Theological Practices That Matter

The focus on ¿practices¿ indicates that theology is not just a cerebral or intellectual matter but must become real, tangible, public -- a living reality that relates to people¿s lives in the church and the world. Theology is not usually evaluated in terms of its relation to the practices and life of churches in their respective contexts. It is not only that such practices matter, but also that they are grounded in, guided by, and must be critiqued when they are inconsistent with basic theological understandings. In this sense, through practices we also realize that theology does matter This is a foundational book in that it places religious practices, which often are seen as the core of the church, into a theological context where differences are measured against the theological core of Lutheranism.

Karen Bloomquist is Director for Theology and Studies, The Lutheran World Federation, Geneva, Switzerland.