Politurgy

Practical Theology and Integrity

I like the ideas raised in the book 'Talking about God' in relation to practical theology as a practice that theology reflects upon practice as through an 'action research model'.

As part of this the authors identify four different types of theology that can be part of the rationale behind/present in any activity under consideration :

Formal Theology - Theology of Theologians in academic discipline

Normative Theology - (depending on tradition) Scriptures, Creeds, Teaching Church

Espoused Theology - the way in which a group articulates its beliefs

Operant Theology - the theology embedded within the actual practices of a group

I am sure that from the perspective at the very least of the leadership that these different theologies are integrated in a consistent way- e.g. what happens in practice reflects the theology which is espoused in relation to that which is normative and explained by the appropriate (chosen) theologians.

In contrast I suggest that on many an occasion the theology embedded in practice reveals a theology different from the other expressions.

On the one hand this indicates the importance of our practices as 'first order' theology. On the other hand it indicates the importance of exploring our practices to 'see' what they 'say' about our theological convictions.

So here goes - say in practice we support nuclear weapons - what does that reveal about our understandings of:

Church and State...Peace...the Sermon on the Mount...eschatology etc,. I push harder does it mean that a lot of our Christmas talk and indeed evangelistic preaching on Jesus as Prince of Peace - good biblical and espoused theology, in practice lacks integrity...just asking...

 

   

 

 

Name that tune on technochanter

For birthday I got a 'technochanter'. This is an electronic practice chanter.

With no shame but many a strange look I practice it on the 7.21am (although it seldom comes then) train to Glasgow. With ear plugs in, the only person who can hear the sound is me.

Well there I was playing away the other morning. A guy got in at a station and sat opposite me. I saw him watching - carefully (rather than looking critically and wishing he had chosen another seat). So I stopped playing and took out my ear pieces. 'Maggie Cameron' he said - naming - yes naming the tune in one go which I had been playing.

All he could see was fingers moving on a black piece of plastic - no sound...

Wow - how did he do that? Turns out he has played pipes in a Grade 1 band and we had a wee chat (with me wondering what he thought of my silent playing). Actually through various encounters I think there may be enough bagpipers on that train to form a band - that would liven up the journey - we could call ourselves the 7.21 (although it seldom comes at that time) Pipe Band.