Connecting Faith and Life: Theological Reflection

Connecting Faith and Life:Theological Reflection The Effective DRE A Skills Development Series

Theological Reflection Part 1 • What and Why • Model • Method

What and Why • Natural Activity • Transformation

SmallGroupDiscussion • Think back to your growing up years. What did it mean “to be holy”? Who was or could be “holy”? How did you know if you were “holy” or “good”? What does holiness “look like” for you at this point in your life? What created the changes?

Did anyone try the exercise from page 6 of the text? • What was your experience?

TheModel • Experience • Tradition • Culture

Experience • Simple • Complex • Whole person

Tradition • Scripture • History • Teachings of the Church

Culture • Environment (society) • symbols, values, mores, philosophies • comfort vs. discomfort

Small Group • Experience - Recall an event that has some meaning for you. Tell it is as much detail as you can. • Tradition – What Scripture story or religious teaching would shed light on that experience? • Culture – What would today’s society say about the experience? • Intersection – Putting the 3 in dialogue, where do they intersect?

The Method • Attending • Asserting • Decision making

Attending • Be alert to mind and heart • Be open to experience of others • Listen deeply • Be open to transformation

Critical attending requires that we be open to receive new information and insights that challenge the way we see things, our worldview. • A change in our worldview clarifies or changes our actions.

Asserting • Engage info from the 3 poles to expand and deepen religious insight • Search for a deeper truth • Claim a truth • Let go of “old truth” • Be open to interpretation

Theological reflection asks us to be willing to suspend, for a while, what we hold to be certain. Give up the need to be right. • Explore the truth and wisdom of each pole • Sustain different and possibly conflicting testimonies, and realize this is a valuable and necessary part of theological reflection.

Decision Making • The goal of theological reflection • Choose to respond • Find insight to move faith into action

Discussion • Recall an attitude, a belief, or a way of thinking that has changed for you. • How did this change come about? • What influenced this change? • How has this change made you different?

Let’s Use ItTheological Reflection Part 2 • Form two groups • Choose a facilitator • Do a group reflection based on the “For Reflection” exercise found on pages 33 and 34.

Positive Sharing • Recall an experience of positive faith sharing • What made it so? • Recall an experience of negative sharing • What made it so?

Skills “So what I hear you saying is…” • “I” messages • Use silence • Keep focused • Avoid generalizations • Keep the discussion open • Summarize (clarify)

Listening Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry – James 1:19

Do’s • Concentrate on listening • Let speakers own their statements • Affirm – restate if necessary • Invite completion • Allow silence • Stick with “I” statements

Do Not’s • Jump in with your experience • Try to problem solve • Make everything better • Explain away feelings • Add your interpretation • Pry • Forget silence • Allow generalizations

Sharing Guidelines • Create them • Use dialogue (see chart) • Frame questions • Prepare for challenges • Be informed

Discussion • In what areas of theological understanding are you strong? • How do you grow in theological understanding?

Reflection Paper2-3 typed pages • Answer: What have I learned about theological reflection? What does it mean for me? How will I use it personally and in groups? Give specific examples.

Connecting Faith and Life: Theological Reflection