Between Kuriaké and Ekklesía

Tracing a Shift in Scandinavian Practical Theology Based on Handbooks in the Discipline

Abstract

With every major change in the understanding of Practical Theology in Scandinavia, there was an increase in the production of handbooks for the discipline. In this article, we take a closer look at such handbooks from the last two increases in production, tracing a shift the discipline went through from the 1990s up until 2020. The aim of this article is three-fold. Firstly, it describes a change in the understanding of Practical Theology through developments in Scandinavian handbooks over the last three decades. Secondly, it contextualizes these developments by giving an overview of other handbooks currently in use, primarily from the UK. Finally, it briefly discusses the implications of the shift in relation to a broader conceptualization of the discipline as suspended between two poles, defined by the authors as kuriaké and ekklesía.