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What Is Religion Pastoral Gravity in a Metanarrative Vacuum Australian Fathers’ Attendance at the Birth of their Children Considered as a Spiritual Experience: A Critical Inquiry in Practical Theology CANDIDATURE DECLARATION I certify that the thesis entitled Pastoral Encounters in a Metanarrative Vacuum: Australian Fathers’ Attendance at the Birth of Their Children Considered as a Spiritual Experience: A Critical Inquiry in Practical Theology submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy is the result of my own work and that where reference is made to the work of others, due acknowledgement is given. I also certify that any material in the thesis which has been accepted for a degree or diploma by any university or institution is identified in the text. Main Text: 89,155 Footnotes: 10,852 Total Words: 100,007 Full name: Constantinos Fotios Apokis Signature: Date: 1 February June 2009 2 Table of Contents Introduction .............................................................................................................. 5 1.1 Personal Raison d'être................................................................................................ 5 1.2 Rationale for the Thesis ............................................................................................ 10 1.3 Aim and Purpose....................................................................................................... 14 1.4 Framework of Study .................................................................................................. 17 1.5 Methodology and Methods........................................................................................ 17 1.6 Focus of the Thesis................................................................................................... 20 1.7 Previous Studies ....................................................................................................... 20 1.8 Contribution of the Thesis ......................................................................................... 22 1.9 Outline of the Thesis ................................................................................................. 24 Chapter Two: A Binary Qualitative Research Methodology ............................... 29 2.1 Practical Theology: Theological Reflection as a Preferred Method .......................... 30 2.2 Respondents ............................................................................................................. 38 2.3 Part One: A Qualitative Study of Fathers’ Lived Experience..................................... 40 2.3.1 Qualitative Research and the Role of Story................................................... 43 2.3.2 Stories of Fathers Present at the Birth of their Children ................................ 46 2.3.3 Each Respondent’s Religious Background.................................................... 47 2.3.4 Interview Schedule ........................................................................................ 51 2.4 Part Two: An Autoethnographic Study of Fathers’ Lived Experience........................ 55 2.4.1 The Priest as Researcher .............................................................................. 59 2.4.2 The Priest as the Locus of Research............................................................. 62 2.4.3 Research as Pastoral Encounter ................................................................... 65 Chapter Three: Practical Theology and the Study of Spirituality....................... 68 3.1 Part One: Theoretical Footholds for Studying Spirituality ......................................... 69 3.1.1 The Study of Religion .................................................................................... 70 3.1.2 Modernism’s Impact on Religion.................................................................... 73 3.1.3 Postmodernism’s Scrutiny of the Modernist Ideal.......................................... 76 3.1.4 Outworking of Modernity and Postmodernity in Religion ............................... 83 3.1.5 The Postmodern Reflex: Reflectivity.............................................................. 88 3.1.6 The Conceiving of Spirituality ........................................................................ 90 3.1.7 The Emergence of Spirituality in Contemporary Australia ............................. 98 3.1.8 A Definition of Spirituality............................................................................. 106 3.2 Part Two: Theoretical Safeguards for Studying Fathers and Spirituality................... 109 3.2.1 Feminist Studies and their Influence on Masculine Identity......................... 110 3.2.2 Feminist Studies and the Role of Spirituality ............................................... 115 3.2.3 Masculine Studies and the Role of Spirituality............................................. 118 3.2.4 Studies on the Role of Fathers in the Birth Process .................................... 122 3 Chapter Four: The Fathers’ Stories Presented and Analysed.......................... 133 4.1 Part One: Birth Depicted as a Spiritual Experience (within a Religious Affiliation).. 134 4.1.1 Religious Heritage and Participation............................................................ 134 4.1.2 What is Spirituality? ..................................................................................... 138 4.1.3 Excursus: The Role of Medicalisation.......................................................... 145 4.1.4 What is the Role of Spirituality? Animating Religious Outlooks................... 150 4.1.5 What is the Role of Spirituality? Reshaping Religious Outlooks.................. 154 4.1.6 Excursus: Masculinity and Fatherhood........................................................ 163 4.1.7 Why is it like this? Spirituality as an Antidote to Metanarrative Amnesia..... 166 4.1.8 What does Spirituality tell us about Society? Self-Authenticating Rituals.... 177 4.2 Part Two: Birth Depicted as a Spiritual Experience (Without a Religious Affiliation)185 4.2.1 Case Study One: Dan.................................................................................. 186 4.2.2 Case Study Two: Ray .................................................................................. 190 4.2.3 Case Study Three: Bart ............................................................................... 194 4.2.4 Why is it like this? Nascent Memories for Metanarrative Vacuums ............. 200 4.2.5 What does Spirituality tell us about Society? Nascent Self-Authenticating 205 Rituals................................................................................................................ 4.3 Part Three: When Birth is not Depicted as a Spiritual Experience.......................... 208 4.3.1 Case Study: A Secular Experience.............................................................. 208 4.3.2 Case Study: A Theological Experience ....................................................... 217 4.3.3 Why is it like this? The Absence of a Spirituality-Shaped Hole ................... 223 4.3.4 What does Spirituality tells us about Society? Selling Spirituality........ 224 Chapter Five: Practical Theology for Times of Metanarrative Vacuum ........... 233 5.1 Self Story as Postmodern Reading ......................................................................... 234 5.2 Human-Interest Story .............................................................................................. 236 5.3 Consumer Identity ................................................................................................... 246 5.4 Temporary Communal Allegiances ......................................................................... 255 5.5 Self-Authenticating Rituals Revisited ...................................................................... 266 5.6 Lessons for Practical Theologians in Ecclesial Settings ......................................... 270 Conclusion............................................................................................................ 277 6.1 Summary of the Thesis ........................................................................................... 277 6.2 Limitations of the Thesis ......................................................................................... 281 6.3 Implications of the Thesis........................................................................................ 283 6.4 A Way Forward for Practical Theology.................................................................... 287 Bibliography ......................................................................................................... 294 Appendix............................................................................................................... 322 Advertising Posters for the Research Project ................................................................. 322 Explanatory Statement to Participants,........................................................................... 323 Informed Consent Form .................................................................................................. 324 Ethics Approval for the Research Project ....................................................................... 325 4 Introduction 1.1 Personal Raison d'être Two strands provide the immediate background to my interest in this area of study. Firstly, as a male brought up with traditional masculine patterns of identity there has been a constant awareness of the impact of the feminist critical thinking. At many points, my own experience of the birth process
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