BIBLICAL PSYCHODRAMA

Abstract

This paper intends to demonstrate that at least one of the many dramatic situations recounted in the Bible functioned as a psychodrama. Psychodrama as defined by Dr. J. L. Moreno "is the science which explores the truth by dramatic methods." The truth as used in Dr. Moreno's context is not an intellectual one. It is concerned primarily with emotions, feelings, values, prejudices, likes and dislikes. In this latter realm, as Spinoza has pointed out, the power of the intellect is greatly limited, for only an emotion is strong enough to overcome another emotion. Psychodrama stimulates strong. emotions. This is accomplished by getting people involved in situations which release their blocked emotions. One of the most important functions of psychodrama is its ability to unblock people who block out the needs and feelings of others. They are so preoccupied with themselves that they tune others out and cannot "hear" what the others are saying to them. Any attempt to explain to these blocked people what they are doing is met head on by protest. In order for them to change, they must be released from their self-centeredness by becoming responsive to the feelings and needs of
others. The use of psychodramatic techniques facilitates the attainment of this goal. The biblical psychodrama that I wish to focus attention upon in this paper demonstrates the use of psychodramatic techniques for this purpose.