Abstract:
This paper seeks to summarise the state of theological reflection in Aotearoa New Zealand in the early stages of the 21st century. Key features of local theology are the movement from implicit to explicit theology and the invitation to inter-local exchange. Within this wider theoretical understanding of local theology the paper offers an overview of the main themes or content of contemporary New Zealand theology taking both an ‘emic’ (insider) and an ‘etic’ (using commonly known traditional categories) approach. It then undertakes a similar overview of the processes or methods used in New Zealand theology.
Description:
In its overview of contemporary trends in theology contextual to Aotearoa New Zealand, this paper draws upon the two companion bibliographies “Theology in Aotearoa New Zealand: An Annotated Bibliography under Subject Headings”(http://hdl.handle.net/2292/447) and “Theology in Aotearoa New Zealand: Endnote library” http://hdl.handle.net/2292/2265. These bibliographies cover essentially the same material but are presented in different formats. They are both accessible through http://www.researchspace.auckland.ac.nz. They provide the evidence for the discernment of trends in both content and process that is proposed in this paper.