Cultural Transformation and Religious Practice

A new appraisal of the relationship between theology and culture.

Graham Ward (Author)

9780521833264, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 2 December 2004

194 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.4 cm, 0.46 kg

' … this is a book about the essential criteria for theological 'credibility' in general … here is a project which I think certainly demands to be taken very seriously indeed.' Theology

The book sets out to address and answer three questions from the point of view of Christian theology. The first is, from where does theology speak? The second is, what are the mechanisms whereby cultures change? The third is, how might we conceive the relationship between the contemporary production of theological discourse and the transformation of cultures more generally? Drawing upon the work of standpoint epistemologists, cultural anthropologists and social scientists, the book argues that public acts of interpretation are involvements in renegotiating the future direction of cultural change. Though the enquiry is conducted from one particular standpoint - Christian theology - the observations and suggestions it makes regarding cultural transformation and the defense it makes of syncretism have more general application.

Introduction
Governing Question I: From what place does theology speak?
Governing Question II: How do cultures change?
Governing Question III: What is the relationship between religious practices and cultural transformation?

Subject Areas: Social & cultural anthropology, ethnography [JHMC], Cultural studies [JFC], Christian theology [HRCM], Philosophy [HP]