목회 상담에 대한 실천신학적 접근: 돈 브라우닝의 근본적 실천신학을 중심으로

Abstract

Don S. Browning insists that theology has to consider the practical life situation, and it also has to be examined by theoretical assumptions. Moreover, Browning’s methodology goes from practice to theory and back again. In other words, theology’s basic concept is practical at its center and thought. Thus the general movement of a practical theological model is from practice to reflection/theory and back to practice. Above all, Browning introduces four movements such as descriptive theology, historical theology, systematic theology, and strategic practical theology which provide significant resources to process the author’s thinking. The initial sub-movement to Browning’s method is descriptive theology. Descriptive theology involves a "thick description" of a practical action. As Browning says, the goal of this descriptive theology is to describe the contemporary theory-laden practices that give rise to the practical questions that generate all theological reflection. The multidimensional hermeneutic character is required at this stage. Thus, Browning indicates that practical theologians as researchers already are embedded in their practices and theories. The second of Browning’s sub-movements is historical theology. This examines the text of given communities and means putting theory-laden question that emerge from contemporary practice to the great religious monuments of the religious tradition. Through this sub-movement, practical theology’s dimension can broaden to biblical studies and church history. Systematic theology, the third sub-movement, identifies and describes the comprehensive view in the practical situation at hand. The systematic theology involves two approaches-the critical and philosophical approach. Finally, there is "strategic practical theology" in Browning’s four sub-movements. This moves back to the praxis of doing theology. After all, these practices themselves generate new concepts to maintain the circle. In general, Browning’s method reflects that the practical model of practical theology goes from practice to theory and back to practice. Additionally, another of Browning’s sub-movement for doing practical theology is historical and systematic theology. Browning says that historical theology and systematic theology are combined. Blending Browning’s historical and systematic theology moves to strategic proposals. Such a methodological move provides the strategies of the topic at hand and makes future theories. Thus, although Browning does not treat in detail each part of practical theology such as preaching, worship, and religious education, I hope that the four movements of fundamental practical theology of Don S. Browning can be applied to pastoral care and counseling.