Theological Reflection across Religious Traditions

Edward Foley is Duns Scotus Professor of Spirituality and the founding director of the Ecumenical Doctor of Ministry Program at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He is a Capuchin-Franciscan and ordained Roman Catholic priest. An award winning author, he has produced more than twenty books, translated into multiple languages including From Age to Age and Mighty Stories, Dangerous Rituals with Herbert Anderson. A well-known speaker, he has taught in venues such as the University of Chicago and Notre Dame, presented in settings as diverse as the Mayo Clinic and the Houston Astro Dome, and lectured in over 60 Roman Catholic dioceses from India to the Philippines. He preaches and presides at Old St. Patrick's Church in Chicago.

• DedicationAcknowledgmentsIntroductionChapter One: Believing from the Outside-InChapter Two: The Power of LanguageChapter Three: Goal Setting for Reflective BelievingChapter Four: Believing with Head, Hands, and Heart Chapter Five: Some Assembly RequiredEpilogue: Gifts for the JourneyAppendix 1Appendix 1A: Thomas GroomeAppendix 1B: Holland and HenriotAppendix 1C: Killen and de BeerAppendix 1D: WhiteheadsAppendix 1E: ZakerAppendix 2: Tribute to Michael

Learning from the various groups of people he met and interviewed, Foley has uncovered a common search for meaning in life and in life-projects that is not confined to one system of belief. The topic developed here, the method employed in the search for understanding, and the conclusions reached will be of interest to and benefit for various audiences. The first group includes the pastoral ministers for whom this project was originally intended. It will call them to appreciate their own manner of reflective thinking, as well as that of those with whom and for whom they minister. Related to this group are schools or programs of ministry formation. Both those responsible for the formation and those being trained will profit from the praxis approach demonstrated as well as the variety of suggestions for reflection offered throughout the book. This project has demonstrated that reflective believing is an activity of life not limited to religious thinkers. Therefore, any reflective believer, religious or not, will be enriched by the insights found here.