Religious Involvement in Hearing SermonsFinishing a PhD project in Empirical Homiletics

Theo Pleizier

Protestant Theological University

Promovierenden Beratung, March 2010

Outline

A brief overview of the project

Research Results

About finishing. . .

Theoretical assumptions

I Theology in the real worldI Practices are empirical ‘elements’ of the real worldI Practices are religious ‘elements’ in the real worldI Sermon Listening as empirical-religious practice

Theoretical assumptions

I Theology in the real worldI Practices are empirical ‘elements’ of the real worldI Practices are religious ‘elements’ in the real worldI Sermon Listening as empirical-religious practice

Theoretical assumptions

I Theology in the real worldI Practices are empirical ‘elements’ of the real worldI Practices are religious ‘elements’ in the real worldI Sermon Listening as empirical-religious practice

Theoretical assumptions

I Theology in the real worldI Practices are empirical ‘elements’ of the real worldI Practices are religious ‘elements’ in the real worldI Sermon Listening as empirical-religious practice

Research Question

Theory formationWhat is happening religiously when listeners hear a sermon duringordinary congregational worship?

CharacteristicsI OpennessI ReligionI Theory formation

Research Question

Theory formationWhat is happening religiously when listeners hear a sermon duringordinary congregational worship?

CharacteristicsI OpennessI ReligionI Theory formation

Methodology and methods

Grounded TheoryI Inductive research logicI conceptual theory rather than thick descriptionI theory formation rather than verification

Cyclic AnalysisI Open coding: in vivo codesI Selective coding: developing conceptual codesI Theoretical coding: processes, properties, phases, ranges etc.

Methodology and methods

Grounded TheoryI Inductive research logicI conceptual theory rather than thick descriptionI theory formation rather than verification

Cyclic AnalysisI Open coding: in vivo codesI Selective coding: developing conceptual codesI Theoretical coding: processes, properties, phases, ranges etc.

Methodology and methods

Grounded TheoryI Inductive research logicI conceptual theory rather than thick descriptionI theory formation rather than verification

Cyclic AnalysisI Open coding: in vivo codesI Selective coding: developing conceptual codesI Theoretical coding: processes, properties, phases, ranges etc.

Methodology and methods

Grounded TheoryI Inductive research logicI conceptual theory rather than thick descriptionI theory formation rather than verification

Cyclic AnalysisI Open coding: in vivo codesI Selective coding: developing conceptual codesI Theoretical coding: processes, properties, phases, ranges etc.

What about data?

Generating dataI 15 listenersI 22 interviewsI 3 interview designs: lightly, semi, fully structured

Thinking about dataI codes: in vivo and theoreticalI memos: developing conceptsI theoretical sampling: new directions

What about data?

Generating dataI 15 listenersI 22 interviewsI 3 interview designs: lightly, semi, fully structured

Thinking about dataI codes: in vivo and theoreticalI memos: developing conceptsI theoretical sampling: new directions

Research Result: Theoretical Framework

dwelling inthe sermon

STAGE 2

perceiving re-ligion in thesermon

identifying with thesermon

experiencing thesermon

actualising faith

dialectic ori-entation

divine-humanencounter

STAGE 3

opening upto listen

STAGE 1

defined situationof faith

structural con-dition of wor-ship

LISTENER AS PART OF THE CONGREGATION

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What blocked and helped me to finish. . .

I Be realistic: being a full-time pastor with with all kinds ofirregularities is very energy consuming

I Keep writing theoretically: easy to write lengthy descriptions,difficult to write conceptual

I Create accountability: regular discussions with supervisorI Use spare time: focus to finish

What blocked and helped me to finish. . .

I Be realistic: being a full-time pastor with with all kinds ofirregularities is very energy consuming

I Keep writing theoretically: easy to write lengthy descriptions,difficult to write conceptual

I Create accountability: regular discussions with supervisorI Use spare time: focus to finish

What blocked and helped me to finish. . .

I Be realistic: being a full-time pastor with with all kinds ofirregularities is very energy consuming

I Keep writing theoretically: easy to write lengthy descriptions,difficult to write conceptual

I Create accountability: regular discussions with supervisorI Use spare time: focus to finish

What blocked and helped me to finish. . .

I Be realistic: being a full-time pastor with with all kinds ofirregularities is very energy consuming

I Keep writing theoretically: easy to write lengthy descriptions,difficult to write conceptual

I Create accountability: regular discussions with supervisorI Use spare time: focus to finish

You can do it!

Theo Pleizier.Religious Involvement in Hearing Sermons.A Grounded Theory Study in Empirical Theology and Homiletics.Forthcoming July 2010 (Please contact the author,ttjpleizier@scarlet.nl)