Pathways To The Public Square

This volume represents the proceedings of the 2003 meeting of the International Academy of Practical Theology, which was held in Manchester (UK) on the theme of 'public theology'. Featuring over twenty papers from some of the world's leading practical theologians, 'Pathways to the Public Square' offers a wide variety of perspectives on the relationship between theology and politics, education, law, culture and economics. They include subjects as diverse as the role of religion in the constitution of the European Union, theological themes in popular music, Roman Catholic-Muslim dialogue in the U.S.A., and the spirituality of the public realm. This book will be of interest to theological educators and students, church leaders, policy-makers and all those interested in the relationship between religion and public life.

T&T Clark Handbook of Public Theology introduces the various philosophical and theological positions and approaches in the emerging discourse of public theology. Distinguishing public theology from political theology, as well as from liberation theology, this book clarifies central terms like 'public sphere', 'the secular', and 'post-secularity' in order to highlight the specific characteristics of public theology. Its particular focus lies on the ways in which much of public theology has established itself as a contextual theology in politically secular societies, aiming to continue the apologetical tradition in this specific context. Depending on what is regarded as the most pressing challenge for the reasonable defence of the Christian hope in liberal democracies, public theologians have focused on (social) ethics, ecclesiology, or Soteriology, with the aim to strengthen the virtues needed for democratic citizenship. Here, attention is being paid to Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox perspectives. The volume further illustrates the characteristics of the discourse by introducing the ways in which public theologians have responded to concrete challenges arising in the spheres of politics, economics, ecology, sports, culture, and religion. To highlight the international scope of the public theological discourse, the volume concludes with a summarizing overview of public theological debates in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and Latin America.

Through a series of essays contributed by leading experts in the field, The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Practical Theology presents an introduction to practical theology as a major area of Christian study and practice, including an overview of its key developments, themes, methods, and future directions. The first comprehensive reference work to provide a survey, description and analysis of practical theology as an area of study A range of leading scholars in the field provide original contributions on the major areas, issues, and figures in practical theology Reviews an extensive range of methods for studying theology in practice, along with sub-disciplines in theological education such as pastoral care and preaching Covers developments in the discipline in a range of global contexts and distinct Christian traditions Shows how practical theology is relevant to everyday life

This book delves into the public character of public theology from the sites of subalternity, the excluded Dalit (non) public in the Indian public sphere. Raj Bharat Patta employs a decolonial methodology and explores the topic in three parts: First, he engages with ‘theological contexts,’ by mapping global and Indian public theologies and critically analysing them. Next, he discusses ‘theological companions,’ and explains ‘theological subalternity’ and ‘subaltern public’ as companions for a subaltern public theology for India. Finally, Patta explains ‘theological contours’ by discussing subaltern liturgy as a theological account of the subaltern public and explores a subaltern public theology for India.

Religious education seeks to help students acquire religious ideas by interpreting religious and other stories in accordance with their life world. Schools pursue this goal by organising religious learning activities. The question is whether the acquisition of religious ideas is possible for young students, considering the difficulties such as the complex and not readily understandable religious stories, and social developments as de-institutionalisation, de-traditionalisation and pluralisation? What are the possibilities for primary schools of teaching their students knowledge about religious ideas? What is the influence of feelings on the acquisition? What possibilities in the form of learning arrangements can be created for primary school students, with their diverse religious backgrounds, to acquire religious ideas optimally? That is the cardinal problem explored in this study.

This book contains a report of an extraordinary study about life perspectives of young people in different countries in Europe. It reveals remarkable differences in perspective for the future of the young people in these countries. Are we in the process of establishing a society in which future generations will feel at home and in which they can put their faith? The European Union should support this kind of research.

Germany and South Africa experienced drastic social transitions with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1986 and the end of Apartheid in 1994. This book consists of a collection of essays from German and South African theologians who analyse the role that religious communities had, and are still playing within the respective civil societies. The concept and texture of civil society are analysed; case studies are presented; theological perspectives are given on the relation between church, state and civil society; and guidelines are provided for the healing role that Christian religious communities can play in Germany and South Africa. This book is mainly directed at theologians and scholars in religious studies, however, sociologists and political philosophers may also find the essays informative. Besides the wide variety of theological approaches; sociological and empirical data; and practical theological perspective, the book also yields interesting comparative analysis on two societies in transition.

Government and governance will be very different in the future than anticipated by the literature in the field.