This dissertation focuses on essays from forty-eight college students in which each student answers the question: What has been your biggest a-ha moment in college? I argue that a rich, thick, and complex set of lenses is needed to understand these experiences and the inherently interdisciplinary approach of practical theology, grounded in critical hermeneutical theory, is one of the best ways to guide this search. My hypothesis is that a practical theological examination of these essays has explanatory power for interpreting and understanding college student development and formation. Locating my methodology in critical hermeneutical theory, I construct four theoretical lenses to view the essays: (1) a psychosocial lens focusing on emerging adulthood; (2) a psychological lens concentrating on object relations theory (ORT); (3) a pastoral theological lens addressing crisis; and (4) a practical theological lens focusing on the concept of practices. By constructing a set of critical lenses to view the essays, a richer understanding emerges than that found in empirical studies. Using the resources of descriptive theology and thick description, I conclude the dissertation with seven suggestions for higher education based on the practical wisdom, or phronesis, found within the essays.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VANDERBILT/oai:VANDERBILTETD:etd-03242011-202645 |
| Date | 08 April 2011 |
| Creators | Van Zee, Karla D. |
| Contributors | Bonnie Miller-McLemore, Barbara McClure, Volney Gay |
| Publisher | VANDERBILT |
| Source Sets | Vanderbilt University Theses |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.vanderbilt.edu/available/etd-03242011-202645/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to Vanderbilt University or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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