Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. The Contribution of Empirical Theology by Johannes A. Van der Ven: An Introduction. 1 -- Chris A.M. Hermans and Mary Elizabeth Moore -- PART ONE -- EMPIRICAL THEOLOGY -- 2. When Theology Goes 'Practical'. From Applied to Empirical Theology. 21 -- Chris A.M. Hermans -- 3. Van der Ven's Empirical / Practical Theology and the Theological Encyclopaedia. 53 -- R. Ruard Ganzevoort -- 4. God Image: The Conceptual Triangle. A Quantitative Empirical Study of Young People in Germany. 75 -- Hans-Georg Ziebertz -- 5. A Homiletical Reflection on the Human Rights Project in South Africa. 102 -- Hendrik J.C. Pieterse -- PART TWO -- FUNDAMENTAL PRACTICAL THEOLOGY -- 6. Moral Education and Practical Theology in the Thought of Johannes Van der Ven. 126 -- Don Browning -- 7. Johannes van der Ven's Contribution to the New Consensus in Practical Theology. 150 -- Richard R. Osmer -- 8. Purposes of Practical Theology: A Comparative Analysis Between United States Practical Theologians and Johannes van der Ven. 170 -- Mary Elizabeth Moore -- 9. The Everyday Crossing of Frontiers: Religious Identity and Response to Suffering in Light of Johannes van der Ven. 197 -- Lynn Bridgers -- PART THREE -- SUBDISCIPLINES IN PRACTICAL THEOLOGY -- 10. The Emerging Subject: Development of the Hermeneutic Basis of Johannes A. van der Ven's Religious and Moral Pedagogy. 217 -- Paul Vermeer -- 11. Reflective Ministry And Empirical Theology: Antidote to Clergy Stress?. 245 -- Leslie J. Francis and Douglas W. Turton -- 12. Redefining Pastoral Care and Counselling. 267 -- Hans Schilderman and Michael Scherer-Rath -- 13. Challenges for the Modern Church in Empirical Ecclesiology. 295 -- Carl Sterkens -- PART FOUR -- RESPONSE -- 14. Towards a Comparative Empirical Theology Of Mindful Action. 331 -- Johannes A. van der Ven -- 15. Shortlist of Academic Publications of Johannes A. van der Ven. 389 -- 16. List of Contributors. 395 -- 17. Subject Index. 397 -- 18. Names Index. 403.

There is a growing consensus among scholars in different countries about the object of practical theology. Hans van der Ven has contributed much to this consensus through his writings on the foundations of practical theology, the empirical paradigm within practical theology, and specific subdisciplines within practical theology, especially religious education, moral education, church development and ministry. At the center of this growing consensus is an understanding of the independent hermeneutical role of religious experiences and practices of people in the process of theological theory-building. If contemporary religious experiences and practices have a critical role with regard to religious tradition (and the ministry of this tradition), then practical theology cannot just be a form of applied theology. The contributors of this volume focus on this hermeneutical core, foundations of practical theology and on empirical research as a research method within practical theology in the work of Van der Ven.

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