Why a Pastor Needs to Use Sociological Analysis to Understand the Faithful Book Review

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Book Review of Social Analysis for the 21st Century: How Faith Becomes Action by Maria CimpermanMaria Cimperman’s Social Analysis for the 21st Century: How Faith Becomes Action focuses on helping the pastor to be more socially aware of what his congregation is going through and where they are coming from in order to better serve them and address their needs. The main idea is that sociological analysis depends upon conducting an assessment of the society, the economy, the politics, the culture, the environment, and the religious experience of the people. It provides practical steps to assist in conducting these analyses and how to organize information and implement it into one’s pastoral activity. Cimperman calls it the “pastoral spiral,” which consists of sociological analysis being used to shape faith reflection, which in turn dictates action that then provides experience for reflection and more sociological analysis.[footnoteRef:2] In teaching the reader about this pastoral spiral, the author aims to impact the reader’s ability “to consider and respond to immediate issues and to the larger invitation to help create the world God invites.”[footnoteRef:3] [2: Maria Cimperman, Social Analysis for the 21st Century: How Faith Becomes Action (New York: Maryknoll, 2015), 86.] [3: Maria Cimperman, Social Analysis for the 21st Century: How Faith Becomes Action (New York: Maryknoll, 2015), 12.]Cimperman provides social analysis of the target urban context and its connection to the resulting theological reflection and formation by walking the reader through the act of examining the community, its sociological, economical, political, cultural, environmental and religious issues. She gives numerous examples of how to do this—such as by looking at the proximity of the urban area to rural farmland and how easy it is to obtain fresh, locally produced, organic foods to facilitate the development of a healthy diet. By integrating concepts that have a real effect on people’s real lives—like food, place, shelter, media, and leadership within the Church (i.e.

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, what the Pope is saying on current issues and events), Cimperman weaves together a holistic view of…

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…bookended by prayer and faith reflection. The more one situates one’s pastoral activity within the context of a deep, spiritual life, the more one will be able to engage with the community in a meaningful way. It is not just social action for the purpose of action but rather social action for the purpose of fulfilling God’s commandment to “love they neighbor.”The author’s points are clearly and effectively made throughout and the book is easy to read and comprehend. It has a great deal of relevance to the work of a pastor living in today’s world and shows the need for the pastor to be connected to what is going on in the community so as to be able to guide the flock all the more effectively. The book also provides solid information on the process of urban theological reflection and formation and how it may impact urban theological implementation by emphasizing the need for the pastor to maintain a deep spiritual life as he goes about his work….....

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