This paper is based on Bowlby's attachment theory in the exploration of Christian pastoral care literature. Kirkpatrick and Granqvist account for the majority of previous research on the subject, however, not related to counselling or counselling literature. The selected pastoral literature, which is three books by each author: Liselotte J Andersson and Margareta Melin provide several possible associations with attachment theory. In the process, nonetheless, more literature has been studied than those reported here. This paper aims to investigate whether a relationship with God is given as an attachment relationship of the selected pastoral literature. The questions are divided into a descriptive and analytical one: "In what way are visible extension made of pastoral literature written by J Andersson and Melin?" and "Is God's relationship stated as an attachment relationship in pastoral literature? If yes, in what way?" The method used is controlled theory analysis, which means that attachment theory is the base from which the counselling literature is interpreted. It is an interpretative method whose goal, according Malterud (2014), is to “explore the meaning of the content of social and cultural phenomenon as it is experienced by those involved themselves in their natural context” (s. 31). It's more about understanding than explaining. The conclusion is that God's relationship in several ways is listed as attachment relationship, based on Bowlby's attachment theory.

Self-transformation and spirituality have not been extensively investigated in marketing research. However, these concepts are deeply impactful in an individual's life and are advocated by religious and spiritual traditions across the world. In Essay 1, I extend research on compassion, distance between self and other, and power by examining the effect of self-compassion on prosocial behavior. I test the effect of self-compassion on prosocial behavior mediated by the distance felt between self and other and moderated by felt power. Across five studies, I find that individuals in the self-compassionate and equal power mindset display higher prosocial behavior and lower empathy fatigue compared to the other conditions. In Essay 2, I examine the idea of agency in one's relationship with God which has not been investigated in business research although building one's relationship with God is the backbone of all major religious and spiritual traditions across the world and is seen to have widespread implications. Through five studies, I demonstrate that feelings of agency in one's relationship with God lead to a lower desire for retributive justice against an entity that has committed a transgression as compared to the no-agency condition. On the other hand, in line with earlier research, when one feels agency over material resources, one tends to have an increased desire for retributive justice against an entity that has committed a transgression compared to the no-agency condition. Across these essays, I examine the proposed conceptual models through mediation and moderation studies. Several theoretical and managerial implications are also discussed.

Inledning: Prästens yrke är grundat i kristen tro medan psykodynamisk terapi har sin utgångspunkt i psykoanalytisk teori som inledningsvis betraktade religiösa föreställningar som kompromissbildningar. Syftet med denna studie är att fördjupa kunskapen om hur präster upplever att centrala aspekter i yrket som präst förändras av en psykodynamisk terapiutbildning. Frågeställningar: Upplever deltagarna en förändring i sin tro gällande deras gudsbild? På vilket sätt upplever deltagarna att psykodynamisk terapiutbildning påverkat deras yrkesutövande som präster? Metod: Fem semistrukturerade intervjuer med präster i Svenska kyrkan som är legitmerade psykoterapeuter, psykodynamisk inriktning, analyserades i en induktiv tematisk analys. Resultat: Studien visar att prästerna upplever att en psykodynamisk psykoterapiutbildning förändrar centrala aspekter i yrket som präst. Genom en psykodynamisk psykoterapiutbildning sker en intrapsykisk förändring och de två yrkena präst och psykoterapeut integreras.  Diskussion: Diskussionen tar fram en modell som visar att psykoterapiutbildningen ger en intrapsykisk förändring och att de två yrkena integreras med varandra. Resultatet förankas och diskuteras utifrån objektrelationsterori, anknytningsteori och empiri. / Introduction: The work of ministers in the Church of Sweden is based on Christian faith. Psychodynamic therapy is grounded in psychoanalysis which from the beginning viewed religious belief as psychic compromises. This study investigates how ministers are affected in their primary vocation by a psychotherapy training founded on psychoanalysis. Research questions: Do the ministers experience a change in their religious belief as regards the image of god? How do they describe that change? How has psychotherapy education influenced the clergy in their ministry in church? Method: Five semi-structured interviews with clergy in the Church of Sweden who are qualified psychodynamic psychotherapists were analyzed using thematic analysis. Result: The study shows that the ministers experience a change in central aspects of their ministry as well as intrapsychic changes as regards their image of god, their horizon for understanding and general approach in meeting others. The ministers describe an integration of the two professions as regards pastoral care, interpretation of texts and leadership. Discussion: A model is proposed showing that psychotherapy education brings forth an intrapsychic change and how the two professions become integrated. The results are discussed using object relation theory, attachment theory and other empirical studies.

The most popular paradigm for Jesus is 'Jesus as the Divine Saviour'. This image is inadequate for understanding the historical Jesus, because it is also inaccurate as an image for the Christian life. Marcus J Borg claims that the Christian life is about a relationship with God that involves us in a journey of transformation. In advocating the 'Third Quest', Borg develops an alternative image of 'Jesus as Jewish mystic ', contrary to the idea of 'Jesus as Jewish/Christian Messiah '. The image of Borg involves five universal religious personality types. The paradigm shift from 'Jesus as the Divine Saviour' to that of 'Jesus as Jewish mystic' is investigated as well as the relevance and consequences of this, for everyday religion and the conventional church. A plea for a positive assessment of the issue of the historical Jesus is presented. This could have existential implications for South African society as a whole. / Biblical and Ancient Studies / M.Th. (New Testament)

The most popular paradigm for Jesus is 'Jesus as the Divine Saviour'. This image is inadequate for understanding the historical Jesus, because it is also inaccurate as an image for the Christian life. Marcus J Borg claims that the Christian life is about a relationship with God that involves us in a journey of transformation. In advocating the 'Third Quest', Borg develops an alternative image of 'Jesus as Jewish mystic ', contrary to the idea of 'Jesus as Jewish/Christian Messiah '. The image of Borg involves five universal religious personality types. The paradigm shift from 'Jesus as the Divine Saviour' to that of 'Jesus as Jewish mystic' is investigated as well as the relevance and consequences of this, for everyday religion and the conventional church. A plea for a positive assessment of the issue of the historical Jesus is presented. This could have existential implications for South African society as a whole. / Biblical and Ancient Studies / M.Th. (New Testament)