Title:
In search of the religious imagination: an empirical study of David Tracy's theory of the analogical imagination
Author:
Paul J. Rennick
Thesis Advisor:
J.W. Ciarrocchi
Committee Member:
Joanne Greer
Committee Member:
Robert Wicks
Committee Member:
John Burkhard
Committee Member:
John Hollwitz
Committee Member:
James Buckley
Degree Granting Institution:
Loyola University Maryland--College of Arts and Sciences
Place:
Baltimore (Md.)
Publisher:
Loyola University Maryland
Date Created:
1997
Type of Resource:
text
Genre:
thesis
Language:
eng
Format:
application/pdf
Physical Form:
electronic
Digital Source:
reformatted digital
Abstract:
This study examines David Tracy's contention that written works of systematic theology employ two distinct theological modes of expression: analogical and dialectical; and that these two modes of language indicate the presence of two distinguishable imaginative perspectives that anchor the continuum of the religious imagination. The two imaginative perspectives are called by the same names: analogical and dialectical, indicating the necessary connection between language and imagination in Tracy's approach. To test Tracy's theory, content analysis of texts of systematic theology was performed in the following way. Using the Delphi Method the concepts analogical and dialectical were operationally defined as variables. The same method was used to designate exemplar theological texts for study. Passages from texts were randomly chosen. A sample (N=120) of three denominational groups: Baptist/ Evangelical (N=40); Catholic (N=40); Protestant (Lutheran, Episcopal etc.) (N=40)were asked to sort passages of the texts according to the two operationally defined categories using a Likert scale. Members of the sample were also asked to indicate their own imaginative perspective using the same two categories in a forced choice selection. It was hypothesized that: 1)the sample would be able to sort the passages into the same categories that the Delphi Method expert panel sorted the texts; 2)when sample members differed from the expert panel they would do so in the direction of their own preferred imaginative perspective. Results of the experiment did not attain statistical significance. However, the findings were sufficiently interesting to warrant further investigation.
Subject:
Theology, Doctrinal
Degree:
Doctor of Philosophy
Level:
Doctoral
Discipline:
Pastoral Counseling
Restrictions on Access:
Author has not informed the Library of online preferences. This work is made available to the Loyola Notre Dame Library basic constituency.
Use and Reproduction:
The authors of theses and dissertations are the copyright owners. Loyola Notre Dame Library has their permission to store and provide access to these works. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Permission is required to use materials for which Loyola Notre Dame Library, Loyola University Maryland, or Notre Dame of Maryland University hold copyright. In addition, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by terms of gift of purchase agreements, donor restrictions, privacy and publicity rights, licensing and trademarks. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Identifier:
RennickPJ-97
