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Papers by Bavly Kost
The Alexandria School Journal , 2021
In Canada, over 100,000 abortions were performed in 2015. Although declining, this figure is over... more In Canada, over 100,000 abortions were performed in 2015. Although declining, this figure is over six times higher in the United States. As health care workers, there is an imminent need to understand the motives behind this common practice and to recognize the need for pastoral care to isolated mothers who have lost hope, in despair, living in fear, or have financial distress. In one interview scenario, twenty-year-old Stacy was on her way to a local clinic for an abortion of her fetus when she had a fall on public transit and was rushed to the hospital. Her planned termination was declared a stillbirth at 20 weeks gestational age. Stacy, already a mother of a two-year old, felt a sense of guilt for abandoning her fetus whom she “felt a connection” with. We believe that this connection, a product of self-reflection, to be an innate human consequence, but it may have been reinforced by her Roman Catholic background and the fact that she was already a mother. However, she did not feel regret prior to her hospital visit - she attributed this now realized connection with the fetus to the support of chaplaincy and nursing staff. When one speaks, he or she manifests their thoughts; it is certainly possible that Stacy did not have the medium to do so before receiving spiritual care in the hospital. We believe that we can think more clearly and practice a more complete form of compassion when we gather around the bonfire together instead of venturing off into the bitter cold alone.
Carl Rogers Person-Centred Therapy is a technique that can be utilized to help combat loneliness within the healthcare setting. Carl Rogers, influenced by Viktor Frankl - the Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor, brought existential therapy to the forefront of psychological practice. Existentialism sees the world as being devoid of meaning and the individual is faced with the anxiety of creating their identity. Carl Rogers took this idea and began to take a humanistic approach which explored a more hopeful view of the world; wherein the individual has a natural potential that can be actualized and in which meaning can be found. Person-Centred Therapy focused on the individual as being trustworthy. The power is given to the individual in that he has great potential for understanding himself and resolving his own problems without direct intervention from the therapist. Individuals are then capable of self-directed growth. The three main aspects of person-centred therapy are: congruence (being genuine and authentic), unconditional positive regard (accepting, respecting, and caring for the client), and empathy (understanding the emotions). Taking a medical and spiritual perspective, we aim to examine how Roger’s theory has the potential to help alleviate loneliness in the context of Stacey’s termination.
The Alexandria School Journal, 2020
The late twentieth century saw both a revival and change of the Coptic Orthodox theological frame... more The late twentieth century saw both a revival and change of the Coptic Orthodox theological framework. Copts from Egypt began to emigrate into the West which led to a paradigmatic shift in theology among Copts in the diaspora. In this paper, I intend to provide a systematic analysis of the rise of modern Coptic theology, and its effect on the Christian concept of community. I will argue that the political rhetoric of exclusion is incongruent with the Christian ethos of inclusivity and call to live with the “other”. I will also argue that Copts need to shift their thinking from exclusion to belonging, and to reframe our practices to prioritize the centrality of catholicity to the church (i.e. inclusion of all others). This paper will seek to do three things. Firstly, it will highlight the terms of community and belonging, which are vague and complex, and need to be accurately understood. Secondly, the paper will demonstrate that merely including people labeled as “outsiders” is not enough in overcoming the alienation, stigmatization, and exclusion of those who we have been reduced as the “outsiders” in the Coptic community; Copts need to move from ideas of exclusion to practices of belonging. Finally, the theology of Father Alexander Schmemann will be used to demonstrate that the key to such transformation is not in politics, but in a eucharistic understanding of the body of Christ, which brings together all nations and cultures. It is only when we learn how to accept and love one another, as others, through an inclusive community that embodies the whole, that we understand the theology of radical Christ-like love.
CCHP, 2020
COVID-19, also called SARS-CoV2 or coronavirus, is a highly contagious rapidly spreading respirat... more COVID-19, also called SARS-CoV2 or coronavirus, is a highly contagious rapidly spreading respiratory virus that infects and attacks the host. It causes flu-like symptoms such as cough, fever, general myalgia, and more severely, respiratory distress, pneumonia, and death. People can be asymptomatic for 14 days or even longer but can still transmit it to others, which makes it difficult to detect and control the transmission. This paper looks at the front-line perspective of a Nurse and a Spiritual Care Practitioner working in a hospital setting.
https://thecchp.com/2020/04/19/covid-19-a-front-line-perspective/
CCHP , 2019
Coptic Christians uphold that both God and man have roles in human salvation: God, through Christ... more Coptic Christians uphold that both God and man have roles in human salvation: God, through Christ’s atoning death and resurrection; man, through good works, which are the fruits of the faith. To paraphrase St. Athanasius, fourth century bishop of Alexandria, Christ became human so humanity can become God.
Here is a link to the article: https://thecchp.com/2017/09/24/chaplaincy-and-coptic-theology/
Theologues, 2015
The Council of Chalcedon met in 451 A.D in Asia Minor and the council’s ruling was an important s... more The Council of Chalcedon met in 451 A.D in Asia Minor and the council’s ruling was an important step in further clarifying the person of Christ. However, in order to understand and appreciate the events of Chalcedon, a quick review of the century prior to the council is needed.
The Alexandria School Journal, 2016
The early twentieth century saw a “revival” of the Orthodox Church through immigration, education... more The early twentieth century saw a “revival” of the Orthodox Church through immigration, education of the hierarchy and rise of the middle class. With the Orthodox population moving to the west, a rebirth had taken place on theological topics and understandings of major teachings within the church. The role of the Bible in the life of the believer, the role of the priesthood and the understanding of salvation all became radically redefined during the 20th century. The interaction with different Christian denominations created a paradigm shift in how we understood salvation and the questions asked around the understanding of salvation. Orthodox teaching had moved from communal salvation to defending, as we know it in the west, “personal salvation”. Comments like, “We are saved by grace, works are not needed” and, “Why do you go through all those rituals, do you not know that once you accept Christ you are saved?” These comments generated a conversation and a shift took place in how we speak about salvation. The conversation shifted and today we have a wide range of answers. In this paper, I will seek to journey with you on two parts. The first part will seek to answer the question what is the Orthodox understanding of salvation? How was it understood in the early church? What is Christ’s role in salvation? How do we understand sin? The second part will seek to answer the question, why does any of this matter? I hope to intertwine my own personal dealings within chaplaincy and how that has affected my own understanding of salvation.
Book Reviews by Bavly Kost
The Alexandria School Journal , 2021
In Canada, over 100,000 abortions were performed in 2015. Although declining, this figure is over... more In Canada, over 100,000 abortions were performed in 2015. Although declining, this figure is over six times higher in the United States. As health care workers, there is an imminent need to understand the motives behind this common practice and to recognize the need for pastoral care to isolated mothers who have lost hope, in despair, living in fear, or have financial distress. In one interview scenario, twenty-year-old Stacy was on her way to a local clinic for an abortion of her fetus when she had a fall on public transit and was rushed to the hospital. Her planned termination was declared a stillbirth at 20 weeks gestational age. Stacy, already a mother of a two-year old, felt a sense of guilt for abandoning her fetus whom she “felt a connection” with. We believe that this connection, a product of self-reflection, to be an innate human consequence, but it may have been reinforced by her Roman Catholic background and the fact that she was already a mother. However, she did not feel regret prior to her hospital visit - she attributed this now realized connection with the fetus to the support of chaplaincy and nursing staff. When one speaks, he or she manifests their thoughts; it is certainly possible that Stacy did not have the medium to do so before receiving spiritual care in the hospital. We believe that we can think more clearly and practice a more complete form of compassion when we gather around the bonfire together instead of venturing off into the bitter cold alone.
Carl Rogers Person-Centred Therapy is a technique that can be utilized to help combat loneliness within the healthcare setting. Carl Rogers, influenced by Viktor Frankl - the Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor, brought existential therapy to the forefront of psychological practice. Existentialism sees the world as being devoid of meaning and the individual is faced with the anxiety of creating their identity. Carl Rogers took this idea and began to take a humanistic approach which explored a more hopeful view of the world; wherein the individual has a natural potential that can be actualized and in which meaning can be found. Person-Centred Therapy focused on the individual as being trustworthy. The power is given to the individual in that he has great potential for understanding himself and resolving his own problems without direct intervention from the therapist. Individuals are then capable of self-directed growth. The three main aspects of person-centred therapy are: congruence (being genuine and authentic), unconditional positive regard (accepting, respecting, and caring for the client), and empathy (understanding the emotions). Taking a medical and spiritual perspective, we aim to examine how Roger’s theory has the potential to help alleviate loneliness in the context of Stacey’s termination.
The Alexandria School Journal, 2020
The late twentieth century saw both a revival and change of the Coptic Orthodox theological frame... more The late twentieth century saw both a revival and change of the Coptic Orthodox theological framework. Copts from Egypt began to emigrate into the West which led to a paradigmatic shift in theology among Copts in the diaspora. In this paper, I intend to provide a systematic analysis of the rise of modern Coptic theology, and its effect on the Christian concept of community. I will argue that the political rhetoric of exclusion is incongruent with the Christian ethos of inclusivity and call to live with the “other”. I will also argue that Copts need to shift their thinking from exclusion to belonging, and to reframe our practices to prioritize the centrality of catholicity to the church (i.e. inclusion of all others). This paper will seek to do three things. Firstly, it will highlight the terms of community and belonging, which are vague and complex, and need to be accurately understood. Secondly, the paper will demonstrate that merely including people labeled as “outsiders” is not enough in overcoming the alienation, stigmatization, and exclusion of those who we have been reduced as the “outsiders” in the Coptic community; Copts need to move from ideas of exclusion to practices of belonging. Finally, the theology of Father Alexander Schmemann will be used to demonstrate that the key to such transformation is not in politics, but in a eucharistic understanding of the body of Christ, which brings together all nations and cultures. It is only when we learn how to accept and love one another, as others, through an inclusive community that embodies the whole, that we understand the theology of radical Christ-like love.
CCHP, 2020
COVID-19, also called SARS-CoV2 or coronavirus, is a highly contagious rapidly spreading respirat... more COVID-19, also called SARS-CoV2 or coronavirus, is a highly contagious rapidly spreading respiratory virus that infects and attacks the host. It causes flu-like symptoms such as cough, fever, general myalgia, and more severely, respiratory distress, pneumonia, and death. People can be asymptomatic for 14 days or even longer but can still transmit it to others, which makes it difficult to detect and control the transmission. This paper looks at the front-line perspective of a Nurse and a Spiritual Care Practitioner working in a hospital setting.
https://thecchp.com/2020/04/19/covid-19-a-front-line-perspective/
CCHP , 2019
Coptic Christians uphold that both God and man have roles in human salvation: God, through Christ... more Coptic Christians uphold that both God and man have roles in human salvation: God, through Christ’s atoning death and resurrection; man, through good works, which are the fruits of the faith. To paraphrase St. Athanasius, fourth century bishop of Alexandria, Christ became human so humanity can become God.
Here is a link to the article: https://thecchp.com/2017/09/24/chaplaincy-and-coptic-theology/
Theologues, 2015
The Council of Chalcedon met in 451 A.D in Asia Minor and the council’s ruling was an important s... more The Council of Chalcedon met in 451 A.D in Asia Minor and the council’s ruling was an important step in further clarifying the person of Christ. However, in order to understand and appreciate the events of Chalcedon, a quick review of the century prior to the council is needed.
The Alexandria School Journal, 2016
The early twentieth century saw a “revival” of the Orthodox Church through immigration, education... more The early twentieth century saw a “revival” of the Orthodox Church through immigration, education of the hierarchy and rise of the middle class. With the Orthodox population moving to the west, a rebirth had taken place on theological topics and understandings of major teachings within the church. The role of the Bible in the life of the believer, the role of the priesthood and the understanding of salvation all became radically redefined during the 20th century. The interaction with different Christian denominations created a paradigm shift in how we understood salvation and the questions asked around the understanding of salvation. Orthodox teaching had moved from communal salvation to defending, as we know it in the west, “personal salvation”. Comments like, “We are saved by grace, works are not needed” and, “Why do you go through all those rituals, do you not know that once you accept Christ you are saved?” These comments generated a conversation and a shift took place in how we speak about salvation. The conversation shifted and today we have a wide range of answers. In this paper, I will seek to journey with you on two parts. The first part will seek to answer the question what is the Orthodox understanding of salvation? How was it understood in the early church? What is Christ’s role in salvation? How do we understand sin? The second part will seek to answer the question, why does any of this matter? I hope to intertwine my own personal dealings within chaplaincy and how that has affected my own understanding of salvation.