Rethinking Faith: A Constructive Practical Theology
Overview
What can practical theology contribute to other theological disciplines and the church about the nature of God and the church’s witness to Jesus Christ in the world? What can we learn about the love and power of God in Jesus Christ from the community of survivors of violence? Rethinking Faith urges all Christians to consider themselves practical theologians by drawing on their own experiences in making theological assertions. James Newton Poling couples his understanding of the tradition with his work with survivors of violence to demonstrate the resilience of Christianity.
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- Urges Christians to consider themselves practical theologians
- Suggests readers look at their own experiences to form theological assertions
- Looks to survivors of violence to demonstrate the resilience of Christianity
- The Forming God
- The Reality of Evil and Sin
- Christology and the Question of Salvation
- Constructing a Process Christology
- Faithful Churches Empowered by the Holy Spirit
- Eschatology: Theologies of Hope
- Congregational Practices of Hope
- The Beauty of God
Top Highlights
“As a practical theologian, I believe that everyday practices of following Jesus Christ lead to revelation about the nature of God. That is, persons and communities who believe in Jesus Christ and dedicate themselves to following ‘the Jesus way’ in their lives will be touched by God’s love and power so that new witness emerges. This new witness will have continuity with the long history of God’s self-revelation through Scripture, history, and theology. But it will contribute new ideas and new practices as part of the ongoing conversation about God and God’s will for humankind in the present and future.” (Page 2)
Jim Poling offers one of the most comprehensive and creative books on practical theology in many years. He exemplifies the best qualities of constructive practical theology. The book is timely, socially engaged, and intellectually rich. It will set the standard for practical theology in the coming decades.
—Richard Osmer, Thomas W. Synnott Professor of Christian Education, Princeton Theological Seminary
This is an extraordinary book—an almost poetic interplay between Jim Poling’s own statement of faith and a richly developed systematic practical theology that draws from feminist theology, process theology, and the personal stories of people significantly affected by violence. This book will appeal to readers ranging from interested lay people to practicing ministers and academicians as it takes them deeper into their own theological constructions. Rethinking Faith is both inspiring and educational. I highly recommend it.
—Christie Cozad Neuger, senior scholar in pastoral care, United Theological Seminary
Rethinking Faith is a brilliant and compelling culmination of a life–long devotion to bridging scholarship, pastoral care, and social justice by one of the leading thinkers in practical theology. Using the central constructs of relationship, ambiguity, and resiliency, Poling inspires new understandings of the generative connections between life in the world and Christian beliefs. . . . Poling demonstrates how the central Christian doctrines of God, humanity, nature, sin, evil, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the church can become the basis for faith—practices in a world grasping for alternatives to violence and injustice. Pastors, religious leaders, seminarians, pastoral caregivers, and communities of faith will be inspired and guided by this personal, profound and usable book.
—Larry Kent Graham, professor of pastoral theology and care, Iliff School of Theology
- Title: Rethinking Faith: A Constructive Practical Theology
- Author: James Newton Poling
- Publisher: Fortress Press
- Publication Date: 2011
- Pages: 192
- Resource Type: Topical
- Topic: Theology