Ritual Practices in Congregational Identity Formation

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Ritual Practices in Congregational Identity Formation investigates the educational roles of ritual practices in the process of congregational identity formation. Son identifies and analyzes various kinds of Christian rituals with respect to how rituals influence the formational processes of a congregations identity. Based on Victor Turners ritual theory, this book also investigates the pedagogical and transformative efficacies of ritual practices within the dynamics of congregational education.

Reviews

Dr. Timothy Son has written an insightful book on the nature of religious rituals and practices for todays expanding global society. While his focus is on Christian congregations, his understanding of ritual principles based on faithful practices can be applied to many other religious organizations. Son invites the reader to take a deeper plunge into one's own traditional identity, and in doing so to also discover contrasting ritual practices often neglected within our global neighborhood. -- Carnegie Samuel Calian, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
Academically rigorous, theologically sound, and spiritually rich, this book offers an insightful proposal for understanding intrinsic dialectics of ritual practices in forming and transforming congregational identity. Son invites and encourages us to have genuine conversations with our past, present, and future, and to discover a new sense of identity. -- Hyun-Sook Kim, Yonsei University, Korea
Son passionately writes how ritual practice forms, reforms, and transforms individual spiritual identity as well as congregational collective identitynot only in primitive society, but also in postmodern society. He presents fresh, new ideas with thorough knowledge for local congregational leaders, seminary professors and students, doctoral students, and workshop leaders. -- Nam Soon Song, Knox College, University of Toronto

Author Bio

Timothy D. Son is assistant professor of Christian education and youth ministry at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He is the author of Educational Ministry for Congregational Identity Development and Asian Americans and Christian Ministry.