Why is the very kind of knowledge that people need to live well - practical wisdom - often the least understood, the hardest to learn, and the most devalued kind of knowledge? In this book five distinguished practical theologians examine the wisdom that is basic for faithful Christian living, question why it has been largely devalued, and advocate for its renewal. After first showing several concrete situations in which this kind of wisdom is visible - marriage, church, community, culture, and more - the authors then delve into the reasons for the decline of practical wisdom and set forth constructive cases for its renewal through biblical imagination and spiritual practice.

In Explorations in Ecclesiology and Ethnography Christian Scharen and several other contributors explore empirical and theological understandings of the church. Like the first volume in the Studies in Ecclesiology and Ethnography series, this second volume seeks to bridge the great divide between theological research and ethnography (qualitative research). The book's wide-ranging chapters cover such fascinating topics as geographic habits of American evangelicals, debates over difficult issues like homosexuality, and responses to social problems like drug abuse and homelessness. The contributors together model a collaborative, cross-disciplinary approach, with fruitful results that will set a new standard for ecclesiological research. Contributors Christopher Brittain Helen Cameron Henk De Roest Paul Fiddes Matthew Guest Roger Haight Harald Hegstad Mark Mulder Paul Murray James Nieman Christian B. Scharen James K. A. Smith John Swinton Pete Ward Clare Watkins