Workshop Participants: Conference on the Theology of aging

Pastoral Psychology -     

Academic Theology Centered on Practical Theology

This article argues that there are considerable advantages for society, university, theology and the church to conduct theological research and education of pastors at a secular state university like the University of Copenhagen. The disadvantage is foremost that learning from a practice‐theory‐practice model is not found in theological education at the secular university. In the case of Denmark, this is, however, more due to the theology and set up of the church than to the university, where it is commonplace to integrate practice in academic studies.     

Gadamer and Theology

Abstract:  This article examines the role of theology in Gadamer and what theology can learn from it. Gadamer owes a great deal to theology for his account of understanding, but the few times he reveals his own theology he does not apply to it the insights he gleaned from theology. This article proposes to open more fully the door back to theology Gadamer left ajar.
Following a middle-voiced reading of understanding as standing under, it articulates theology in terms of a middle-voiced process in and of which we partake when we get involved in it.     

Theology and Science

Abstract

The active engagement between science and religion is one of the preeminent ways in which we explore the sanctity of the world and the world reveals the sacred to us. Using Karl Rahner's concepts of transcendental/categorial causality and everyday mysticism, this paper enters into dialogue with the scientific insights of Stephen Hawking and Andrew Newberg, engaging the mystery of the cosmos and the mystery of the human person as an avenue to experiencing the mystery of God. In doing so, theology is challenged by scientific insight to a mysticism that engenders a less ontocentric and more humbly apophatic approach.     

Tsunami and Theology

This essay attempts first to understand some aspects of public reactions in Norway and Scandinavia to the tsunami catastrophe in the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004. Secondly, it takes this understanding as a hermeneutical resource for reading the Book of Job. As a biblical scholar, I can only hope that the cultural analysis in the first part is not too aberrant to be considered relevant, at least in its major line of reasoning. My hope for the second part would be that it makes a case for developing additional paradigms for doing biblical studies.     

Prison Theology: A Theology of Liberation,Hope and Justice

Abstract : In our nation today, the number of prisons and prisoners continue to grow at rates that are out‐of‐control. One in 100 of our citizens is in jail or prison, the highest ratio in the world. Unlike the poor, homeless, critically ill, and elderly, those in prison are separated from us to the degree they are unseen. Unseen also, is the oppressiveness of the criminal justice system that oversees more than 6.5 million people either in confinement or on probation or parole. Liberation theology, which advocates and works toward freeing people from oppression, includes feminist, black, womanist and Latino/Hispanic movements. This article proposes prison theology as part of the liberation theology family and identifies a prison theology based on liberation, hope and justice. It encourages a prison theology movement led by the church to liberate those under the oppressiveness of the criminal justice system, especially those confined and to energize a passion for justice and compassion for the oppressed throughout the criminal justice system.     

Latino/a Theology: Doing Theology Latinamente

Latino/a Theology is rising among theologians of Latin American descent in the United States. This article describes five characteristics: 1) it is specific to the cultural context of marginalized Hispanic history; 2) it focuses on the theme of mestizaje/mulatez, the biological and cultural mixing of European Spanish with Africans and indigenous Americans; 3) it derives from popular religion; 4) it deals with everyday life, lo cotidiano; 5) like liberation theology, it emphasizes praxis.