Theological Reflection involves a focused
conversation that engages, personally and
communally, three elements:
TRADITION
EXPERIENCE
CULTURE/
CONTEXT
TRADITION
Memories
Charisms
Family
history
Education
Relationships
Social
Location
Travel
Work
Health
Heritage
Ethnicity
Geography
Scripture
Creeds
Councils
Liturgy
Piety
Stories
Ecumenism
History
Canon law
Lives of saints
Religious
orders
Mystics
Magisterium
Psychology
Anthropology
Sociology
Arts
Philosophy
Movies
Advertising
Media
Politics
Language
Customs
Poetry
Literature
Cyber
Theological Reflection serves
“both to interpret life’s
experiences in light of God’s
purposes in Jesus, and to
understand the Christian story
about God in the light of what
we are experiencing day to day”
(Gula, Ethics in Pastoral Ministry, 54)
“Receiving the power of our
Christian Heritage, so we can live. .
. .Unless adult Christians engage in
critical and conscious theological
reflection, the Christian
community’s faithfulness to the
gospel and its authentic witness to
that gospel in the world diminishes”
(Killen and deBeer, The Art of Theological Reflection, vii-viii)
Theological Reflection seeks
to allow the reality of
theology to come through its
distinct form, namely,
experience correlated with
tradition for the sake of
praxis”
(Kinast, WATSA Theological Reflection, 2-3)
“Faith seeking
understanding”
St. Anselm
“The discipline that interprets
all reality—human existence,
society, history, the world and
God—in terms of the symbols
of the Christian faith” (Haight, Dynamics,
216)
EXPERIENCE IS
INCARNATIONAL AND
REVELATORY
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION
FACILITATES ENCOUNTER
WITH THE LIVING GOD
FOR THE SAKE OF PRAXIS
FOR THE SAKE OF PRAXIS:
Theological Reflection as
Practical Theology
Practices are
theory-laden
See Don Browning, Fundamental Practical Theology.
Theory-laden practice
• Vision
• Obligations
• Tendencies/human needs
• Environment: social, cultural
economic
• Rules/roles
FOR THE SAKE OF PRAXIS:
Begin with a “thick description” of
a practice
Discern a “thick question” to put
into conversation with the
Christian Tradition
Outcome: practical wisdom, new
theory-laden practice
FOR THE SAKE OF PRAXIS:
Theological Reflection as Practical Theology
Practices are theory-laden
• Vision
Begin with a “thick
description” of a practice
• Obligations
Discern a “thick question”
• Tendencies/human
to put into conversation
needs
with the Christian
• Environment:
Tradition
social, cultural
Outcome: practical wisdom,
economic
new theory-laden practice
• Rules/roles
ENCOUNTER WITH THE LIVING GOD:
Theology as Interpretation
What happens:
• Presuppositions/ 1st Naiveté
• Critical Inquiry/ distanciation
AESTHETIC SURRENDER
nd
• Appropriation/ 2 Naiveté
ENCOUNTER WITH THE LIVING GOD:
Theology as Interpretation
How it happens:
•Attending
•Asserting
–conflict as a crucible
•Acting
(See Evelyn and James Whitehead, Method in Ministry)
EXPERIENCE IS REVELATORY
• Accessing our experience is critical
• When we “enter reality” we are entering
divine mystery
• In the interpretive conversation we will
meet God and ourselves and the other
• Outcomes: Identity, Authority,
Responsibility = renewed practice