Practical Theology

The Practical Theology series aims to publish scholarly yet creative books in the field of practical theology by established and emerging scholars alike.T his area of study and its constituent disciplines address issues and problems of faith communit ies and in the wider public with rich interdisciplinary frameworks. Scholars in this métier tend to work at the dynamic intersections of lived and historical faith communities, of practices and doctrines, and of contexts and norms. Book proposals add ressing issues in the theory, history, and practice of practical theology as well as in such disciplines as homiletics, pastoral care, religious education, spirituality, and mission are particularly appropriate for this series. The Practical Theology series aims to publish scholarly yet creative books in the field of practical theology by established and emerging scholars alike.T his area of study and its constituent disciplines address issues and problems of faith communit ies and in the wider public with rich interdisciplinary frameworks. Scholars in this métier tend to work at the dynamic intersections of lived and historical faith communities, of practices and doctrines, and of contexts and norms. Book proposals add ressing issues in the theory, history, and practice of practical theology as well as in such disciplines as homiletics, pastoral care, religious education, spirituality, and mission are particularly appropriate for this series. The Practical Theology series aims to publish scholarly yet creative books in the field of practical theology by established and emerging scholars alike.T his area of study and its constituent disciplines address issues and problems of faith communit ies and in the wider public with rich interdisciplinary frameworks. Scholars in this métier tend to work at the dynamic intersections of lived and historical faith communities, of practices and doctrines, and of contexts and norms. Book proposals add ressing issues in the theory, history, and practice of practical theology as well as in such disciplines as homiletics, pastoral care, religious education, spirituality, and mission are particularly appropriate for this series.

3 publications

Studies in Theology, Society and Culture

ISSN: 1662-9930

Religious and theological reflection has often been confined to the realm of the private, the personal or the Church. In Europe this restriction of religion and theology can be traced back to the Enlightenment and has had long-lasting and pernicious consequences for the understanding of religious faith and society. On the one hand, there has been a rise in religious fundamentalisms around the globe, while, on the other hand, so-called advanced societies are constructed mainly along economic, pragmatic and rationalistic lines. Added to this is the reality that religious faith is increasingly lived out in pluralistic and multi-faith contexts with all the challenges and opportunities this offers to denominational religion. This series explores what it means to be religious in such contexts. It invites scholarly contributions to themes including patterns of secularisation, postmodern challenges to religion, and the relation of faith and culture. From a theological perspective it seeks constructive re-interpretations of traditional Christian topics – including God, creation, salvation, Christology, ecclesiology, etc. in a way that makes them more credible for today. It also welcomes studies on religion and science, and on theology and the arts. The series publishes monographs, comparative studies, interdisciplinary projects, conference proceedings and edited books. It attracts well-researched, especially interdisciplinary, studies which open new approaches to religion or focus on interesting case studies. The language of the series is English.

22 publications

Studien zur interkulturellen Geschichte des Christentums / Etudes d’histoire interculturelle du christianisme / Studies in the Intercultural History of Christianity

The series «“Studies in the Intercultural History of Christianity”» operates in an area that includes the disciplines of missiology, history of religions, ecumenics and intercultural theology. Using historical, socio-cultural and theoretical approaches it addresses the question of the identity of local and global Christianity. This is done in the light of the continuing transformations (e.g. technology, globalization, migration, ecology) and the living together of people of different faiths and persuasions in the human community. La série « Etudes de l’’Histoire Interculturelle du Christianisme » étudie les points de rencontre entre missiologie, science des religions, œœcuménisme et théologie interculturelle. En utilisant les approches théoriques de l’’histoire et des sciences sociales, elle fournit des éléments de réponse à la question de l’’identité du christianisme local et global. Pour ce faire, elle prend en considération aussi bien les transformations profondes (p. ex. technologie, globalisation, migration, écologie), que la reconnaissance de ceux qui pensent et croient d’’une manière différente, le tout en relation avec l’’avenir de l’’humanité. Die Reihe “«Studien zur interkulturellen Geschichte des Christentums»” arbeitet im Überschneidungsgebiet von Missions- und Religionswissenschaft, Ökumenik und Interkultureller Theologie. In historischer, sozialwissenschaftlicher und theoretischer Erforschung verfolgt sie die Frage der Identität des lokalen und globalen Christentums. Sie tut dies in Anerkennung grundlegender Transformationen (z.B. Technisierung, Globalisierung, Migration, Ökologie), der Bezugnahme auf die Andersdenkenden und Andersglaubenden und im Blick auf die Zukunft der Menschheit.

108 publications

Religions and Discourse

ISSN: 1422-8998

«Religions and Discourse» explores religious language in the major world faiths from various viewpoints, including semiotics, pragmatics and cognitive linguistics, and reflects on how it is situated within wider intellectual and cultural contexts. In particular a key issue is the role of figurative speech. Many fascinating metaphors originate in religion e.g. revelation as a ‘garment’, apostasy as ‘adultery’, loving kindness as the ‘circumcision of the heart’. Every religion rests its specific orientations upon symbols such as these, to name but a few. The series strives after the interdisciplinary approach that brings together such diverse disciplines as religious studies, theology, sociology, philosophy, linguistics and literature, guided by an international editorial board of scholars representative of the aforementioned disciplines. Though scholarly in its scope, the series also seeks to facilitate discussions pertaining to central religious issues in contemporary contexts. The series will publish monographs and collected essays of a high scholarly standard.

62 publications

Europe des cultures / Europe of cultures

ISSN: 2031-3519

"Europe of Cultures" is a series of studies, monographs, stories, research projects, reports on conferences and debates devoted to the complexities and changing realities in European societies. It bridges the past with the future at the cross road of challenges and opportunities of the transformation of European societies. The management of changes in societies refers to the interconnection of various dimensions and levels of policy-making impacting on economic, social, political, democratic, communication, philosophical, artistic, religious as well as ethical traditions and behaviour. As an editorial project the series is structured along two interconnected and complementary sub-series: i.e. the "(Europe of) Dialogues" series and the "(Europe of) Living Stories". The sub-series "(Europe of) Dialogues" mainly deals with (cultural) diversities, identity and citizenship building in Europe as well as with the relevant multi-level governance and communication structures in the transformation of European societies. Europe is a laboratory for understanding this multi- and intercultural reality. The purpose is to contribute to a better understanding and communication of the changes taking place by looking at the European societies in general, and the specificities of different national, regional and local cultures and communities in a framework of dialogues. The series presents interdisciplinary and critical views of value-driven and policy-oriented reflections. Moreover, it offers new insights into understanding how to manage, value and communicate cultural diversity, identity and citizenship. It also wants to contribute to the development of new ways of "living together", in which cultures and communities are perceived as binding forces in creative society building. The sub-series "(Europe of) Living Stories" (the former "Mémoires de l’Europe en devenir", Director Gabriel Fragnière) is devoted to inspiring narratives for a broad public with a view to contribute to a better understanding, communication and contextualisation of the newly emerging Europe. It mainly focusses on stories, memories and testimonies of persons, events, institutions and issues that have transformed mentalities, fostered European awareness and finally shaped Europe’s future. These stories serve as important references and communication tools for future developments of Europe in the world. This collection wants to be open and diverse, original and dynamic in its content, method and pedagogy faithful to Europe’s role and reference in the globalising world. "Europe des cultures" est une collection d'études, de monographies, d’essais, de récits, de recherches et de compte-rendu de conférences et de débats consacrés à la complexité et l'évolution des réalités dans les sociétés européennes. Elle relie passé et futur au carrefour des défis et opportunités de la transformation des sociétés européennes. L’étude des changements dans les sociétés se réfère à l'interconnexion des différentes dimensions et niveaux de l'élaboration des politiques, incluant les traditions et comportements économiques, sociaux, politiques, démocratiques, communication, philosophiques, artistiques, religieuses ainsi qu’éthiques. Comme projet éditorial, la collection est structurée en deux sous-séries complémentaires: la série "(l'Europe des) Dialogues" et la série «　(l'Europe des) Histoires Vivantes». La série "(L’Europe des) Dialogues" se concentre principalement sur les diversités (culturelles), l'identité et la citoyenneté en Europe ainsi que sur les structures de gouvernance et de communication multi-niveaux pertinentes dans la transformation des sociétés européennes. L'Europe est un laboratoire pour comprendre cette réalité multiculturelle et interculturelle. Le but est de contribuer à une meilleure compréhension et communication des changements qui ont lieu en observant les sociétés européennes en général, et les spécificités des différentes cultures et communautés nationales, régionales et locales dans un cadre de dialogues. La collection présente des vues interdisciplinaires et critiques axées sur des réflexions des valeurs et politiques. En outre, elle offre de nouvelles perspectives dans la compréhension de la façon de gérer, valoriser et communiquer la diversité culturelle, l'identité et la citoyenneté. Elle veut aussi contribuer au développement de nouvelles façons de «　vivre ensemble　», dans lequel les cultures et les communautés sont perçues comme des forces de liaison à l’égard de la société créative. La série "(l’Europe des) Histoires Vivantes" (anciennement «　Mémoires de l'Europe en devenir　», Directeur Gabriel Fragnière) est consacrée à des récits destinés à un large public en vue de contribuer à une meilleure compréhension, communication et contextualisation de la nouvelle Europe émergente. Elle se concentre principalement sur des histoires, des souvenirs et des témoignages de personnes, d'événements, des institutions et des questions qui ont transformé les mentalités, la conscience européenne et enfin façonné l'avenir de l'Europe. Ces histoires servent de références et d’outils de communication pour des développements futurs de l'Europe dans le monde. Cette collection se veut ouverte et diversifiée, originale et dynamique dans son contenu, méthode et pédagogie fidèle au rôle et référence de l'Europe dans un monde globalisé.

31 publications

Bible and Theology in Africa

The 20th century made sub-Saharan Africa a Christian continent. This formidable church growth is reflected in a wide range of attempts at contextualizing Christian theology and biblical interpretation in Africa. At a grassroots level ordinary Christians express their faith and read the Bible in ways reflecting their daily situation; at an academic level, theologians and biblical scholars relate the historical traditions and sources of Christianity to the socio- and religio-cultural context of Africa. In response to this, the series Bible and Theology in Africa aims at making African theology and biblical interpretation its subject as well as object, as the concerns of African theologians and biblical interpreters will be voiced and critically analyzed. Both Africans and Western authors are encourgared to consider this series.

31 publications

Liturgical Studies

The Liturgical Studies series provides a forum for scholars of matters related to the theory and practice of ritual and worship. Titles in this series may address liturgical history, liturgical theology, ritual studies, or interdisciplinary writing and research centered on topics related to liturgical aspects of both secular and religious culture. Approaches may be multi-disciplinary, concentrated in a single aspect of liturgical studies, or focused on performance theory in worship. Included in this series are discussions addressing either the worship practices of one religious tradition or inter-faith liturgical studies research. Also appropriate are discussions concerning the political, sociological, economic, or psychological dimensions of religious worship or non-religious ritual.

2 publications

Critical Education and Ethics

ISSN: 2166-1359

The Critical Education and Ethics series intends to systematically analyze the pitfalls of social structures such as race, class, and gender as they relate to edu-cational issues. Books in the series contain theoretical work grounded in prag-matic, society-changing practices. The series places value on ethical responses, as prophetic commitments to change the conditions under which education takes place. The series aims to (1) Further the ethical understanding linking broader social issues to education by exploring the environmental, health-related, and faith/spiritual responses to our educational times and policy, and (2) Ground these works in the everyday world of the classroom, viewing how schools are impacted by what critical researchers do. Both theoretically and practically, the series aims to identify itself as an agent for community change. The Critical Education and Ethics series welcomes work from emerging scholars as well as those already established in the field.

18 publications

(Post-)Critical Global Childhood & Youth Studies

This book series focuses on critical and post-critical research in global childhood and youth studies. It aims to trace the stimulating exchange of ideas on contemporary issues affecting children and young people around the world while exploring possibilities for local and global social change. That is, the intent is to situate and possibly deconstruct the systems of reasoning that govern human development and education, including deconstructing Euro-American critical paradigms. The series encourages innovative writing formats as well as novel theoretical and methodological approaches to co-producing knowledge in fields such as: urban, rural and indigenous childhood & youth; children's rights; alternative sexual identities; social policy, ecology and youth activism; diverse faith communities; immigration and intersectionality; mobile Internet, digital futures, and global education. It will discuss the geopolitics of knowledge, feminisms in the majority world, and decolonial and anthropological perspectives, among others. It is addressed to relevant scholars from all over the world as well as to global policy makers and employees at international organizations and NGOs interested in theoretical and methodological innovation in childhood and youth studies.

7 publications