PRACTICAL THEOLOGY

Practical Theology



Practical Theology1

An Overview1

Background to Practical Theology1

Practice2

Definition of Practical Theology3

Tension within Practical Theology6

Is practical and pastoral theology synonymous?7

Conclusion9

Bibliography10

Practical Theology

An Overview

This paper aims to highlight our understanding of practical theology. It is therefore imperative to attempt to provide a contextual position within the broader picture of theology. To achieve this, it is inevitable that we draw our attention to the brief background of practical theology.

Background to Practical Theology

Most commentators who have attempted to trace the meaning of practical theology back to ancient times appear to concur that its use did not invoke any biblical meaning. Evidence within the literature review appears to suggest that its definition has evolved over a period of time. McGrath observes that in ancient times the use of the terminology pointed to both 'pagan mythology and Christian theologia'.

However with time, he reiterates that it came to be associated with some aspects of Christian beliefs before it eventually acquired its present day form, thanks to the efforts of the University of Paris. The incorporation of theology in the university faculty brought the discipline of practical theology to the lime-light of academia. McGrath and Kennedy appear to be in agreement in view of their acknowledgement that Schleiermacher is believed to be responsible for the definition of practical theology as we know it today. In fact Campbell describes Schleiermacher as “the crown of all practical theological studies.”

Nevertheless, his critics take issue with the content. Pattison and Lynch for example remain sceptical and point out its historical and philosophical inclination predominantly due to its inability to address itself to modern-day religious practice and challenges associated with practical theology. However, Kennedy and McGrath acknowledge and underline Schleiermacher's role towards the development of practical theology. The former underscores Schleiermacher's major input in the critical study of the Bible, while the latter takes note of Schleiermacher's contribution towards identifying the three components of theology as philosophical, historical, and practical theology. The latter is our focus here and the subject matter of this paper.

It is from this development that scholars such as Swinton and Mowat suggestively observe that theology stands as a single “primary source of knowledge that guides and provides a hermeneutical frame-work” within which practical theology functions. The point of emphasis here is the dependability of practical theology as a discipline on theology as a whole. The same can be rephrased to denote theology as both an umbrella and back-bone around which the practical theology revolves.

Practice

The view that theology and performance are arguably inseparable underscores the vitality of the notion of practice to theological discipline, hence the need to explore the meaning of practice and its juxtaposition to practical theology. Swinton and Mowat underscore the centrality of practice to practical theology and argue that to make sense of practical theology as a discipline; every effort has to be made to understand the implication of the use of the term practice within its theological context.

Forrester observes that from the professional perspective the use of the term ...