Practical theology as 'healing of memories' : critical reflections on a specific methodology
Date
2011-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS OpenJournals
Abstract
When developing new perspectives and paradigms for practical theology in South Africa, we
obviously have to take our South African context seriously. We live in a post-conflict society in
which gigantic sociocultural shifts have taken place since 1994. Many institutions and groups
endeavour to address the conflict, injustices and pain of the past, including the Institute for
the Healing of Memories (IHOM). The Institute makes use of a specific methodology in their
workshops. Having participated in these workshops in congregational contexts as well as
in the training of theological students, in this article I investigated the methodology of the
Institute as a framework for new perspectives on practical theology in South Africa. Making
use of Victor Turner’s theoretical construct of ‘social drama’ as one way of looking at the
methodology of the IHOM, I reflected critically on the challenges that it poses to practical
theology by making use of a ‘rhetorical frame’ and trying to delineate some constructive
proposals for further reflections on practical theological paradigms and perspectives.
Description
The original publication is available at http://www.hts.org.za
CITATION: Nell, I. A. 2011. Practical theology as 'healing of memories' : critical reflections on a specific methodology. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies, 67(2), 8 p., doi:10.4102/hts.v67i2.1001.
CITATION: Nell, I. A. 2011. Practical theology as 'healing of memories' : critical reflections on a specific methodology. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies, 67(2), 8 p., doi:10.4102/hts.v67i2.1001.
Keywords
Practical theology, Methodology
Citation
Nell, I. A. 2011. Practical theology as 'healing of memories' : critical reflections on a specific methodology. HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies, 67(2), 8 p., doi:10.4102/hts.v67i2.1001.