Pete Ward - Böcker

Pete Ward argues that to make sense of the contemporary nature of the Church we must understand the way that encounter with God is mediated by cultural expression. Through participation in expression the contemporary Church is both a lived-in 'culture' while it is also 'in-dwelt' by the Trinitarian God. He offers a theoretical approach to practical theology which will be of use to practitioners rather than merely to other practical theologians.

In this groundbreaking book exploring Christianity and contemporary culture, internationally-renowned scholars (including David Martin, Alister McGrath, Billy Abraham, Billy Kay and Pete Ward), interface with the legacy of Andrew Walker’s work and look forward in their own predictions of trends. Following Walker’s special interests in house churches, charismatic renewal, culture and faith, this book picks up on these themes and also looks more broadly at topics such as Pentecostalism, Alpha and post-Evangelicalism.

This introduction to the field of practical theology reclaims a theological vision for the life and work of the church. Pete Ward dispels the myth that practical theology is a distraction from the "real" tasks of ministry or from serious academic theological work. He argues that practical theology is part of the everyday life of the church and that there are a variety of possible approaches, helping readers evaluate the approach that is most appropriate to their ministerial context and theological tradition. This reliable, accessible resource will work well for those in training or in ministry.

A unique introduction to the developing field of Theology and Qualitative ResearchIn recent years, a growing number of scholars within the field of theological research have adopted qualitative empirical methods. The use of qualitative research is shaping the nature of theology and redefining what it means to be a theologian. Hence, contemporary scholars who are undertaking empirical fieldwork across a range of theological subdisciplines require authoritative guidance and well-developed frameworks of practice and theory.The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Theology and Qualitative Research outlines the challenges and possibilities for theological research that engages with qualitative methods. It reflects more than 15 years of academic research within the Ecclesiology and Ethnography Network, and features an international group of scholars committed to the empirical and theological study of the Christian church.Edited by world-renowned experts, this unprecedented volume addresses the theological debates, methodological complexities, and future directions of this emerging field. Contributions from both established and emerging scholars describe key theoretical approaches, discuss how different empirical methods are used within theology, explore the links between qualitative researchand adjacent scholarly traditions, and more. The companion: Discusses how qualitative empirical work changes the practice of theology, enabling a disciplined attention to the lived social realities of Christian religion and what theologians doIntroduces theoretical and methodological debates in the field, as well as central epistemological and ontological questionsPresents different approaches to Theology and Qualitative research, highlighting important issues and developments in the last decadesExplores how empirical insights are shaping areas such as liturgics, homiletics, youth ministry, and Christian educationIncludes perspectives from scholars working in disciplines other than theologyThe Wiley Blackwell Companion to Theology and Qualitative Research is essential reading for graduate students, postgraduates, PhD students, researchers, and scholars in Christian Ethics, Systematic Theology, Practical Theology, Contemporary Worship, and related disciplines such as Ecclesiology, Mission Studies, World Christianity, Pastoral Theology, Political Theology, Worship Studies, and all forms of contextual theology.

A unique introduction to the developing field of Theology and Qualitative ResearchIn recent years, a growing number of scholars within the field of theological research have adopted qualitative empirical methods. The use of qualitative research is shaping the nature of theology and redefining what it means to be a theologian. Hence, contemporary scholars who are undertaking empirical fieldwork across a range of theological subdisciplines require authoritative guidance and well-developed frameworks of practice and theory.The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Theology and Qualitative Research outlines the challenges and possibilities for theological research that engages with qualitative methods. It reflects more than 15 years of academic research within the Ecclesiology and Ethnography Network, and features an international group of scholars committed to the empirical and theological study of the Christian church.Edited by world-renowned experts, this unprecedented volume addresses the theological debates, methodological complexities, and future directions of this emerging field. Contributions from both established and emerging scholars describe key theoretical approaches, discuss how different empirical methods are used within theology, explore the links between qualitative researchand adjacent scholarly traditions, and more. The companion: Discusses how qualitative empirical work changes the practice of theology, enabling a disciplined attention to the lived social realities of Christian religion and what theologians doIntroduces theoretical and methodological debates in the field, as well as central epistemological and ontological questionsPresents different approaches to Theology and Qualitative research, highlighting important issues and developments in the last decadesExplores how empirical insights are shaping areas such as liturgics, homiletics, youth ministry, and Christian educationIncludes perspectives from scholars working in disciplines other than theologyThe Wiley Blackwell Companion to Theology and Qualitative Research is essential reading for graduate students, postgraduates, PhD students, researchers, and scholars in Christian Ethics, Systematic Theology, Practical Theology, Contemporary Worship, and related disciplines such as Ecclesiology, Mission Studies, World Christianity, Pastoral Theology, Political Theology, Worship Studies, and all forms of contextual theology.

Celebrity Worship provides an introduction to the fascinating study of celebrity culture and religion. The book argues for celebrity as a foundational component for any consideration of the relationship between religion, media and culture. Celebrity worship is seen as a vibrant and interactive discourse of the sacred self in contemporary society. Topics discussed include: Celebrity culture.Celebrity worship and project of the self as the new sacred.Social media and the democratisation of celebrity.Reactions to celebrity death.Celebrities as theologians of the self.Christian celebrity.Using contemporary case studies, such as lifestyle television, the religious vision of Oprah Winfrey and the death of David Bowie, this book is a gripping read for those with an interest in celebrity culture, cultural studies, media studies, religion in the media and the role of religion in society.

Celebrity Worship provides an introduction to the fascinating study of celebrity culture and religion. The book argues for celebrity as a foundational component for any consideration of the relationship between religion, media and culture. Celebrity worship is seen as a vibrant and interactive discourse of the sacred self in contemporary society. Topics discussed include: Celebrity culture.Celebrity worship and project of the self as the new sacred.Social media and the democratisation of celebrity.Reactions to celebrity death.Celebrities as theologians of the self.Christian celebrity.Using contemporary case studies, such as lifestyle television, the religious vision of Oprah Winfrey and the death of David Bowie, this book is a gripping read for those with an interest in celebrity culture, cultural studies, media studies, religion in the media and the role of religion in society.

Tracking music that first arose from a close relationship to the religion of the American South, this book explores the ways in which they have taken on new meanings in a post-religious environment.Divided into two parts, Pete Ward first gives a historical account of the relationship between old time and bluegrass music and religion. These chapters explore how bluegrass music has been shaped and influenced by Christian experience and practice. Drawing on archival research, the book connects findings around the music to research on and the development of evangelicalism into the 20th Century and reactions against belief that were common in the folk revival.The second part of the book is based on ethnographic field work, from both the US and the UK, including textual analysis of songs and participant observation of concerts and interviews with performers. The differences of context between the US and the UK are considered as they relate to issues of post-Christian sensibilities and non-religion. A particular focus is how what were specifically Christian songs become relocated in a post-Christian environment. Pete Ward explores how bluegrass raises a number of troubling political issues, and what it means for the changing nature of the sacred and notions of non-religion. A key issue discussed is the continued significance of this music and why ‘roots’ or ‘nostalgia’ play a role and indeed how and why this might be the case in the UK as well as in the US.

In this groundbreaking book exploring Christianity and contemporary culture, internationally-renowned scholars (including David Martin, Alister McGrath, Billy Abraham, Billy Kay and Pete Ward), interface with the legacy of Andrew Walker’s work and look forward in their own predictions of trends. Following Walker’s special interests in house churches, charismatic renewal, culture and faith, this book picks up on these themes and also looks more broadly at topics such as Pentecostalism, Alpha and post-Evangelicalism.