Search Results
Abstract
The question, which this article deals with, is whether or not, and if so, to what extent religious socialization succeeded or failed. It focuses on the belief of life after death, which is an exemplary theme, that belongs to the very core of the Christian faith. Several religious-thanatalogical approaches within this belief are empirically investigated, like for instance the teleology, interaction, intervention, rising, deism, agnosticism, immanentism, and reincarnation models. A considerable number of factors within religious socialization, which may influence the belief in life after death, are taken into consideration, as for example parents' religiosity, religious communication in the family, religious education in school, and the influence on the level of religious knowledge. The research result is that religious socialization is a key factor in causing both the presence and (!) absence of this belief, but that the influence of the cultural context may not be overlooked: it plays an important role as well. The research population is an aselect sample, which is drawn from the student population of Nijmegen University in The Netherlands.
Abstract
The article tries to explain the notion that practical theology is normative, not despite but because of its empirical character, as follows. A condition for the claim that practical theology is a normative science is that the empirical research conducted in this discipline must not be positivist but should be seen as wholly theory-laden. For the normative orientation itself, with reference to one of the founders of empirical methodology, Karl Popper, the article is focussing more particularly on the goal and the application of the results of empirical research. However, the methodical and technical "linkage" between goal and results is no less normative, in practical theology as well. With special reference to the complementary relation between qualitative and quantitative methods, this point will be argue. This leads to a critical reflection on evaluation, which should be the culmination of every form of empirical research. A conclusion I reflect critically on the praxis concept in practical theology.
The series published three volumes over the last 5 years.