The Synaptic Gospel: Teaching the Brain to Worship

Christopher D. Rodkey

doi:10.5771/9780761857877

Summary

In this book, Christopher D. Rodkey asks how the brain worships and responds by engaging ideas from neurological science, philosophy, ritual theory, and religious education. From this exploration, two new paradigms for pastoral ministry emerge. First, Rodkey proposes a “pan-generational” principle, advocating an empathy-based approach for fostering faith communities, a principle that is radically inclusive to all generations. Second, Rodkey argues that worship and religious education should converge to include a shared goal of teaching individuals to “live liturgically.”

In The Synaptic Gospel, Rodkey argues that living and thinking liturgically are learned behaviors that may be promoted through pan-generational worship. The book concludes with a special emphasis on practical suggestions for youth ministry. The Synaptic Gospel will prove to be a useful theoretical tool for pastors, religious educators, youth ministers, church music professionals, and seminary students.

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Bibliographic data

Edition: 1/2012
Copyright Year: 2012
ISBN-Print: 978-0-7618-5786-0
ISBN-Online: 978-0-7618-5787-7
Publisher: Hamilton Books, Lanham
Language: English
Pages: 96
Product Type: Monograph

1. Table of Contents No access
2. Acknowledgements and an Opening Apology No access
Chapter One Introduction, Problems, and Methodologies No access Pages 1 - 12
Chapter Two Worshiping Communities as Circles of Empathy No access Pages 13 - 26
Chapter Three The Neuroscience of Emotion and Feeling No access Pages 27 - 48
Chapter Four The Neurology of Worship No access Pages 49 - 62
Chapter Five Worship as Religious Education No access Pages 63 - 72
Chapter Six An Ecology of Liturgy: Habituating Liturgically with Youth No access Pages 73 - 88
Selected Bibliography No access Pages 89 - 92
Index No access Pages 93 - 96