The Library
Ordinary theology as lay theology : listening to and learning from lay perspectives
Tools
Tools
Tools
Astley, Jeff (2014) Ordinary theology as lay theology : listening to and learning from lay perspectives. INTAMS Review: journal for the study of marriage and spirituality, 20 (2). pp. 182-189. doi:10.2143/INT.20.2.3066748 ISSN 1370-6020.
Research output not available from this repository.
Request-a-Copy directly from author or use local Library Get it For Me service.
Official URL: http://poj.peeters-leuven.be/content.php?url=artic...
Abstract
This paper offers a general overview of the conceptualization of 'ordinary theology', first developed in 2002, together with an apologia for its study and for its relevance for theological and ecclesiastical debate. Ordinary theology is first defined, located and explicated, and the use of the adjective 'ordinary' defended, along with the significance of the ordinary for Christian theology and spirituality. The nature of ordinary theology is then briefly portrayed in terms of its linguistic style or form (rich in story and metaphor; aphoristic, autobiographical and unsystematic), its posture (midway between kneeling and sitting theology) and its voice (on Ursula Le Guin’s account, closer to the mother tongue than to the father tongue). The notion of ordinary theology is further related to Edward Farley’s delineation of the early understanding of theologia, as well as to the popular accounts of John Cobb, Stanley Grenz and Roger Olson. The paper then discusses the understanding of ordinary theology as lay theology, noting three possible meanings of that phrase (to designate a theological theme, the theology of a group within the Church, or theology that is non-expert). It goes on to argue for the significance of ordinary and lay theology both within the wider theology of the Church and in dialogue with academic theology. In this context, it makes particular reference to the relevance of ordinary theology to the concept of the consensus fidelium, in dialogue with some aspects of George Lindbeck’s work; and concludes with an argument for the importance of theological listening in ordinary theological research, and therefore in more general theological discussion in Church and academy. This includes an argument for a two stage process for a fuller study of ordinary theology, which comprises both theological listening and description, on the one hand; and a (separate) critical appraisal of the resulting data, in which the normative criteria of academic and ecclesiastical theology are employed, on the other. The importance of this latter process is acknowledged, but the author contends that it should never disable the empirical stage of listening to ordinary theology (which enables others to learn from it) by silencing or side-lining the voices of ordinary theologians.
| Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Divisions: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Centre for Education Studies (2013- ) | ||||
| Journal or Publication Title: | INTAMS Review: journal for the study of marriage and spirituality | ||||
| Publisher: | Peeters Publishers | ||||
| ISSN: | 1370-6020 | ||||
| Official Date: | 2014 | ||||
| Dates: |
|
||||
| Volume: | 20 | ||||
| Number: | 2 | ||||
| Page Range: | pp. 182-189 | ||||
| DOI: | 10.2143/INT.20.2.3066748 | ||||
| Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||
| Publication Status: | Published |
Request changes or add full text files to a record
Repository staff actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
