Theological reflection — connecting real life, ministry, and religious traditions — is a core component of most pastoral training. It is also a hallmark of practical theology and a common spiritual exercise among ordinary Christians trying to discern how their beliefs might influence daily living. Yet, our society is increasingly pluralistic, with growing numbers of people from varying belief systems — from Islam to Buddhism — as well as an increasing number of atheists. In this book, Edward Foley reimagines theological reflection in interfaith contexts and with those of no faith tradition. The book addresses and celebrates diverse beliefs, and envisions the practice of theological reflection in such contexts. Theological Reflection Across Religious Traditions introduces readers to the basics of traditional forms of theological reflection, then considers how it might be reconceived in different contexts — from interfaith ministers working together to reduce poverty and homelessness to people of diverse or no faith traditions strategizing to secure the dignity of undocumented immigrants. Beyond suggestions for collaborative social action, the book offers tools for productive interfaith conversation through a process Foley calls “reflective believing.” This is a groundbreaking rethinking of theological reflection for today’s world, proposing that people across the religious landscape can participate in reflective believing for personal and communal benefit without sacrificing their own integrity.

"Learning from the various groups of people he met and interviewed, Foley has uncovered a common search for meaning in life and in life-projects that is not confined to one system of belief. The topic developed here, the method employed in the search for understanding, and the conclusions reached will be of interest to and benefit for various audiences. The first group includes the pastoral ministers for whom this project was originally intended. It will call them to appreciate their own manner of reflective thinking, as well as that of those with whom and for whom they minister. Related to this group are schools or programs of ministry formation. Both those responsible for the formation and those being trained will profit from the praxis approach demonstrated as well as the variety of suggestions for reflection offered throughout the book. This project has demonstrated that reflective believing is an activity of life not limited to religious thinkers. Therefore, any reflective believer, religious or not, will be enriched by the insights found here." - New Theology Review

"The practical examples could serve as excellent discussion starters. This is above all a book to spark thinking among teachers and ministry practitioners. . . .It is also a book to spark further work in an intriguing field that Foley has only begun to map." - Anglican Theological Review

"How might U.S. American practical theologians respond to the shifting religious landscape of the classrooms in which we study and teach, as well as in the civil society to which we belong? Bringing to bear on this question a breadth of wisdom gained from experience as a seminary professor and a Catholic priest, Edward Foley presents a worthy proposal for what he describes as reflective believing….Whether one is a beginning student of practical theology or a seasoned professional in the field, this text will serve as a key resource in considering how to engage with the increasingly pluralistic reality of teaching and ministering in the U.S. American context. Offering a clarion call for creative and constructive engagement with the shifting religious landscapes that characterize our classrooms and sites for ministry, Foley’s text provides an important first step, a point of entry into a much-needed conversation in the field of practical theology." - International Journal of Practical Theology

"In this succinct, absorbing, and imaginative book, Foley persuades self-exploring, other-sensitive, and Spirit-directed Christians to turn from the practice of theological reflection to the promise of reflective believing. Recognizing a radical shift in the Western historical context, F. urges us to risk leaving an older, more secure worldview, which is characterized by religious uniformity, predicable order, and linear progression, and expectantly embrace the contemporary one, which is steeped in religious pluralism, liquidity, and ‘rhizomatic’ thinking…. [T]his is a book recommended for both theologians and reflective Christians in the West." - Theological Studies

"In this book, Foley renegotiates and reshapes the practice of theological reflection into an approach he calls ‘reflective believing.’… The most valuable aspects of Foley’s discussion are his emphases on the improvisational nature of reflective believing and his attention to ‘interpathy,’ or empathic concern for the other." - Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology