Preparing The Soil For Preaching Catholic Social Teaching Through Empathetic Narrative

William Hisker

Etd

Preparing The Soil For Preaching Catholic Social Teaching Through Empathetic Narrative

Public Deposited

MLA citation style (9th ed.)

William Hisker. Preparing The Soil For Preaching Catholic Social Teaching Through Empathetic Narrative. Aquinas Institute of Theology. rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/525d6d1d-1eb2-45da-8c9a-a05558d2d109.

APA citation style (7th ed.)

W. Hisker. Preparing The Soil For Preaching Catholic Social Teaching Through Empathetic Narrative. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/525d6d1d-1eb2-45da-8c9a-a05558d2d109

Chicago citation style (CMOS 17, author-date)

William Hisker. Preparing The Soil For Preaching Catholic Social Teaching Through Empathetic Narrative. Aquinas Institute of Theology. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/525d6d1d-1eb2-45da-8c9a-a05558d2d109.

Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.

Creator

William Hisker

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In Copyright

Abstract

The research study explores the theological and social-psychological forces that discourage the preaching of the prophetic message of the Gospel. The study was conducted with seventy-four volunteers and six permanent deacons in the Diocese of Greensburg, Pennsylvania. The study used a combination of quantitative and qualitative surveys and interviews. The hypothesis explored was whether or not the use of narrative techniques, specifically Narrative 4 story exchange would be useful as a technique for preparing congregations to be open to the challenges presented by Catholic social teaching. Additionally, the research sought to determine whether or not the six deacons who participated in the study would find narrative a useful technique in their preaching and evangelization efforts.Participants completed an empathy profile before viewing one of seven different videos produced by the United States Conference of Bishops on the Life and Dignity of the Human Person; the Call to Family, Community, and Participation; the Option for the Poor and Vulnerable; Rights and Responsibilities; Solidarity; Care for God’s Creation; and the Dignity of Work. Participants were asked to rate the videos and indicate how often they heard preaching of the subject matter of the videos. Participants were also given the opportunity to participate in a Narrative 4 story exchange. Participants were then asked to complete the Interpersonal Reactivity Index a second time to see if there was a statistically significant change in their empathy profile. In addition, participants were asked to evaluate their experience with the story exchange. While there was no significant statistical change, as measured by the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, the interviewees demonstrated a high level of approval for the story exchange as a vehicle for improving the empathetic response of a congregation and as a useful technique for use in the preaching of Catholic social teaching.

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