USD $146.00
Taking on Practical Theology
The Idolization of Context and the Hope of Community
Series: - Theology in Practice, Volume: 6
Author:
In Taking on Practical Theology, Courtney T. Goto explores the regnant paradigm that shapes knowledge production and that preserves power, privilege, and historic communal injury even as scholars intend to enlighten and transform communities.
Approaching “context” as a case study, Goto illumines how this commonly used, taken-for-granted concept is “idolized.” Though practical theologians are sensitive to context, researchers often fail to consider how their own assumptive world dictates and influences their practices of research, teaching, and engaging in scholarly conversations. These practices unwittingly validate scholars who enjoy the most social capital while inflicting harm on both communities they research and on colleagues and students who do not fit (or fit less well) the norms of the majority.
Approaching “context” as a case study, Goto illumines how this commonly used, taken-for-granted concept is “idolized.” Though practical theologians are sensitive to context, researchers often fail to consider how their own assumptive world dictates and influences their practices of research, teaching, and engaging in scholarly conversations. These practices unwittingly validate scholars who enjoy the most social capital while inflicting harm on both communities they research and on colleagues and students who do not fit (or fit less well) the norms of the majority.
Courtney T. Goto, Ph.D. (2010), Emory University, is Associate Professor of Religious Education at the Boston University School of Theology. She has published on racism, aesthetics, and play, including The Grace of Playing (Pickwick, 2016).
Contents Tribute and Dedication Preface Introduction
Captivity and Resistance
Introduction to Part 1 1 Discerning the Paradigm 2 Prophetic Tactics and AlliesContext as a Case Study in Taking On
Introduction to Part 2 3 Multiple Meanings of and Approaches to the Symbol Context 4 Presupposing and Investigating Universals 5 Revealing the ``Natives'' 6 Recruiting and Training InsidersBecoming a More Prophetic Community
Introduction to Part 3 7 Taking on Teaching: Teaching Taking On 8 Practical Theology as a Community of Hope 9 Between You and Me In Praise of Allies Bibliography Index of Names Index of Terms
Scholars and students in practical theology, as well as theological libraries. Those who teach research methods and qualitative research in any field might be interested.