'Ordinary theology' is Jeff Astley's phrase for the theology and theologising of Christians who have received little or no theological education of a scholarly, academic or systematic kind. Astley argues that an in-depth study of ordinary theology, which should involve both empirical research and theological reflection, can help recover theology as a fundamental dimension of every Christian's vocation. Ordinary Theology analyses the problems and possibilities of research and reflection in this area. This book explores the philosophical, theological and educational dimensions of the concept of ordinary theology, its significance for the work of the theologian as well as for those engaged in the ministry of the church, and the criticisms that it faces. 'Ordinary theology' Astley writes, 'is the church's front line. Statistically speaking, it is the theology of God's church.'
Contents: Preface; The learning context of theology: The centrality of practical theology; Learning as the key term; The means of Christian learning; Implications for theology; Learning religion: The centrality of the learner; Changing one's religion; The modes of religious learning; Personal religious learning; Spiritual, faithful and salvific learning; Portraying ordinary theology: Taking ordinary theology seriously; Ordinariness analysed; Theology and the ordinary; Defining theology; Theologia and habitus; Defining ordinary theology; Characterising ordinary theology; From the ordinary to the academic; Folk, common and implicit religion; Studying ordinary theology: Empirical research; Conceptual reflection; Empirical theological research; Description and prescription; Description and interpretation; Phenomenological and hermeneutical research; Wittgensteinian methodology; Debating ordinary theology: Censuring ordinary theology; Justifying the study of ordinary theology pragmatically; Justifying the study of ordinary theology theologically; Afterword; Indexes.
