“God” is a Concept, God is Not? The Promise of Postcolonial Epistemology for the Use of Grounded Theory in Empirical Theology
This paper explores the intersection of theology, postcolonialism, and theory-building within empirical theology, highlighting the complex interplay between linguistic constructions and lived experiences of the divine. Drawing on postcolonial epistemology, the study advocates an inductive research s...
| Authors: | ; |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2025
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| In: |
Journal of empirical theology
Year: 2025, Volume: 38, Issue: 1, Pages: 31-53 |
| Further subjects: | B
Postcolonial Theory
B divine attributions B Reflexivity B Empirical Theology B lived experience practical theology B theological discourse B Grounded Theory |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Summary: | This paper explores the intersection of theology, postcolonialism, and theory-building within empirical theology, highlighting the complex interplay between linguistic constructions and lived experiences of the divine. Drawing on postcolonial epistemology, the study advocates an inductive research strategy, particularly through the use of Grounded Theory methodology. It critically engages with ongoing debates within Grounded Theory, emphasizing the need for reflexivity in recognizing dominant discourses that may shape the researcher’s understanding of participants’ experiences. By examining specific case studies, the text illustrates how research participants’ attributions to God challenge conventional theological concepts, prompting a reconsideration of the nature of God-related language. Ultimately, this work calls for a nuanced understanding of empirical theology in which both “God” and lived religious experiences emerge as essential elements of theological discourse, urging scholars to remain attentive to the realities of participants’ lived faith. |
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| ISSN: | 1570-9256 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of empirical theology
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/15709256-20240019 |
