Practical Theology: History, Theory, Action Domains

by Gerben Heitink

Overview

Though the field of practical theology has developed rapidly in recent years, little work has been done to build a solid theoretical foundation for the discipline. This erudite work by a leading international figure in the field offers one of the first attempts to formulate a complete theory of practical theology for scholars, teachers, students, and those directly involved in pastoral ministry.

Designed to serve as a reference tool, this volume provides the necessary theoretical discussion for work in the entire discipline of practical theology. Gerben Heitink first surveys the historical development of practical theology from the thought of Schleiermacher to the present. He then outlines the theoretical aspects of practical theology, looking especially at the hermeneutical, empirical, and strategical points of view. Finally Heitink discusses the various contexts in which practical theology takes place.

Conversant with ministerial practices worldwide and sensitive to all church traditions, Heitink's Practical Theology is the best one-volume work available on the subject.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802842947
Publisher:	Eerdmans, William B. Publishing Company
Publication date:	06/03/1999
Series:	Studies in Practical Theology
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	373
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.78(d)

Table of Contents

1. The State of Practical Theology

1.1 Practical Theology as a Theory of Crisis
1.2 The Character of This Book
1.3 A Definition
1.4 Practical Theology in the Netherlands
1.5 Organization of This Book


PART I: THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRACTICAL THEOLOGY
(HISTORICAL-INTERPRETIVE PART)

2. The Enlightenment of the Subject

2.1 The Consequences of the Enlightenment
2.2 Immanuel Kant
2.3 Friedrich Schleiermacher
2.4 The Kurze Darstellung
2.5 The Subject in Practical Theology


2.5.1 Subjectivizing and Individualizing
2.5.2 The Projection Theory
2.5.3 The "Bourgeois" Subject
2.5.4 The Awakening of Consciousness and Angst

2.6 Conclusion

3. The Modernization of Society

3.1 Modernization as a Process of Differentiation


3.1.1 The Process of Differentiation
3.1.2 Pluralization and Specialization

3.2 The Consequences of the Process of Modernization
3.3 The Consequences for Religion and Church


3.3.1 A Changing Worldview
3.3.2 Max Weber
3.3.3 The Process of Secularization

3.4 Carl Immanuel Nitzsch
3.5 The Shift toward the Social Sciences
3.6 Conclusion

4. The Impact of the Social Question

4.1 The Industrial Revolution and the Problem of Poverty
4.2 The Response of Karl Marx
4.3 The Response of Church and Theology


4.3.1 The Innere Mission: J. H. Wichern
4.3.2 The Red Booklet of Kuyper
4.3.3 The Encyclical Rerum Novarum

4.4 The Rise of the Agogic Action Theories
4.5 Reactions from Practical Theology
4.6 Philipp Konrad Marheineke
4.7 Conclusion

5. Modern Pluralism in Church and Theology

5.1 Rooted in the Nineteenth Century


5.1.1 The Impact of the Enlightenment on the Netherlands: The duplex ordo
5.1.2 The Search for Integration: The Ethicists and Herman Bavinck
5.1.3 The Emancipation of the "Small Folk": Abraham Kuyper
5.1.4 The Emancipation of the Roman Catholics

5.2 The Reaction of the Twentieth Century


5.2.1 The Influence of Dialectical Theology: Karl Barth
5.2.2 Reformed Diversity: O. Noordmans, A. A. van Ruler, K. H. Miskotte
5.2.3 The Nonreligious Interpretation of the Gospel: Dietrich Bonhoeffer
5.2.4 The Hermeneutics of Correlation: Paul Tillich
5.2.5 The Rediscovery of Christianity's Jewish Roots

5.3 The Return to the Nineteenth Century


5.3.1 The Emancipation of Modern Humanity: H. M. Kuitert
5.3.2 The Bond of Love and Freedom: Hendrikus Berkhof
5.3.3 Resistance against Suffering and Oppression: Edward Schillebeeckx

5.4 Practical-Theological Basics
5.5 Integration and Differentiation
5.6 Conclusion

6. The History of Pastoral Theology

6.1 The Praxis of the New Testament
6.2 The Origins of Pastoral Theology
6.3 Pastoral Theology in the Reformation
6.4 Pastoral Theology in the Roman Catholic Church
6.5 Conclusion

PART II: PRACTICAL THEOLOGY AS A THEOLOGICAL THEORY OF ACTION
(THE THEORETICAL FOUNDATION)

7. Practical Theology as a Theological Discipline

7.1 The Practical Nature of Theology in General
7.2 Theologica practica as a Way of "Doing" Theology
7.3 Practical Theology as a Separate Discipline
7.4 A Hermeneutical Approach
7.5 New Developments


7.5.1 Practical Theology in Germany
7.5.2 Practical Theology in North America
7.5.3 Practical Theology in the Netherlands

7.6 Conclusion

8. Practical Theology as a Theory of Action

8.1 The Expression "Theory of Action"
8.2 Reception of the Concept of a Theory of Action by Practical Theologians
8.3 Action as the Object of Practical Theology
8.4 The Theory of Action of Jürgen Habermas


8.4.1 The Cultural-Philosophical Background
8.4.2 The Theory of Communicative Action
8.4.3 The Reception by (Practical) Theologians

8.5 Paul Ricoeur's Theory of Action


8.5.1 The Paradigm of the Text
8.5.2 Methodological Implications

8.6 Conclusion

9. A Practical-Theological Theory of Action

9.1 The Relation between Theory and Praxis


9.1.1 The Philosophical Frame of Reference
9.1.2 Practical Theology: Theory and Praxis

9.2 Profiles of a Practical-Theological Theory of Action


9.2.1 The Development of a Paradigm
9.2.2 Communicative Action in the Service of the Gospel
9.2.3 The Interpretation Model
9.2.4 The Methodology of a Theory of Action
9.2.5 Some Implications of This Model

9.3 The Relation between Praxis 1 and Praxis 2


9.3.1 The Influence of the Context (Praxis 2)
9.3.2 The Mediation of the Christian Faith (Praxis 1)
9.3.3 The Object of Practical Theology

9.4 Currents within Practical Theology


9.4.1 The Normative-Deductive Current
9.4.2 The Hermeneutical-Mediative Current
9.4.3 The Empirical-Analytical Current
9.4.4 The Political-Critical Current
9.4.5 The Pastoral-Theological Current

9.5 Conclusion

10. The Hermeneutical Perspective

10.1 The Development of Theological Hermeneutics
10.2 The Development of Philosophical Hermeneutics


10.2.1 The Philosophical-Hermeneutical Tradition
10.2.2 The Hermeneutics of Hans-Georg Gadamer
10.2.3 Recent Developments

10.3 The Hermeneutical Tradition in the Social Sciences


10.3.1 Symbolic Interactionism
10.3.2 Phenomenology

10.4 Structuralist Approaches
10.5 A Practical-Theological Theory of Interpretation


10.5.1 The Pneumatological Basis
10.5.2 Theological Models
10.5.3 Interpretation as a Circular Process
10.5.4 Patterns of Interpretation

10.6 Conclusion

11. The Strategic Perspective

11.1 The Possibility and Desirability of Change
11.2 Agogic Thinking about Change
11.3 Strategies of Social Change


11.3.1 Social Problems
11.3.2 The Theory of Peter L. Berger
11.3.3 Choosing a Strategy

11.4 Basic Pattern: The Regulative Cycle
11.5 Domains of Action in Practical Theology


11.5.1 Communication Theory
11.5.2 Systems Theory

11.6 Conclusion

12. The Empirical Perspective

12.1 Currents within Empirical Research
12.2 Preparing a Research Project


12.2.1 Choosing a Topic
12.2.2 The Unique Character of Action Research
12.2.3 The Possibilities of the Researcher

12.3 Types of Research


12.3.1 Descriptive Research
12.3.2 Explorative Research
12.3.3 Testing Hypotheses
12.3.4 Applications in Practical-Theological Research

12.4 The Empirical Cycle in Its Relationship to the Regulative Cycle and the Hermeneutical Circle
12.5 The Problem: Definition and Goal
12.6 The Research


12.6.1 The Content of the Study
12.6.2 Execution of the Research in Phases
12.6.3 Research Methods

12.7 Conclusion

PART III: DOMAINS OF ACTION WITHIN PRACTICAL THEOLOGY

13. Domains of Action: Unity and Differentiation

13.1 The Principle of Differentiation
13.2 The Choice for a Moderate Differentiation
13.3 The Impasse of Our Culture
13.4 Practical-Theological Competence
13.5 Conclusion

14. Humanity and Religion

14.1 Practical-Theological Anthropology


14.1.1 Views of Humanity
14.1.2 Choosing an Appropriate Combination

14.2 The Anthropological Segment


14.2.1 Toward a Critical Subjectivity
14.2.2 The Meaning of Life
14.2.3 Religious Development
14.2.4 Religious Experience

14.3 Subdisciplines


14.3.1 Poimenics
14.3.2 Religious Pedagogics
14.3.3 Spirituality

14.4 Conclusion

15. Church and Faith

15.1 Practical-Theological Ecclesiology


15.1.1 Ecclesiastics
15.1.2 Concept of the Church: Koinonia
15.1.3 An Integrative Concept

15.2 The Ecclesiological Segment


15.2.1 Established Church or Minority Church?
15.2.2 Plurality and Unity
15.2.3 Parish and Presence
15.2.4 Church from the Top Down or from the Bottom Up?

15.3 Subdisciplines


15.3.1 Church Development (Oikodomics)
15.3.2 Catechetics
15.3.3 Liturgics
15.3.4 Homiletics

15.4 Conclusion

16. Religion and Society

16.1 Practical-Theological Diaconology


16.1.1 The Concept of Diaconology
16.1.2 Models
16.1.3 The Public Domain

16.2 The Diaconological Segment


16.2.1 The Labor Question
16.2.2 Equal Treatment
16.2.3 Church and Politics
16.2.4 Moral Responsibility

16.3 Subdisciplines


16.3.1 The Theory of Evangelism
16.3.2 Diaconics
16.3.3 Equipping the Laity

16.4 Conclusion

17. Practical Theology as Pastoral Theology

17.1 The Uniqueness of the Pastoral Profession


17.1.1 The Identity of the Pastor
17.1.2 The Competence of the Pastor

17.2 The Ecclesiastical Character


17.2.1 The Significance of Holding a Church Office
17.2.2 The Current Esteem for the Church Office
17.2.3 The Authorization from the Church

17.3 The Professional Character


17.3.1 Professionalization
17.3.2 Pastoral Skills
17.3.3 Education and In-Service Training

17.4 The Personal Character


17.4.1 The Person of the Pastor
17.4.2 The Spirituality of the Pastor

17.5 Conclusion

Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

Theological Book Review
"This book is designed as a reference tool for students and teachers of practical theology. It establishes the theoretical foundations of the discipline and offers a comprehensive study of its nature and development. It will be of particular interest to persons interested in the tasks of Christian ministry and in how European minds have addressed these tasks."

Theological Studies
"A valuable addition to the continuing development of practical theology."

From the Publisher