The author approaches the phenomenon 'religious experience' through a qualitative study in which young, urban people from Europe and the USA are empirically examined. It becomes clear that individuals themselves are constructive agents of experience and theology. Religious experience manifests itself as a transformative perspective of hope in the lives of young people. The study ends with a plea for a theology from below, based on liberation theology and feminist theories, in which contextual perspectives are central to practical theological theorising.

The author approaches the phenomenon 'religious experience' through a qualitative study in which young, urban people from Europe and the USA are empirically examined. It becomes clear that individuals themselves are constructive agents of experience and theology. Religious experience manifests itself as a transformative perspective of hope in the lives of young people. The study ends with a plea for a theology from below, based on liberation theology and feminist theories, in which contextual perspectives are central to practical theological theorising.

The Transformative Power of Faith examines how and why some people, particularly those coming out of highly self-destructive, violent, and antisocial backgrounds who appear beyond repair, experience profound personal transformation through conversion to strong faith. Illustrated by stories of converts who came out of serious drug addiction, gangs, and poverty through adherence to a demanding faith, Erin Dufault-Hunter argues for a narrative approach to conversion. This holistic theoretical perspective offers an alternative epistemological stance to reductionistic models sometimes perpetuated among social scientists and religious ethicists alike. In this study, the narrative lens gives vision of the religious "Other" a depth and complexity too often lacking. Such an approach allows a deeper understanding of the dynamics of personal transformation in ways that make sense of psychological and social factors without ignoring so-called "spiritual" ones.

In Women’s Work: The Transformational Power of Faith-Based Community Organizing, Susan L. Engh draws on her own experiences and those of twenty-one other women who work in the field of faith-based community organizing to describe how women have been transformed by their participation in organizing, and how they have been agents of transformation in congregations, denominations, organizations, and the public arena. This book provides a basic description of faith-based community organizing through the first-person perspectives of a diverse array of women.

»Mission in crisis« – this diagnosis makes immediate sense in view of the rapid decline of European Christian churches. However, there is a great deal of controversy as to what exactly this crisis consists of, what its actual causes are and what dynamics the crisis discourse itself exhibits. The contributions in this volume were held on an international conference that took place from November 25–27, 2022 at the University of Zurich. They pursue these questions from a mission-theological perspective and seek to open up new perspectives for the future of the church in both secular and plural societies. With contributions from: Heike Breitenstein, John G. Flett, Ralph Kunz, Sabrina Müller, Stefan Paas, Henk de Roest, Stefan Schweyer, Patrick Todjeras, Graham Tomlin, Benno van den Toren, and Henning Wrogemann. [Mission in der Krise. Über eine unerledigte Aufgabe der Kirche] »Mission in der Krise« – diese Diagnose leuchtet im Blick den rapiden Niedergang europäischer christlicher Kirchen unmittelbar ein. Allerdings ist heftig umstritten, worin genau diese Krise besteht, was ihre eigentlichen Ursachen sind und welche Dynamik der Krisendiskurs selbst aufweist. Die Beiträge des vorliegenden Bandes stammen von einer internationalen, vom 25.–27.11.2022 an der Universität Zürich abgehaltenen Tagung. Sie gehen diesen Fragen in missionstheologischer Perspektive nach und suchen neue Perspektiven für die Zukunft von Kirche in ebenso säkularen wie pluralen Gesellschaften zu eröffnen.

Liminal Reality and Transformational Power explores, draws together, and integrates the many facets of liminality, and informs our understanding of liminal phenomena in the world. Through anthropology, sociology, theology, neurology and psychology, Carson correlates exterior transitions with their corresponding intra-psychic movements and points toward useful methods that contribute to personal and social transformation. In this revised edition, Carson has recognised the resurgence of liminality, and addresses the social transitions that are prevalent today in communities around the world. He examines the identity of the 'liminal' person and highlights the role of ritual leaders and religious professionals as they guide people through liminal time and space. Carson's work greatly contributes to an expanded understanding of the complex dimensions of religious leadership and provides useful insight into our intra-psychic processes during the significant transitional stages in life.