https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/32326 2026-04-16T03:50:35Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/32692 Title: Towards a positive psychology Abstract: When asked "How are you?" we Maltese usually reply "not bad" rather than "good", "fine" or "OK". No problem there except that we mean to say something positive but express it in a rather negative way. In other words, we focus more in terms of the negative side of the picture. Something similar has happened to psychology. It has focused mainly on pathology and less on the positive elements of normal human development, on how people can flourish and grow psychologically, on what contributes to one's well-being. In the words of Seligman (2008): "It has become a science largely about healing, concentrating on repairing damage within a disease model of human functioning" . Psychologists in their practice worked on a mental illness model just as medical doctors worked on physical ailments. A paradigm shift is needed so that the science and practice of psychology may tap the human potential and develop the strengths of normal people. This would necessitate establishing a new approach in psychology by creating what has become known as Positive Psychology. 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/32690 Title: Encountering the divine names : a theological pilgrimage Abstract: In Scripture, the Church encounters many texts that "name" God. In Genesis, He is encountered as The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. After the Exodus from Egypt, The Song of the Sea names Him as a Divine Warrior. In Exodus 32, God says "I kill and I give life." The Psalms praise Him as Creator, Judge, and God of Mercy. Isaiah boldly calls on God using many different names, among them are Father, Potter, Redeemer. In the New Testament, the many titles ascribed to Jesus Christ re-shape Biblical faith in a profound way. Reflection on the divine names continued in the Patristic era and among the theologians of the Middle Ages. In spite of all our efforts to name God, He remains an elusive presence. Yet the church is taught to keep on looking for Him in the severe beauty of the Cross, and in the face of the other. 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/32467 Title: The female lover in the song of songs ushers in her beloved and her passionate love of him : songs 1,1-3 Abstract: This introductory essay into the study of the Song of Songs is meant to have at least two functions: It will show how the author means to approach the text of this biblical book for its exegesis. It will also narrate the history of the Song's translation within the Maltese Translation Tradition. 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/32466 Title: The role of intellectuals in Maltese society today Abstract: There are various kinds of intellectuals. Reflecting on their role in society is often straightforward when dealing with members of the Faculties of Architecture, Dental Surgery, Economics, Medicine, and Engineering. It is much more difficult when referring to members of the Faculty of Humanities. If intellectuals are not producing anything tangible, their value to society is easily brought into question. It is clear that society needs architects, surgeons, doctors, economists and engineers. But does it really need people working in history, in literature, in philosophy, theology, music, art and drama? This is the question I will explore in this talk. My hope is that the answers will be relevant not only to those directly engaged in the Humanities, but also to those whose output is more concrete or practical. We need to recall that intellectuals, of whatever type, are necessarily involved in society. Whether they like it or not, they form part of a group characterised by language, politics, history and culture. 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z