Mighty Stories, Dangerous Rituals: Weaving Together the Human and the Divine

How can we bring together two of our most powerful vehicles for communication and transformation?Storytelling and ritual making are not merely something that humans do–they are essential for becoming human. Together they enable us to create a world that is both habitable and hospitable. For believers, they are the fundamental means for shaping and sustaining our journey into the Divine.

Part One: Of Stories and Rituals. 1. The Power of Storytelling. 2. Ritualizing Our Stories. 3. Connecting Divine and Human Narratives. Part Two: Milestones in Life Marked by Stories and Rituals. 4. Welcoming the Child. 5. Preparing for Marriage. 6. Encountering Death. Part Three: Transforming Stories and Rituals. 7. Creating New Rituals. 8. Revitalizing Rituals with Stories. 9. Reconciling Stories and Rituals.

HERBERT ANDERSON is visiting professor of pastoral theology at Seattle University. He lectures and consults widely on themes and issues in pastoral care. He is the author of numerous books including All Our Losses, All Our Griefs. EDWARD FOLEY is professor of liturgy and music at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He is an ordained Roman Catholic priest and the author of numerous books and articles on worship and the arts.

"If taken seriously, this book could mark a significant means for giving life and direction to an otherwise gray field. The book is not only rich in its use of a wide range of scholarly research, but also in its depth and maturity of thought. . . . This is a significant and groundbreaking work with enormous possible implications for the revitalization of our field. It deserves from us deep reflection, storytelling, and new ritual." (Religious Education) "This text explores a variety of creative and necessary tensions inherent in effective pastoral ministry. Those dialectics include myth and parable, story and ritual, individual and community, pastoral care and worship, life and death, divinity and humanity. . . . Break[s] open rich possibilities for individual and communal spirituality and for meaningful ministry." (Religious Studies Review) "A well–written book and offers great insight. . . .This book articulates the theoretical aspects of story and ritual and does not stop there. It also addresses contemporary concerns about life transitions that the church neglects to ritualize. . . . A valuable book." (The Clergy Journal)