Practical theology has outgrown its traditional pastoral paradigm. The articles in this
handbook recognize that faith spirituality and lived religion within and beyond
institutional communities refer to realms of cultures ritual practices and symbolic orders
whose boundaries are not clearly defined and whose contents are shifting. The International
Handbook of Practical Theology offers insightful transcultural conceptions of religion and
religious matters gathered from various cultures and traditions of faith. The first section
presents 'concepts of religion'. Chapters have to do with considerations of the conceptualizing
of religion in the fields of 'anthropology' 'community' 'family' 'institution' 'law'
'media' and 'politics' among others. The second section is dedicated to case studies of
'religious practices' from the perspective of their actors. The third section presents major
theoretical discourses that explore the globally significant diversity and multiplicity of
religion. Altogether sixty-one authors from different parts of the world encourage a
rethinking of religious practice in an expanded transcultural globalized and postcolonial
world.
