Vague generalities and the complicity of ambiguity: practicing political homiletics
Practical theology is critical reflection on the practices of the Church in light of the gospel. Homiletics—the exercise of public preaching—is one mode of Church practice that bears scrutiny. This soap-box article offers constructive critique of homilies that simply repeat an abstract, non-offensiv...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group
2022
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| In: |
Practical theology
Year: 2022, Volume: 15, Issue: 6, Pages: 590-600 |
| IxTheo Classification: | CG Christianity and Politics CH Christianity and Society KBQ North America RE Homiletics |
| Further subjects: | B
vague generality
B Preaching B baptismal covenant B Politics B confessing church B Ambiguity |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | Practical theology is critical reflection on the practices of the Church in light of the gospel. Homiletics—the exercise of public preaching—is one mode of Church practice that bears scrutiny. This soap-box article offers constructive critique of homilies that simply repeat an abstract, non-offensive, apolitical, ‘be nice to everyone’ message. Ignoring concrete unjust social realities and the people harmed by them—which is by nature political—betrays the gospel and violates the covenant of baptism. When, in order to avoid controversy, clergy and lay leaders slip into vague generalizations, they become complicit with evil through ambiguity. While the article references the United States and the Episcopal Church, its challenge crosses national and denominational lines. |
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| ISSN: | 1756-0748 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Practical theology
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/1756073X.2022.2094526 |