Theological Reflection involves a focused

conversation that engages, personally and

communally, three elements:

TRADITION

CULTURE/
EXPERIENCE
CONTEXT
 TRADITION

CULTURE/CONTEXT
Memories Scripture Psychology
Charisms Creeds Anthropology
Family Councils Sociology
history Liturgy Arts
Education Piety Philosophy
EXPERIENCE

Relationships Stories Movies

Social Ecumenism Advertising
Location History Media
Travel Canon law Politics
Work Lives of saints Language
Health Religious Customs
Heritage orders Poetry
Ethnicity Mystics Literature
Geography Magisterium 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:
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
Begin with aPRAXIS:
“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
• Obligations description” of a practice
• Tendencies/human Discern a “thick question”
needs to put into conversation
• Environment: social, with the Christian
cultural economic Tradition
• Rules/roles Outcome: practical wisdom,
new theory-laden practice
ENCOUNTER WITH THE LIVING
Theology GOD:
as Interpretation
What happens:
• Presuppositions/ 1st Naiveté

• Critical Inquiry/ distanciation

AESTHETIC SURRENDER
• Appropriation/ 2nd Naiveté
ENCOUNTER WITH THE LIVING
Theology GOD:
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