Deborah Ross

Doing Theology as if People Mattered narrates a reflexive account of the “doing” of contextual theology at the Jesuit School of Theology (JST) of Santa Clara University. The collection explores practicing contextual theology in the classroom and beyond, in service, international immersions, interreligious dialogue, and mission. The book presents the concept of contextual theology as expressed and lived at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in Berkeley, California, a member school of the Graduate Theological Union. All theology is contextual (Stephen Bevans) and the Jesuit School of Theology has operated out of this paradigm for many years. Implicit in the book is the faculty’s conversion to doing contextual theology in the educational context of the classroom and beyond. This collection narrates the story of contextual theology at JST: how the School came to select this theological method and how it guides the vision and mission of the School; how contextual theology shapes pedagogy and work in the classroom; how contextual theology and education flourish in ministerial praxis in the local intercultural San Francisco Bay Area, and in international contexts, as the School engages in immersions, pilgrimage, and interreligious dialogue; how JST welcomes students from many continents, and prepares students to go back to those contexts; and how JST lives out the maxim of a “faith that does justice”.

A growing body of neuroscience research has established the principle of neuroplasticity; a powerfully hopeful message that we can use our minds to change our brains in the direction of greater health and well-being. The key to shaping this change rests in how we direct and focus and our attention. In an easy-to-use workbook format this publication offers a strengths based, preventative, positive approach, grounded in neuroscience research, for creating a stronger sense of overall well-being. It contains more than 65 unique writing prompts and a facilitator’s guide with complete facilitation plans for 1-hour, 90 minutes and 2-hour groups.

The science of neuroplasticity demonstrates that our brains can and do change. We each not only have the power but use the power to create new neural pathways — for better or for worse. This science has demonstrated that we can create pathways that lead to resilience, vitality, greater peace of mind, and improved well-being. Self-directed neuroplasticity is a method of accelerating neurological change through expressive writing. It’s what happens when you harness the power of your pen or keyboard in service of intention, attention, and action for your greater good. This workbook of expressive writing for brain change can lead to increased well-being. As you learn and apply the principles of neuroplasticity to your own life, staged and sequenced through masterful application of writing techniques designed to promote positive brain change, improved satisfaction will not be far behind.