On Becoming a Practical Theologian: Past, Present and Future Tense
Authors
Graham, Elaine L.Affiliation
University of ChesterPublication Date
2017-08-31
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This article takes an autobiographical approach to the development of practical theology as a discipline over the past thirty years with particular attention to the author’s own context of the United Kingdom. The unfolding of my own intellectual story in relation to key issues within the wider academic discourse provides an opportunity to reflect on some of the predominant themes and trends: past, present and future. Changing nomenclature, from ‘pastoral studies’ to practical theology indicates how the discipline has moved from regarding itself as the application of theory into practice, into a more performative and inductive epistemology. This emphasis continues to the present day and foregrounds the significance of the human context and the realities of lived experience, including narrative and autobiography. Whilst the methodological conundrums of relating experience to tradition and theory to practice continue, further challenges are beckoning, including religious pluralism; and so the article closes by surveying the prospects for a multi-cultural practical theology.Citation
Graham, E. L. (2017). On becoming a practical theologian: Past, present and future tense. HTS Teologiese Studies, 73(4). https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v73i4.4634Publisher
AOSISJournal
HTS Teologiese StudiesAdditional Links
http://www.hts.org.za/index.php/HTS/article/view/4634Type
ArticleLanguage
enDescription
Contribution to Festschrift for Yolanda Dreyer, University of PretoriaISSN
0259-9422EISSN
2072-8050ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.4102/hts.v73i4.4634
Scopus Count
Collections
The following license files are associated with this item:
- Creative Commons
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/