Remembering the Future, Imagining the Past

By David A. Hogue

Brain research is opening up our understanding of not only what role the different areas of our brain play in making decisions or in recognizing the faces of those we love, but even in experiencing God. As a pastoral theologian and counselor, Hogue values and utilizes the significant resources of the brain sciences for the work of the church in guiding, healing, and challenging persons and systems informed by our current understanding of the central nervous system. His latest book, Remembering the Future, Imagining the Past, is an especially useful resource for all those persons concerned with the practical theological arts of preaching, worship, pastoral care, and counseling, as well as those interested in how our increasing knowledge of the ways in which our brains work can help us understand and tailor our spiritual and pastoral practices in the church.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1606088602
• ISBN13: 9781606088609
• Release Date: June 2009
• Publisher: Wipf & Stock Publishers
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.79 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.9" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Story in Ritual, Pastoral Care, and the Brain

David Hogue sets out an ambitious goal for Remembering the Future, Imagining the Past. He strives to integrate neuroscience, ritual studies, and pastoral theology in a 200-page text.The first half of the text outlines the roles of imagination, memory, and story in the human brain and human living. The second half of the text then expands upon these concepts and applies them to ritual leadership, pastoral counseling, and spiritual disciplines.I found Hogue to be moderately successful in his goal. In particular, the scientific material on the brain was not always well integrated into the text as a whole. It was as if Hogue had two starting points, ministry and neuroscience. While he tried to make the two meet in the middle, Hogue didn't quite make it.The connections between ritual and pastoral care were much stronger (Hogue's own area of expertise is pastoral theology). This work, alone, makes the book worth reading.Overall, I did find many sections of the book to be enlightening. Hogue helped spark some new directions for my own thinking. It just wasn't the well-integrated whole I had hoped for. If you are interested in narrative theology, liturgy, or pastoral care, this is a book worth reading.