" are overlapping phenomena. Most significantly, scholars have ignored the kernel of prophetic truth in Boisen's own visionary experience, which, remarkably, in 1920, predicted the ecological crisis of our current age. Reclaiming Boisen's unique voice might help us reclaim the uniqueness of the disciplines he helped birth.