Secularization theories, religious identity and practical theology : developing international practical theology for the 21st century / edited by Wilhelm Gräb and Lars Charbonnier.

Volume contains a collection of lectures and papers originally presented at the 8th biennial conference of the International Academy of Practical Theology held in Berlin in April 2007.

Includes bibliographical references.

Does modernisation lead to secularisation? / Hans Joas -- Do we live in a secular world? An African perspective / Jaco Dreyer -- Why is Europe the most secularized continent? / Grace Davie -- Practical theology is a secularized world beyond the obsession with guilt and atonement : towards a theology of blessing and its implications for our practices / Riet Bons-Storm -- Educating for religious identity in secularizing worlds / Thomas Groome -- Jose Casanova on public religions and modernity : the basis for a practical theological agenda? / Lewis Mudge -- The impact of culture on religiosity : an empirical study among youth in Germany and the Netherlands / Hans-Georg Ziebertz -- The factor religion in the perspective of the third sector comparative studies : where practical theology needs to speak out against methodological secularisation / Eberhard Hauschildt -- Natural law in a time of secularization / Terence Kennedy -- Highlighting children's spirituality in a de-traditionalised society : the challenge of theologising with other for religious education and pastoral care / Annemie Dillen -- Secularization and disestablishment of the church : theoretical and empirical discussion around the case of French Roman Catholics in Quebec / Solange Lefebvre -- Secularization in Quebec : phenomenon, expression and theory / Robert Mager -- Postmodernism and Mennonites in the Netherlands / Lies Brussee-van der Zee -- Empirical research in the service of the church? The evaluation of ecclesial praxis as a task of practical theology / Friedrich Schweitzer -- The gestalt of the cross : phenomenological and theological remarks / Hans-Günter Heimbrock -- Agency, religion, and hope : Palestinian young women reflect / Raymond Webb -- 'All things work together for good'? Theodicy and post-traumatic spirituality / R. Ruard Ganzevoort -- Spiritual narratives of adolescent orphans affected by HIV and AIDS and poverty / Julian C. Müller -- Pastoral care and the meaning of touch in sexual abuse / Karlijn Demasure -- Trend research : a tool for pastoral planning / Brigitte Fuchs -- Redefining children's spirituality / Bonnie Miller-McLemore -- Social suffering, its aftermath and questions of redemption / Nancy Pineda-Madrid -- The struggle of practical theology in its search for identity : a Latin American perspective / Lothar Carlos Hoch --

Gender norms and their consequences for body and soul : a challenge for the Christian community / Isolde Karle -- Creating space within the dynamics of interculturality : the impact of religious and cultural transformations in post-Apartheid South Africa / Johan Cilliers -- Prayer as liberating practice : theological complexities in two case studies / Claire Wolfteich -- Theological method : a way of life / Terry Veling -- Youth and spirituality in the context of internet : new challenges for pastoral practices / Valburga Schmiedt-Streck -- Reframing masculinities and femininities in the gender debate : from the body as social text (narcissistic model tyranny) to the body as religious text (compassionate intimacy) in a practical theology of human embodiment and sensuality / Daniël J. Louw -- How can Christian communities claim their "better truth" without violence against others, even more for the sake of solidarity with them? Some considerations reflected on Biblical traditions / Ottmar Fuchs -- Southern perspectives : theological education, community development and leadership empowerment / Susan Adams -- Non-theological discourse in theological practices of peacebuilding / Mary Elizabeth Mullino Moore -- The charismata of women : an empirical case study / Stephanie Klein -- Spiritual care by physicians : maintaining the integrity of religion and finding an appropriate form / Neil Pembroke -- Ministerial integration / Edward Foley -- Impossible challenge between church institution and society in Fribourg : experience of the ecclesial power, neglecting the issues of secularization / André Beauregard -- Theological issues in fluid ways of being church / Cornelis de Groot -- Ministry in depth : three critical questions in the teaching and practice of pastoral care / Rodney Hunter -- Dialogue as a reply to the modern : the ideas behind the church of Sweden closely related Sigtuna Foundation at the time of its establishment / Elizabeth Christiansson and Tomas Fransson -- Social forms of the church in relation to medial publicity : do the media constitute or communicate "religion"? / Leo Karrer -- Beyond pastoral theology : why Catholics should embrace practical theology / Kathleen Cahalan -- The academic paradigm and the denigration of practical theological know-how / Bonnie Miller-McLemore -- Interfaith pastoral care in the hospital : a project in practical and pastoral theology / Daniel Schipani -- Interfaith chaplaincy : pastoral care for all religions and all faith : a new perspective for clinical pastoral care in the 21st century Western Europe? A Swiss Protestant view / Tabitha Walther.