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Mad Practical Theology

Unearthing Voices from Psychiatric Archives

Mad Practical Theology

Unearthing Voices from Psychiatric Archives

Pre-order now for delivery after 30/09/2026.

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Paperback / softback

£35.00

Publisher: SCM Press
ISBN: 9780334067436
Number of Pages: 224
Published: 30/09/2026
Width: 14 cm
Height: 21.6 cm
This book introduces a new subfield of practical theology: Mad Practical Theology. This emerges from the intersection of Practical Theology and the emerging field of Mad Studies, filling a critical gap in practical theology's engagement with marginalized voices. While the field has learned to centre queer, disabled, black, and womanist spiritual experiences and liberation perspectives, psychiatric survivors remain absent from theological conversation, their voices mediated through medical rather than theological frameworks. This new subfield addresses that absence by challenging this exclusion through methodological commitments that reposition psychiatric survivors from spiritual care concerns to primary theological sources. The book demonstrates this new subfield through "Palimpsestic Theology," a methodology for engaging psychiatric archives that honours both institutional violence and persistent sacred meaning. Working across three archive types—patient writings from an asylum magazine, belongings from asylum patient suitcases, and cemetery records—this approach generates theological reflection and spiritual practices rather than remaining only theoretical. The results include liturgical resources emerging from asylum fragments, sacred conversations across time, and memorial practices demanding justice rather than comfortable remembrance. Where other approaches study marginalized voices, Mad Practical Theology learns from them as primary teachers whose institutional experiences generate distinctive wisdom about divine presence under institutional constraint. This work provides both theoretical framework and practical resources for communities seeking authentic engagement with psychiatric survivor wisdom. The three Creative Companions provide liturgical resources, contemplative practices, and memorial accountability frameworks that serve both academic and ecclesial communities. This integration addresses practical theology's commitment to praxis by showing how historical archive work generates useable devotional content, pedagogical resources for theological education, and alternative approaches to mental health ministry that centre survivor wisdom rather than medical authority—proving that ethical engagement with marginalized voices produces practical results.
1: Introduction - The Palimpsest Beckons 2: There is a Method to Our Madness 3: The Opal Archive - Voices from Utica Asylum Creative Companion I: Thy Sheltering Arms My Spirit Take 4: The Willard Archive - Material Belongings from "Incurable" Patients Creative Companion II: I Guess I'll Have to Dream the Rest 5: Creative Companion III: The Theological Council of the Dead 6: Conclusion - Return to the Theological Council of the Dead Appendices Appendix A: Research methodology and sources for The Opal engagement Appendix B: Glossary of Mad Studies and palimpsestic theology terms Bibliography Special Features: ? Three "Creative Companions" providing actual liturgical and spiritual practices ? Appendices including glossary ? Research journal fragments documenting methodological development ? Integration of academic theory with devotional practice ? Seasonal and land-based spiritual elements

Sparrow Panton

Dr Sparrow Panton is Assistant Professor of Practical Theology at Emmanuel College, University of Toronto, where they teach in the Masters of Psychospiritual Studies programme. They serve as Co-Editor of the Canadian Journal of Theology, Mental Health and Disability, and as Co-Host of the Mad and Crip Theology Podcast.