Holt, Oslington and “Practical Theology”.

Paul writes – Simon Holt draws attention to an interesting paper by Paul Oslington, Professor of Economics, School of Economics, Australian Catholic University  (their website, here). Oslington wonders if so-called “public theology” will be a renewal movement that reconnects theology in an interdisciplinary fashion to other academic disciplines and to the questions and needs of the wider world – the non-academic worlds of business, education, family etc.

While not directly addressed in the paper, one of my interests is how help the so-called “laity” – those in our churches week-by-week – do good theology in relation to the ordinary and everyday challenges and opportunities that they face. How do we help them see theology as relevant and needful? How to we develop in them an interest and some degree of passion and literacy around their faith? How do we help them become life-long learners willing to invest in and resource their faith-journey’s beyond simply relying on church attendance week-by-week?

Big influencers for me in a commitment to become theologically literate and to engaging reflectively and theologically with my world have been: Robert Banks (especially his excellent little book Redeeming the Routines, but also Reenvisioning Theological Education: Exploring a Missional Alternative to Current Models), Simon Holt, Gordon Preece, Paul Stevens, William Stringfellow, Regent College, Walter Brueggemann, Stanley Hauerwas, William C. Cavanaugh, Kevin Vanhoozer, Gordon Lynch, Mark Greene, Brian Walsh, Dave Andrews, Dorothy Bass,Robert K. Johnston, Timothy Gorringe, Kenneth Leech, John and Olive Drane… Macquarie Christian Studies Institute ( Macquarie University, Sydney), and Zadok Institute for Christianity and Society

Oslington asks:

“Will public theology be a successful renewal movement that reconnects theology to other academic disciplines and the wider world or yet another self absorbed speciality within theology?...”

He continues:

“...The suspicion of religious institutions is best circumvented by theologically informed lay action in mainstream forums. Theology is a far less charged topic of discussion for Australians than Americans, provided the discussion is not taking place in a church environment or is clouded by questions of religious privilege...”

He concludes:

“...There are reasons to be hopeful about the prospects for public theology in Australia – about the prospects for to transform theology as a discipline and make a substantial contribution to national life. Each of the cultural barriers is capable of being overcome. However the signs so far are mixed and many will be watching the progress of public theology with interest in Australiaover the next few years.”

 For those with an interest in economics, Oslington has a lfairly arge number of papers he’s written with links from his profile page, via here (staff directory).