PASTORAL CARE, CHAPLAINCY, HUMANITARIAN WORK: DIFFERENCES IN IDEOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF CARING FOR THE SOULS OF SOLDIERS

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the ideological and doctrinal differences among three main forms of spiritual and psychological support for military personnel in modern warfare: pastoral care (traditional service of the Churches), military chaplaincy (state institution), and humanitarian activity (secular movements).
The author proceeds from the thesis about the growing need to protect the human soul despite the dominance of high-tech systems ("drones," robotic complexes) on the battlefield. War is viewed as the destruction of the body and the exhaustion of the spirit. The opinion of American specialists is cited: “A soldier is a balanced individual when they have physical health, psychological stability, and faith in God.” While medics and psychologists care for the first two qualities, the clergy have the right and duty to save souls.
Particular attention is paid to the institution of military chaplaincy in Ukraine following the adoption of the relevant Law, emphasizing its importance but also criticizing bureaucratic elements that have led to staff shortages and an increase in cases of unauthorized absence (AWOL).
The key doctrinal distinction is formulated as follows: the goal of humanitarian institutions is "to find and preserve the humane in man," while the goal of religious structures is "not to let the spark of God be extinguished in the human soul." The author argues that appealing to Absolutes is necessary for forming educational potential and maintaining an unbroken spirit. Ultimately, chaplaincy is seen as a higher, organized level of satisfying the acute religious needs of soldiers, which is vital for preserving the "organic personality" of the fighter and achieving the synergy of efforts for victory.
The article includes an analysis of historical experience (Zaporizhzhia Sich, USA, Great Britain) and philosophical views on humanism (Paul Kurtz, A. Camus, J. Derrida), allowing for a deeper understanding of the ideological foundations of spiritual care in an armed conflict.