Using everyday stories and case histories the authors explore pastoral situations and reflect on them theologically. This new edition has been extensively revised to take into account the changes of the past ten years. The first part of the book (The Foundations) looks at the theory of practical theology, and models for its application. The second part covers tools for practical theology; learning from experience, interdisciplinary working, theological reflection, action and spirituality; and to this has been added new material about mission in context today.

Talking about God in Practice details the challenges and complexities of real theological conversations with practitioners, whilst providing an example of appropriate process, and a model of theological understanding by which to negotiate these complexities fruitfully.

How is an act defined? When can what you do be identified as anact? And does a proper description of an act have repercussionson moral discourse? These questions lie behind this new work byCharles Pinches, who argues that the answers to such questions arenot only of academic interest but also reflect an erosion of moralthought and action in our present age. In this broad-ranging book Pinches lays out current moraltheories about action, detailing their deficiencies in the earlychapters but also offering the thought of Thomas Aquinas as acorrective. Pinches argues that all human acts are moral acts andthat a proper ethics must respond to and integrate an adequateaccount of human action in order to provide moral guidance inour world. Pinches gathers up the major theological themesinvolved in a responsible Christian ethic and points out a fruitfulpath ahead, enlivening his discussion at every turn with everydayillustrations. An excellent introduction to the history of moral discourse, "Theology and Action makes a valuable contribution to the searchfor a meaningful Christian ethics in today's difficult world.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From one of the world’s most influential spiritual thinkers, a long-awaited book exploring what it means that Jesus was called “Christ,” and how this forgotten truth can restore hope and meaning to our lives. “Anyone who strives to put their faith into action will find encouragement and inspiration in the pages of this book.”—Melinda Gates In his decades as a globally recognized teacher, Richard Rohr has helped millions realize what is at stake in matters of faith and spirituality. Yet Rohr has never written on the most perennially talked about topic in Christianity: Jesus. Most know who Jesus was, but who was Christ? Is the word simply Jesus’s last name? Too often, Rohr writes, our understandings have been limited by culture, religious debate, and the human tendency to put ourselves at the center. Drawing on scripture, history, and spiritual practice, Rohr articulates a transformative view of Jesus Christ as a portrait of God’s constant, unfolding work in the world. “God loves things by becoming them,” he writes, and Jesus’s life was meant to declare that humanity has never been separate from God—except by its own negative choice. When we recover this fundamental truth, faith becomes less about proving Jesus was God, and more about learning to recognize the Creator’s presence all around us, and in everyone we meet. Thought-provoking, practical, and full of deep hope and vision, The Universal Christ is a landmark book from one of our most beloved spiritual writers, and an invitation to contemplate how God liberates and loves all that is.

This work by a leading 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 strategic points of view. Finally Heitink discusses the various contexts in which practical theology takes place.

Christian social ethics too often lands in despair. Edmund Arens exploits the normative aspects of Jurgen Habermas's philosophy to construct a fresh and positive Christian theology of action. Its centerpiece is the idea of communicative action, with its premise that speech is oriented toward eliciting shared conviction. After offering clear, concise formulations of Habermas's chief ideas, Arens sketches their application in biblical, systematic, and practical theology. Christopraxis finds its axial point in the gospel portraits of Jesus' own creative, communicative, and critical praxis. Christopraxis redeems some of the promise of critical social theory for theology and situates Christian social ethics in a continuum of humane action oriented toward doing the truth.

From providence and miracles to resurrection and intercessory prayer, Edwards shows how a basically noninterventionist model of divine action does justice to the universe as we know and also to central convictions of Christian faith about the goodness of God, the promises of God, and the fulfillment of creation. Here is wonderfully lucid theology supporting an excitement of how God is at work in the universe.

His most creative book yet...clear, concise, and accessible to a wide audience...The procedures suggested would redeem many clinical pastoral education groups from stereotyped ruts. --Wayne E. Oates Senior Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Louisville Sheds light on how students of pastoral care appropriate theology meaningfully. --James M. Gustafson Henry R. Luce Professor of Humanities and Comparative Studies Emory University

The past decade has witnessed a renaissance in scientific approaches to the study of morality. Once understood to be the domain of moral psychology, the newer approach to morality is largely interdisciplinary, driven in no small part by developments in behavioural economics and evolutionary biology, as well as advances in neuroscientific imaging capabilities, among other fields. To date, scientists studying moral cognition and behaviour have paid little attention to virtue theory, while virtue theorists have yet to acknowledge the new research results emerging from the new science of morality. Theology and the Science of Moral Action explores a new approach to ethical thinking that promotes dialogue and integration between recent research in the scientific study of moral cognition and behaviour—including neuroscience, moral psychology, and behavioural economics—and virtue theoretic approaches to ethics in both philosophy and theology. More particularly, the book evaluates the concept of moral exemplarity and its significance in philosophical and theological ethics as well as for ongoing research programs in the cognitive sciences.

"Straw for the Bricks" explores theological reflection as a tool for ministerial training and development. The book offers a new resource for theological conversation and breaks new ground in exploring how a model of conversation can be used to lay a foundation for learning for both academic curriculum and personal formation. This will become an important resource for those within theological education institutions, adult theological educators; those with responsibility for continuing ministerial development, mentoring and discipleship; and any lay person who seeks to live a life of faith in conversation with culture and the Judaeo-Christian tradition.