Die implikasies van 'n pneumatologies-bepaalde teoretiese raamwerk vir navorsingsmetodologie in prakties-teologiese wetenskapsbeoefening

Abstract

Practical theological research operates from a unique vantage point on the research terrain of human actions. This particular research finds its main point of focus at the intersection be-tween God-initiated elements and human elements in under-standing, explaining and indicating criteria for change in the praxis of faith. In the first part of this article an attempt is made to develop a pneumatologically determined theoretical framework for practi-cal theological scientific research. The author reasons that this particular framework enables the researcher to comprehen-sively describe both human and God-initiated elements present in the field of research and that it provides critical anchors for keeping research results from falling into unscientific specu-lation and one-sidedness. In the second part of this article a case is made out for an intra-disciplinary approach to utilisation of research methodology of human sciences in practical theological scientific study. The author argues that the pneumatologically determined theoretical framework necessitates re-orientation and adjustments in re-search methodology utilised in the descriptive, hermeneutical-normative and strategic phases of a practical theological study.