Online Talk : Lightly-guided Practical Theological Reflection

- Date
- 13 February 2025 (Thu)
- Time
- 9:30am-11:30am
- Location
- Zoom
- Speaker
- Dr. Eric Stoddart
- Language
- English
In this lecture I will argue that lightly guiding a group through a cycle of practical theological reflection can generate profound insights for the participants. These insights become data for a researcher seeking to elicit people's views on a topic of public concern; views that are perhaps only formed in the moment of the group reflective encounter. I will explain this particular use of Thomas Groome's model of 'shared praxis' which I adapted 20 years ago when developing a programme of practical theological education. The point in the cycle (and in the reflective group session) where the participants engage with biblical texts is not the point where many people expect it. I will argue for the value of this construction of the cycle. Throughout the lecture I will use a case study of a series of fieldwork discussion groups I conducted as part of a research project in Scotland.

Dr. Eric Stoddart
Eric Stoddart has taught practical theology in Scotland since 2000; since 2005 at the University of St Andrews. He has been editor of the journal Practical Theology, a co-chair of BIAPT (The British & Irish Association of Practical Theology), and is currently the chair of the trustees of that journal. Eric has published three monographs and is working on two more (to be completed in the summer of 2026). His principal research focus is on the social justice issues of surveillance technologies. As a side-line he records an occasional series of 'Conversations in Practical Theology' with a female Muslim colleague - available on YouTube - and about which they have recently co-authored an article in Practical Theology.