La Salle University La Salle University Digital Commons
Th.D. Dissertations Scholarship
2018 Mysticism and Its Curative Powers for Emotionally Impaired Athletes Chadwick Fionn Carlton ThD La Salle University
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lasalle.edu/religion_thd
Recommended Citation Carlton, Chadwick Fionn ThD, "Mysticism and Its Curative Powers for Emotionally Impaired Athletes" (2018). Th.D. Dissertations. 7. https://digitalcommons.lasalle.edu/religion_thd/7
This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Scholarship at La Salle University Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Th.D. Dissertations by an authorized administrator of La Salle University Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. La Salle University
School of Arts and Sciences
Graduate Program In Theology and Ministry
Dissertation
Mysticism and Its Curative Powers for Emotionally Impaired Athletes
By
Chadwick Fionn Carlton (B.A., University of Maryland; M.S., St. Thomas University; M.T.S., Wesley Theological Seminary; D.Min., Wesley Theological Seminary)
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Theology
2018
Mysticism and Its Curative Powers for Emotionally Impaired Athletes
By
Chadwick Fionn Carlton
Approved
By
Mentor: ______Anthony Paul Smith, La Salle University
First Reader: ______Tom Legere, La Salle University
Second Reader: ______Jack Downey, La Salle University Copyright @ 2018 By Chadwick Fionn Carlton All Rights reserved This is dedicated to Jesus Christ, my everything; my wife, Darice, and my kids, Dylan, Dru, and Denver, who haven’t wavered in love or earnest support as I have embarked on numerous quests to interpret God in ways that are intelligible and accessible to all humankind. To my mother, who never gave up on me and, at times worked menial jobs to supplement an expensive parochial education during my early years, which in her mind, would vouchsafe my success. To Uncle Charles, RIP, who made me believe I was bigger than life and that I could do anything! To grandmother, Bassebia Thompson Logan (deceased), who not only was a living epistle, but one of the most intelligent, uneducated people I have ever known. Thank you for showing me Jesus, and teaching me how to negotiate the vagaries of life. To my pastor, the inimitable Bishop Sherman Scott Howard (deceased), I am because you were . . . Finally, to my father, who never failed to exhibit a tireless work ethic, which I have applied incessantly to the care of my undertakings in the parish and community at large . Table of Contents
Acknowledgements ..………………………………………………………………… iv
Abstract …………………………………………………………………………….. viii
Introduction ………………………………………………………………………….. ix
Chapter One: Mysticism: Psychological and Spiritual Binary ……………………… 1
1.1 Mysticism and Healing, A Historical Witness .…………………………… 7
1.2 Summary ………………………………………………………………… 15
Chapter Two: Eckhart, McCall, and Thurman ……………………………………… 18
2.1 Abandonment, Abnegation and Eckhart …………………………………. 29
2.1.1 Change and Revelation: The Deification of Humanity ……….. 37
2.1.2 Purity, Indistinction, and Gelassenheit ………………………… 51
2.2 Adoration and McCall …………………………………………………… 61
2.3 Abandonment and Thurman ………………………………………………72
2.4 Summary ………………………………………………………………… 89
Chapter Three: Pain and Mysticism ………………………………………………… 94
3.1 Summary .……………………………………………………………….. 123
Chapter Four: The NFL and the Casualties of Concussions .….…………………… 127
4.1 Omalu’s Research ….…………………………………………………… 130
4.2 Consonance of Omalu’s Research: Recent Studies and Findings .………136
4.3 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy …141
4.3.1 Mindfulness: A Panacea or Farse …………………………….. 146
4.3.2 Some Realities Concomitant to the NFL ……………………… 151