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The Shape of Practical Theology: Empowering Ministry with Theological Praxis

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The Shape of Practical Theology: Empowering Ministry with Theological Praxis, is a deftly articulation of the praxis of pastoral theology by Dr. Ray S. Anderson. Dr. Anderson boldly rejects the sharply drawn lines of demarcation, established by some scholars that separate academic theology from practical theology, and argues effectively that a "bridge" has been constructed that achieves greater collaboration. Dr. Anderson's thorough and reasoned definition of what practical theology is was insightful, exhilarating, and daunting considering the theological context that most clergy professionals find themselves operating in.

First...If you don't have a Doctorate degree, then this book is HARD...and I MEAN HARD!!!! to read. If I didn't have to read it for a class I'm taking....would have pitched it in the circular file by now! Mr. Anderson could have used some simpler terms and methods to convey his points, but chose the difficult path. I had to re-read MANY sections just to understand (if I even could) the concepts of what he was trying to convey. It was if, at times, he was more trying to prove HIS brilliance, then to convey a practical message. ODD...considering the title of the book.

This book MOST CERTAINLY promotes a more liberal theology found in the Emerging or Emergent Church. An earlier poster shared this comment:

"Behind the book is a stated premise that there is no such concept as absolute truth. No passage of Scripture is held to be an absolute commandment, applicable to all peoples in all generations or all cultures. Everything is relative and subject to redefinition based on the standards of the society in which one lives."

If you don't agree with this assessment of the book, I suspect you are a practicing member of an emerging church...or teaching liberal theology somewhere. I do agree with this assessment of the book. It is undeniable!

Another key comment that the poster made...which is ABSOLUTELY true about the message this book is promoting:

"Since Scripture lacks absolute truth, and has no absolute commandments, every passage is subjective in nature, based on how the individual pastor or parishioner feels the Spirit may be leading.....Pastors must use culture to determine what action to take based on the suggestive and subjective guidelines of Scripture. Exegesis is replaced with Praxis as a hermeneutic criterion, and the loose concept of "finding antecedents" becomes the preferred means of interpreting the Word."

This book truly IS a blueprint for the subjective use of God's Word. PERIOD!

Unlike what another reviewer wrote, this book does not deny absolute truth at all. The contents of the book are quite good. In this book Dr. Anderson critiques the dichotomy between theory and practice, 'pure' theology and 'practical' theology, and then advocates for a unified approach: for a Theology that both directs and arises out of ministry - Particularly Jesus' ministry: "Cristopraxis".

The center of the book is very theoretical and abstract in nature (strange for its 'practical' goals), attempting to provide theological and theoretical mechanisms for the application of Dr. Anderson's Cristopraxis model. The last third of the book contains chapters in specific subjects as examples of the implication of Cristopraxis.

Some of the chapters are OUTSTANDING, such as ch.7, which deals with the role of the Spirit of God in Theology and Ministry, or ch. 16 on Theology and Homosexuality, and ch. 18 on a Theology of forgiveness. Thus, the content of the book is actually well-thought through, deep and insightful (even when your opinion diverges from the author's). The problem lies elsewhere.

First, Dr. Anderson's logic is at times very convoluted. He makes statements that are extremely abstract, gives examples that don't completely clarify, and then arrives at conclusions that don't clearly to follow.

Second, at certain points the writing is EXTREMELY terse. Many statements could be said in simpler form and with greater flow, without sacrificing content.

Third, Dr. Anderson can be wordy. He sometimes uses 1,000 words to state what could have been said with 500 or less. Add to this the fact that, as yet another reviewer has stated, the print is way too small (328 pages of it!), and some parts are simply unnecessarily drab. Like for instance the seemingly endless musings in the exposition on the "Concept of Neighbor in the Ethics of Karl Barth" (ch. 9).

Dr. Anderson is at his best - even outstanding - when being practical and pastoral. He is at his most boring and difficult to read, or even care, when being theoretical. Still, I would recommend the book for the good chapters alone. Just skip the other ones. Take it from someone who read them all.

Though I am not in the same theological camp as Ray Anderson, I must say that this book has helped me revisit my approach the the biblical text. I especially like his treatment on the Holy Spirt. He gives a balance approach, not forgotten and not overexposed.

I may never be able to finish this book simply because of the non-standard and small font and ink that is not quite as dark as charcoal gray instead of black.

If you are past a certain age or have vision that is compromised at all, get ready to add a lighted magnifier to the cost of this book or wait for the Kindle version.

Ray S. Anderson's book, The Shape of Practical Theology: Empowering Ministry with Theological Praxis, was a heart breaking disappointment. Having high hopes when I first found the title, I was anxious to read the book. By the end, I was sick at heart at the state of modern theology it portrayed.

Behind the book is a stated premise that there is no such concept as absolute truth. No passage of Scripture is held to be an absolute commandment, applicable to all peoples in all generations or all cultures. Everything is relative and subject to redefinition based on the standards of the society in which one lives.

Since Scripture lacks absolute truth, and has no absolute commandments, every passage is subjective in nature, based on how the individual pastor or parishioner feels the Spirit may be leading. God, being sovereign, may redefine His laws, His words, and His truths in each generation and culture. Pastors must use culture to determine what action to take based on the suggestive and subjective guidelines of Scripture. Exegesis is replaced with Praxis as a hermeneutic criterion, and the loose concept of "finding antecedents" becomes the preferred means of interpreting the Word.

In short, this book is a blueprint for the subjective use of God's Word, as is more often seen in the Emerging Church. This book is simply not about practical theology so much as it is about following one's gut in lieu of not having definitive Scripture on which to rely.