Reclaiming Narrative for Public Theology

Mary Doak is Assistant Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame.

Acknowledgments

xi

1. INTRODUCTION: THE NEED FOR A NARRATIVE PUBLIC THEOLOGY

1

(26)

Narrative as a Resource for Historicizing Theology

1

(4)

The Public Theology Project

5

(2)

Why Call It Public Theology?

7

(5)

Achievements in Public Theology Thus Far

12

(7)

The Public Character of Narrative

19

(4)

How This Argument Will Proceed

23

(4)

2. PUBLIC THEOLOGY IN A PLURALISTIC SOCIETY

27

(44)

Arendt's Defense of a Pluralistic Public Life

31

(17)

Public Life as Resistance to Totalitarianism

31

(4)

The Nature of Public Life and Action

35

(3)

Is Christianity Inherently Antipublic?

38

(9)

Conclusion

47

(1)

Public Theology without Establishment of Religion

48

(19)

The Complex Meaning of Religious Freedom

48

(5)

Case #1. The Zen Commandments

53

(3)

Religious Morality and the Limits of Legislation

56

(4)

Case #2: Lawrence v. Texas and the Legislation of Morality

60

(3)

Religious Freedom and Public Debate

63

(4)

Public Theology Amid Diversity

67

(4)

3. E PLURIBUS UNUM? NATIONAL NARRATIVES AND THE RECOVERY OF PUBLIC LIFE

71

(36)

Introduction: Why Nations and Why Narratives?

71

(6)

A Defense of Public Life on the National Level

77

(9)

Arguments Against the Nation-State

77

(2)

A Qualified Defense of the Nation-State

79

(6)

National Identity

85

(1)

Historical Narratives and the Nation-State

86

(18)

National Narratives and the Repression of the Other

86

(3)

Ricoeur's Theory of Narrative

89

(21)

The Structure of Narrative

89

(1)

The Narrative Structure of Historical Understanding

90

(4)

Identity and Purpose as Conceptualized through Historical and Fictional Narratives

94

(6)

Bifurcated Histories or a Common Narrative?

100

(4)

Conclusion

104

(3)

4. TOWARD A NARRATIVE PUBLIC THEOLOGY

107

(66)

Narrative in a Practical Fundamental Theology: J.B. Metz

110

(16)

A Narrative, Practical Approach to Fundamental Theology

110

(5)

Human Freedom in History

115

(4)

Theology and the Critique of Narratives

119

(3)

Metz's Contributions to Public Theology

122

(4)

North American Narrative Theologians: Stanley Hauerwas and Ronald Thiemann

126

(33)

A Narrative Theological Ethics: Stanley Hauerwas

126

(19)

Narrative as the Basis of Communal Identity

126

(5)

The Christian Task in History

131

(4)

The Public Mission of the Church

135

(5)

The Christian Narrative and Public Discourse

140

(3)

Hauerwas's Contributions and Challenges to a Narrative Public Theology

143

(2)

A Public Narrative Theology: Ronald Thiemann

145

(13)

Thiemann's Argument for Public Theology

145

(2)

Why Narrative in This Public Theology?

147

(3)

Thiemann's Proposal for a Theological Method

150

(3)

Thick Descriptions and Public Debate

153

(5)

Oppositional or Publicly Engaged Narrative Theology?

158

(1)

Conclusion: Towards a Narrative Public Theology

159

(14)

The Importance of Narrative in Christian Theology

159

(4)

A Double Narrative Construction for Public Theology

163

(3)

Narrative and Public Debate

166

(7)

5. LINCOLN, ELIZONDO, AND WILLIAMS AS NARRATIVE PUBLIC THEOLOGIANS

173

(34)

The Argument for a Narrative Public Theology Summarized

173

(4)

Abraham Lincoln: Narrating Judgment

177

(12)

The Narrative Structure in the Gettysburg Address and the Second Inaugural Address

177

(5)

Public Theology or Civil Religion?

182

(2)

Lincoln's Contributions to a Narrative Public Theology

184

(5)

Virgil Elizondo: Narrating Mestizaje

189

(8)

Three Levels of Narrative

189

(5)

Elizondo's Contributions to a Narrative Public Theology

194

(3)

Delores Williams: Narrating Resistance

197

(8)

Narrating a Womanist Theology

197

(5)

Williams's Contributions to a Narrative Public Theology

202

(3)

Conclusion

205

(2)

Notes

207

(32)

Index

239

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

FREE SHIPPING

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

Reclaiming Narrative for Public Theology

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials