The Incarnate Ground of Christian Faith is addressed precisely to the epistemological questions posed by postmodernity. It begins by issuing an extended critique of one of the major approaches to pastoral theology and Christian education—Thomas Groome's Shared Praxis Approach. Martin's incisive analysis of shared praxis concludes that its implicit subjectivism and pedagogical narrowness cannot lend intellectual plausibility to the Christian faith among a postmodern generation. For an alternative vision of a holistic and plausible faith, Martin points in a different direction, to an incarnational epistemology in which science and theology discover deep resonance in each other. The main features of this epistemological framework are developed by integrating the perspectives of scientist/philosopher Michael Polanyi and theologian Thomas F. Torrance. The resulting synthesis preserves the integrity of science and theology as distinct yet inherently related ways of making sense of the world, the purpose of which is to participate more fully in the world. The main thrust of the book is that a vibrant faith incarnationally grounded in experience and clarified theologically intensifies personal and social expressions of ecclesial life. In the midst of widespread confusion, conflict, and oppression in contemporary societies, Christians' faith in and commitment to the church's sacramental ministry of love and reconciliation could not be in greater demand.
chapter 1 Preface
chapter 2 Acknowledgments
chapter 3 The Intellectual Crisis in Christian Education: The Promise of "Shared Praxis"
chapter 4 Philosophical and Theological Problems in "Shared Praxis"
chapter 5 Critical Realism: The Assumptive Framework of Christian Education
chapter 6 Personal Knowledge: The Epistemological Basis of Christian Education
chapter 7 The Tacit Dimension: The Personal Basis for Integrating Epistemology and Ontology
chapter 8 The Incarnational Ontology of Christ: The Theological Basis of Christian Education
chapter 9 Toward an Incarnational Christian Education
chapter 10 Selected Bibliography
chapter 11 Index
Robert K. Martin is Assistant Professor of Religious Education at Yale Divinity School.
This work is theologically and philosophically robust, and demonstrates Martin's excellent grasp of the work of Polanyi and Torrance. -- Ian Payne, Ridley College * Journal Of Christian Education * . . . I think this is a book that will not disappoint you. * Journal Of Education and Christian Belief * ...meets a crying need in practical theology generally and in Christian education in particular. ...Martin's book tames the otherwise runaway power of contemporary science as it establishes patterns of life and worldviews in this present age, in orderthat it (science) can begin to talk theologically. -- James E. Loder, Princeton Theological Seminary ...meets a crying need in practical theology generally and in Christian education in particular. ...Martin's book tames the otherwise runaway power of contemporary science as it establishes patterns of life and worldviews in this present age, in order that it (science) can begin to talk theologically. -- James E. Loder, Princeton Theological Seminary "This work is theologically and philosophically robust, and demonstrates Martin's excellent grasp of the work of Polanyi and Torrance." -- Ian Payne, Ridley College * Journal Of Christian Education * . . . I think this is a book that will not disappoint you. * Journal Of Education and Christian Belief *