Suffering and Spirituality in Myanmar Today: Hope amid the National Crisis

Abstract

Myanmar’s citizens have been devastated by the military coup on February 1, 2021, and by the ensuing violence, destruction, and chaos. As the people are struggling to cope with the horror and suffering, Christian faith and spirituality are playing significant roles for Myanmar Christians, albeit in different ways, depending on their personal spiritual preference (temperament) and theological perspective. This article explores the four major psycho-spiritual orientations (temperaments) using a paradigm developed by Dr. Corrine Ware: head spirituality (Type 1), heart spirituality (Type 2), mystical spirituality (Type 3), and social action spirituality (Type 4). In a separate section, ‘Hope amid Suffering’, I discuss how varying theological perspectives are producing at least three different kinds of hope (in terms of content and timing): hope for deliverance now; hope for deliverance later; and hope now and later. In short, Christian faith and spirituality are functioning as indispensable sources of hope amid great suffering.