Beyond the Academy: Lived Asian Public Theology of Religions (Princeton Theological Monograph) - Hardcover

Moe, David Thang

Hardcover

ISBN 13: 9798385218097

Publisher: Pickwick Publications, 2024

Synopsis

The term "public theology" was introduced by Martin E. Marty in a 1974 article. Since then, scholarly discussions on public theology have become more popular in academic circles. This book, however, is about the invitation for moving beyond the academy. It provides two reasons for doing so. First, an overtly academic public theology is in crisis today. Although public theology may be flourishing in the academy, its relevance for real life is limited. Second, there is the "ecclesial flourishing" among grassroots Christian communities across Asia who witness to their lived faith in public and hidden life. Their voices are largely unheard due to the gaps between the academy and the church. This volume argues that we should consider their voices as key sources for developing a relevant lived Asian public theology. The author makes the case for reimagining the paradigm shifts in lived Asian public theology of religions and for bridging the unhappy gaps between the academic and grassroots voices.

About this title

About the Author

David Thang Moe is Henry Rice Postdoctoral Associate and Lecturer in Southeast Asian Studies at Yale University. He is a co-editor of Public Theology for Global Witness (2023), a review editor of International Journal of Public Theology, and a co-chair of Religion in Southeast Asia Unit at American Academy of Religion. He is a celebrated public speaker, having been invited to speak about religion, politics, and public life, particularly regarding Myanmar at several leading universities around the world, including Yale, Harvard, Cambridge, Oxford, Columbia, Brown, Princeton, New York University, George Washington University, Boston University, Boston College, DePaul University, Pittsburgh University, Eastern Kentucky University, Baylor University, University of Toronto, Hamburg, Australian National University, Whitley College, National University of Singapore, Yonsei University, Ewha Womans University, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, among others.

Touted by Yale's Sterling Professor James C. Scott as "a true gem and animator from Burma" for his enormous contributions to Southeast Asian-Burmese studies at Yale and beyond, Moe's scholarship actively engages with four distinct communities--global academia, grassroots churches, public society, and political state. He teaches courses related to religion, conflict, and reconciliation, including "Religion, Politics, and Identity in Southeast Asia," which some students have described as "their favorite and most rewarding class at Yale," and "a life-changing class for an internship at an immigration law firm in rural Minnesota." His teaching and research have been featured in prominent media outlets, including Voice of America VOA, Burmese News, Yale News, Yale Daily News, Christianity Today, among others.

Born and raised in a rural Chin ethnic minority village in Myanmar, he is passionate about bridging the gap between grassroots and academic voices. He believes in the power of an interdisciplinary scholarship driven by a "triple dialogue" dialogue between Asian and non-Asian scholars (glocal dialogue), dialogue between Christian faith and other faiths (inter-religious dialogue), and dialogue between academic and grassroots Christians (intra-religious dialogue).

Edition details

• Publisher: Pickwick Publications
• Publication date: 2024
• Language: English
• ISBN 13: 9798385218097
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 202