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Based on the notion of lived religion, the volume seeks to elucidate the role of religion in contemporary society in an international and interdisciplinary perspective. It draws its inspiration from the works of Wilhelm Gräb, who in his contribution to scholarship has emphasized and shaped the notion of lived religion as a basis for empirical and theoretical approaches to the study of religion. A lot of research has been conducted on the contribution of religious communities to development. Moreover, the literature has scrutinized religious communities' normative notions on development, i.e., what in different theological perspectives can be seen as desirable 'development' outcomes - for instance notions of a good life or of human flourishing. In both cases, most of the work in the field has focused on institutionalized religion and religious tenets and theologies. Perspectives of religion as it is lived by people on the ground have thus far received less attention. This book provides an innovative angle to the religion and development research and literature. Transposing the notion of lived religion to the concept of development, one might be able to also speak of 'lived development'. Moving beyond the dominant paradigms of global development, this volume raises the question how development is conceptualized, enacted and practiced on the ground. This concerns not least the question what is seen as desirable lives for individuals, communities, societies and the world as a whole. It is precisely at this point where lived religion and lived development intersect.
About the author
Dr. Lars Charbonnier, Pfarrer, Systemischer Berater, Gemeindeberater und Personzentrierter Coach (GwG), ist Geschäftsführer der Akademien für Kirche und Diakonie gGmbH mit dem Auftrag der bundesweiten Fort- und Weiterbildung für Fach- und Führungskräfte der evangelischen Kirche und der Diakonie.Dr. Ignatius Swart is Full Professor at the Department of Religion & Theology at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa.Dr. theol. Dietrich Korsch ist Professor für Systematische Theologie und Geschichte der Theologie an der Universität Marburg und Pfarrer im Ehrenamt der Evangelischen Kirche von Kurhessen-Waldeck.Prof. Dr. Birgit Weyel lehrt Praktische Theologie an der Universität Tübingen.Marie-Luise Frost is Principal Investigator for the Research Program on Religious Communities and Sustainable Development at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Research Associate at the University of Pretoria. South Africa.Dr. Hans-Ulrich Probst ist Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter am Lehrstuhl Praktische Theologie III der Evangelisch-Theologischen Fakultät der Universität Tübingen.Juliane Stork is John S. Mbiti Research Fellow in the Research Programme on Religious Communities and Sustainable Development at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. She pursues a PhD on Theological Reactions to Climate Change in African Initiated Churches in South Africa.Dr. Kristin Merle ist Professorin für Praktische Theologie mit den Schwerpunkten Seelsorgelehre und Predigtlehre an der Universität Hamburg und Pastorin mit KSA-Ausbildung. Sie ist zurzeit geschäftsführende Herausgeberin von „Wege zum Menschen“, der Fachzeitschrift für Seelsorge und Beratung. Besonderes Augenmerk ihrer praktisch-theologischen Arbeiten liegt auf Fragen empirischer Religionsforschung, der Mediatisierung von Religion und des Verhältnisses von Öffentlichem/Politischem und Religion.Philipp Öhlmann is Senior Associated Researcher at the Center for Rural Development at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany, Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Botswana and Research Associate in the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of Pretoria, South Africa.Trygve Wyller is Professor Emeritus in Diaconal Studies and Systematic Theology at the Faculty of Theology, University of Oslo and Honorary Professor, School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He has written extensively on space, ecclesiology, migration, phenomenology, ethics
and relevant Scandinavian Creation Theology-issues. Some of his recent publications are Diaconia/Empowering/Social Development, in the International Handbook of Practical Theology (2022); and Liberating, Spatial Theology. Some Reflections on How Theology Can Transform, in Dialogue with Gerald West (2024).
Email: trygve.wyller@teologi.uio.no
Philipp Öhlmann is Senior Associated Researcher at the Center for Rural Development at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany, Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Botswana and Research Associate in the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of Pretoria, South Africa.Dr. theol. Birgit Weyel ist Professorin für Praktische Theologie an der Universität Tübingen.R. Simangaliso Kumalo is Dean of the School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.Marie-Luise Frost is Principal Investigator for the Research Program on Religious Communities and Sustainable Development at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Research Associate at the University of Pretoria. South Africa.Dr. theol. Daria Pezzoli-Olgiati ist Professorin für Religionswissenschaft und Religionsgeschichte an der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.Dr. päd. Hans-Günter Heimbrock ist Professor für Praktische Theologie am Fachbereich Evangelische Theologie der J. W. Goethe Universität Frankfurt a. M.Dr. Carla Danani ist Professorin für Politische Philosophie und Philosophie des Wohnens an der Universität von Macerata, Italien.Dr. Hans-Joachim Sander ist Professor für Dogmatik an der Universität Salzburg.Dr. Judith Gruber ist Dozentin für Systematische Theologie an der Katholischen Universität Leuven, Belgien.Else Marie Wiberg Pedersen is Professor for Systematic Theology at the Department for Culture and Society, Arts, at the University of Aarhus.
Summary
Based on the notion of lived religion, the volume seeks to elucidate the role of religion in contemporary society in an international and interdisciplinary perspective. It draws its inspiration from the works of Wilhelm Gräb, who in his contribution to scholarship has emphasized and shaped the notion of lived religion as a basis for empirical and theoretical approaches to the study of religion. A lot of research has been conducted on the contribution of religious communities to development. Moreover, the literature has scrutinized religious communities’ normative notions on development, i.e., what in different theological perspectives can be seen as desirable ‘development’ outcomes – for instance notions of a good life or of human flourishing. In both cases, most of the work in the field has focused on institutionalized religion and religious tenets and theologies. Perspectives of religion as it is lived by people on the ground have thus far received less attention. This book provides an innovative angle to the religion and development research and literature. Transposing the notion of lived religion to the concept of development, one might be able to also speak of ‘lived development’. Moving beyond the dominant paradigms of global development, this volume raises the question how development is conceptualized, enacted and practiced on the ground. This concerns not least the question what is seen as desirable lives for individuals, communities, societies and the world as a whole. It is precisely at this point where lived religion and lived development intersect.
Foreword
Lived Religion and Lived Development in Contemporary Society elucidates the role of religion in the transformation of contemporary society in an international and interdisciplinary perspective.
