Practical Theology Part I And Part II

¶ … theology is not a 'thing'

Practical theology focuses on the 'doingness' of people, or practitioners of Christianity, rather than simple existence. It implies a day-by-day active obedience and operation of Christian living. It means taking the abstract breadth of theology and applying it in real life, or rather fusing both abstraction and action in one whole so that thinking joins actions to practice true and all-encompassing religion.

'Life in the world'

What Veling (2005) calls 'Systematic theology' is the equivalent of idealistic philosophy: it is transcendental and detached from life. However, life can never be 'systematic'. Knowledge -- genuine knowledge is always linked with striving and struggle i.e. A 'living-in-the-world'. Practical theology, then, is a relationship with the world instead of a relationship apart from it.

The people of our time

Practical theology not only is used to alleviate human suffering but also adapts itself to particular context and time. It is flexible taking the human condition into account. It is supremely helpful and "pitches its tent" amongst the people.

Vocation

Practical theology represents acting in righteousness and honesty, acting with compassion and justice, and actively loving the other, in order to love God. The invisible but personal God is approached through active acts of loving-kindness and living in the world rather than detached from it.

To be thoughtful and Attentive

Practical philosophy is associated more with 'understanding' than 'knowing'. All-encompassing 'knowing' is reminiscent of arrogance and a certain detachment. 'Understanding', however, implies consideration and the endeavor to emphasize with and understand the other. The understanding person is compassionate and suffers with the other rather than displaying the arrogance of the all-knowing individual.

A Work not just doing

We are constantly busy in this world always running about accumulating money and doing work to survive.

The Christian 'vocation' or 'practical theology' is, however, a totally different kind of work. It involves reducing all our purpose to a Divine purpose, or to the purpose of God. Theology, or religion, is a response to the call of God and, sometimes, that can be very different to the response of the calls of life:

The work of practical theology is the work of the kingdom of God, and of the Spirit given to us: "Whoever has faith in me will do what I am doing, they will do even greater things . . ." (John 14:12). (p.12)

Truth and Goodness

According to Levinas, 'goodness' should be the bastion and meaning of existence and should dominate pursuit for 'Truth'. We are responsible for the other, and it is only by my involvement in, and relationship to the other, that I can define 'Truth'. Value for the other, in other words, dominates attempting to find meaning for myself.

Scripture gains its meaning when it results in higher ethics and ethical direction. Truth is empty without love. Love and goodness have to preside. Practicum must precede theory.

A craft more than a method

Gadamer differentiates between "truth and method'. We are all addicted to 'method' or instruments that serve as heuristics to gaining certain ends. These may be health, or cessation of smoking, and so forth. Truth, to Gadmaer, was more important, since it steeped us within the context and helped us gain an inside, novel perspective of it. Method distances us form the process, whilst truth steeps us within the world. Heidegger compares this to the carpenters working with woods to build cabinets. Knowledge is insufficient. It is by experimenting with, and fusing himself with the different kinds of wood, that the carpenter becomes more skilled. He becomes a part of it -- in it -- rather than detached from it.

This is practical theology. Dwelling within the world -- understanding it, using it as Truth rather than Method -- and thereby 'living' it.

On Earth

Practical theology is to be lived in the moment, within the context of the times that we are. This may be challenging. We have to be flexible and able to read political and social conditions. We are called to think and act according to the context of the moment.