Abstract
The counseling experience has shown that a majority of problems that endanger marital and family functioning results from an absent father. The problem of an absent father and his important role in the upbringing of his children had already become well-known. The reason for this is that the welfare of children has declined dramatically compared to children of earlier generations. It is the negative effects and spiritual consequences of an uninvolved father, as well as the subsequent poor relations between fathers and their children that were cause for concern. The perplexing question is why the problem of the absent father is treated so indifferently, given the awareness of its scope and significance. The church, who are to be the light for the world and who are to make the family its core priority, is crucial in taking a leading role in addressing the key reasons for the crisis the family in Western society is facing. This study wants to address the problem of the absent father from a theological perspective.
Prof. W.J. Hattingh