{"product_id":"the-end-of-theological-education-9780802878878","title":"The End of Theological Education","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHow to envision theological education in this time between the times\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003eThe dominant model of theological education is coming to an end--but Ted A. Smith looks to its ultimate ends as sources of hope and renewal.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSmith locates the crisis facing theological education today in a sweeping history of religion in the United States, from the standing orders of the colonial period to the voluntary associations of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. He then connects today's challenges to shifts in contemporary society, including declining religious affiliation, individualization, rising desires for authenticity, and the unraveling of professions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSmith refuses to tell the story as one of progress or decline. Instead, he puts theological education in eschatological perspective, understanding it in relation to its ultimate purpose: \"knowledge of God. . . so deep, so intimate, that it requires and accomplishes our transformation.\" This knowledge is not restricted to a professional clerical class but is given for the salvation of all. Seeing by the light of this hope, Smith calls readers to reimagine church, ministry, and theological education for this time between the times.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 05\/26\/2023\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780802878878\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 288\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.64lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.51h x 5.59w x 0.61d","brand":"Ted A. Smith","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42851418144949,"sku":"9780802878878","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_d9d8dc51-d54c-40b5-925f-6c6527c12372.jpg?v=1682483950","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/the-end-of-theological-education-9780802878878","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}