Adultery as a Problem Of Pastoral Counseling

Abstract

The realities of the modern lifestyle dictate their living conditions. A modern person may be a believer, but the intense information
background that translates ideas alien to the Christian way of life sometimes displaces Christian ideals. The idea of marriage as an image of Christ and His Church is being less and less translated into society and is perceived by people as a kind of anachronism and vestige. Free relationships are the credo of a modern young man. The large number of divorces that occur in Russia is evidence that the institution of marriage is undergoing its crisis, and it is not sad in the Church environment either. Increasingly, priests have to deal with cases where church-bound people come to confession or for pastoral help after becoming victims of the sin of fornication or adultery. The Church, as the guardian of morality, has never acted in favor of base human instincts and has full tools to prevent such situations. However, the topic of treason is, in a sense, taboo compared to other areas of pastoral theology. For this reason, many even religious people prefer to consult a psychologist or psychotherapist to solve similar problems that have arisen in their family. This article describes possible cases that arise in pastoral practice related to the topics of adultery in marital life and ways to overcome them based on Holy Scripture, Tradition and the experience of the holy fathers, in order to help pastors have a clearer understanding of how to help people in such a situation.