Overview

Public theology is an emerging constructive tool. In its inception, public theology was largely contextualized as the ‘public church.’ However, this thoughtful and empathetic book situates our publics everywhere. Smallwood contends that those who have been harmed by violent rhetoric from speech actors who would ‘other’ them retain the capacity to have and hold a theology. This different entry point allows for people of faith, those who are and those who are not associated with a particular communion of faith or denominational affiliation to claim public space for theologizing. Here, public theology is about the capacity of those who are ‘othered’ to affirmatively express their faith and to critically engage with those who would deny and denigrate their ontology. ‘Enduring hardship as a good soldier’ does not mean exposing oneself to verbal abuse week after week. Many LGBTQIA+ persons are assaulted, degraded, humiliated, and derogated from the pulpits and podiums of places of worship. This abuse caused many to turn away from their faith. Those who withstood protracted verbal abuse turned it inward and began to hate themselves. Through ethnography, Smallwood tackles these tough truths and engages with LGBTQIA+ persons. This book critically examines both the harm done to them and the help that is to come from a paradigmatic shift in care. Smallwood emphasises how spiritual self-assessment, ritual, and indigenous spiritual practices offer a way to wholeness and healing. Drawing from Yoruba epistemology, this work offers a framework for rebirth, renewal, and reclamation.

Full Product Details

9780567711236

Table of Contents

Reviews

Smallwood provides a queer womanist candid look at the ways in which violent public rhetoric maims and destroys not only LGBTQIA lives, but all who fall victim to it. With thoroughgoing forthrightness and an astute awareness of the historical emergence of public theology, she proposes an empowering public faith talk that is framed by meditative thought, contemplative approaches, and spiritual guidance. This is an exciting and challenging volume and a much-needed voice. * Emilie M. Townes, Boston University School of Theology, USA * This is an important book for everyone who has encountered “hate talk disguised as God-talk.” With eloquence and practicality, Smallwood traces the contemporary life of public theology through lived experience and reconfigures its scope to address, not only the realities of LGBTIQ+ folk who have been the targets of such hate talk, but of all who seek to recover a radically generous, inclusive, and healing Christianity. * Laurel C. Schneider, Vanderbilt University, USA *

Smallwood provides a queer womanist candid look at the ways in which violent public rhetoric maims and destroys not only LGBTQIA lives, but all who fall victim to it. With thoroughgoing forthrightness and an astute awareness of the historical emergence of public theology, she proposes an empowering public faith talk that is framed by meditative thought, contemplative approaches, and spiritual guidance. This is an exciting and challenging volume and a much-needed voice. * Emilie M. Townes, Boston University School of Theology, USA *

Author Information

Teresa L. Smallwood is The James Franklin Kelly and Hope Eyster Kelly Associate Professor of Public Theology at the United Lutheran Seminary, USA.

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