The Survey Says: Uses and Misuses of Sociological Research in Shaping Pastoral Practice
A special issue of Religions (ISSN 2077-1444). This special issue belongs to the section "Religions and Health/Psychology/Social Sciences".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2021) | Viewed by 11587
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Almost since the beginnings of sociology, pastoral leaders have looked to sociological theory and research as part of their efforts to affirm or reform pastoral practice. Sociologists have also interpreted their own research on religion and religious communities by gesturing toward recommendations for pastoral practice. Even in our own day, pastoral plans and programs are often created with explicit reference, especially to survey research produced by organizations like PRRI, the Center for Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown, or the Pew Research Center.
This Special Issue of Religions invites practical, pastoral, and liturgical theologians, social scientists, religious studies scholars, and pastoral leader–scholars to explore the ambiguities involved when sociological research is used as a tool in shaping pastoral practice. How are we to interpret and evaluate these efforts past and present? Did past efforts succeed? Why or why not? Do such efforts interpret research accurately? Did some such efforts spawn or support spurious research? Were these efforts faithful to ecclesial and sociological standards of truth, or were there epistemological conflicts or sleights of hand?
The editors welcome proposals that consider particular case studies—past or present—as well as theoretical and methodological questions and perspectives. The editors have a special interest in pastoral practice amidst underrepresented racial, ethnic, and religious groups, though all proposals that consider the intersection of sociological research and pastoral practice are welcome.
Prof. Dr. Brett C. Hoover
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- pastoral theology
- practical theology
- sociology of religion
- pastoral
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