Christianity as Distinct Practices
A Complicated Relationship
Published on 10. January 2019
Book
Hardback
216 pages
978-0-567-68327-4 (ISBN)
Description
Jan-Olav Henriksen reconstructs and analyzes Christianity as a cluster of practices that manifest a distinct historically and contextually shaped mode of being in the world. Henriksen suggests that these practices imply a complicated relationship between the tradition in which they originate, the community that emerges from and is constituted by that tradition, and the individuals who appropriate the tradition that these communities mediate through their practices. Thus, to think of Christianity simply in terms of belief is misleading and represents an underdetermination of its distinct character.
Henriksen further argues this relationship needs to be described primarily as practices aimed at orientation and transformation. His analysis points to Christianity's similarity to other religions in regard to the functional or pragmatic dimensions it displays. Examining facets such as prayer, the use of scripture, preaching and doctrine, Henriksen emphasizes that the element that makes a practice distinctively Christian is how it relates to and is informed by the Jesus story.
Henriksen further argues this relationship needs to be described primarily as practices aimed at orientation and transformation. His analysis points to Christianity's similarity to other religions in regard to the functional or pragmatic dimensions it displays. Examining facets such as prayer, the use of scripture, preaching and doctrine, Henriksen emphasizes that the element that makes a practice distinctively Christian is how it relates to and is informed by the Jesus story.
Reviews / Votes
[I] find Henriksen's study to be very helpful for reframing the disciplinary relationships in better perspectives than the polemical ones just rehearsed. * Modern Theology * I find Henriksen's arguments compelling ... [Pastors] and students will benefit from engagement with this dense and provocative work. * Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology * Using 'practices' as its focus, this book explores the nature of Christian religion in new ways, such as its embodied, material, social and everyday character. Above all it convincingly argues how a practice-oriented account not only makes sense of, but also presupposes, core elements and narratives of Christian tradition as that which makes Christian practices meaningful. This provides for a convincing argument about its constructive potential for theology. * ULLA SCHMIDT, AARHUS UNIVERSITY, DENMARK * In a context where the practices of the Church have become a central concern, Jan-Olav Henriksen offers a nuanced and provocative contribution from the Philosophy of Religion of this fast developing field. This book will be an enduring resource and dialogue partner for all of those who are setting out on the complicated enterprise of using theological ethnography as a means to study the lived practices of the Christian community. * PETE WARD, DURHAM UNIVERSITY, UK *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Weight
481 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-567-68327-4 (9780567683274)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
01/2019
1st Edition
T.& T.Clark Ltd
€37.49
Available for download
Person
Jan-Olav Henriksen is Professor of Philosophy of Religion in MF Norwegian School of Theology, Religion and Society, Norway, and Professor of Contemporary Religion at Agder University, Norway.
Content
Acknowledgments
INTRODUCTION
Part I THEORY FOR UNDERSTANDING CHRISTIANITY AS PRACTICE
1. RELIGION AS ORIENTATION, TRANSFORMATION, AND LEGITIMIZATION OF HUMAN PRACTICES IN EVERYDAY LIFE
2. LIVED RELIGION INSTEAD OF RELIGION AS BELIEF
3. PRACTICES OF ORIENTATION AND TRANSFORMATION ARE SOCIAL PRACTICES
4. HOW FOCUS ON PRACTICES MAY RESHAPE PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION
5. TO ACCESS THE WORLD AS WORLD: SEMIOSIS
6. RITUAL PRACTICES AS COGNITIVE PROSTHETICS
7. IN CONCLUSION
Part II CHRISTIANITY RECONSTRUCTED: CLUSTERS OF PRACTICES SHAPED BY A STORY
8. (HI-)STORY AS RESOURCE FOR ORIENTATION AND TRANSFORMATION
9. THE CONTENT OF THE STORY: WHAT JESUS PRACTICED AS THE BASIS FOR (ECCLESIOLOGICAL) PRACTICE
10. A MORAL COMMUNITY THAT STEWARDS THE ABUNDANT GIFTS OF GOD
11. PRAYER AS MEANS OF TRANSFORMATION AND ORIENTATION: THE EXAMPLE OF THE LORD'S PRAYER
12. A REINTERPRETATION OF THE SCRIPTURES AND THE CONCRETE USE OF SCRIPTURE IN THE CHURCH
13. PREACHING AS A CONTEMPORARY PRACTICE: BETWEEN COMMUNICATIVE AND STRATEGIC ACTION
14. COMMEMORATION OF JESUS'S PRACTICES: OPENNESS TOWARD BOTH PAST AND FUTURE
15. PUZZLES FOR ORIENTATION: SUFFERING, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION
16. A THEOLOGICAL CONCLUSION: HOW TO PRACTICE "GOD"?
17. IS CHRISTIANITY A RELIGION? ARE BELIEF AND DOCTRINE OPPOSED TO PRACTICE?
18. CONCLUSION
Bibliography
Index
INTRODUCTION
Part I THEORY FOR UNDERSTANDING CHRISTIANITY AS PRACTICE
1. RELIGION AS ORIENTATION, TRANSFORMATION, AND LEGITIMIZATION OF HUMAN PRACTICES IN EVERYDAY LIFE
2. LIVED RELIGION INSTEAD OF RELIGION AS BELIEF
3. PRACTICES OF ORIENTATION AND TRANSFORMATION ARE SOCIAL PRACTICES
4. HOW FOCUS ON PRACTICES MAY RESHAPE PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION
5. TO ACCESS THE WORLD AS WORLD: SEMIOSIS
6. RITUAL PRACTICES AS COGNITIVE PROSTHETICS
7. IN CONCLUSION
Part II CHRISTIANITY RECONSTRUCTED: CLUSTERS OF PRACTICES SHAPED BY A STORY
8. (HI-)STORY AS RESOURCE FOR ORIENTATION AND TRANSFORMATION
9. THE CONTENT OF THE STORY: WHAT JESUS PRACTICED AS THE BASIS FOR (ECCLESIOLOGICAL) PRACTICE
10. A MORAL COMMUNITY THAT STEWARDS THE ABUNDANT GIFTS OF GOD
11. PRAYER AS MEANS OF TRANSFORMATION AND ORIENTATION: THE EXAMPLE OF THE LORD'S PRAYER
12. A REINTERPRETATION OF THE SCRIPTURES AND THE CONCRETE USE OF SCRIPTURE IN THE CHURCH
13. PREACHING AS A CONTEMPORARY PRACTICE: BETWEEN COMMUNICATIVE AND STRATEGIC ACTION
14. COMMEMORATION OF JESUS'S PRACTICES: OPENNESS TOWARD BOTH PAST AND FUTURE
15. PUZZLES FOR ORIENTATION: SUFFERING, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION
16. A THEOLOGICAL CONCLUSION: HOW TO PRACTICE "GOD"?
17. IS CHRISTIANITY A RELIGION? ARE BELIEF AND DOCTRINE OPPOSED TO PRACTICE?
18. CONCLUSION
Bibliography
Index