Theologians on Modern Politics

This abstract provides a concise summary of the background and significance of examining Christian political thought. It highlights the historical influence of Christianity on political thought and governance systems, the ethical foundations derived from biblical teachings, the role of Christian communities in public engagement, the contemporary relevance of Christian political thought, and its potential for interfaith dialogue. By understanding and analyzing Christian political thought, we gain insights into its impact on political philosophy and its relevance in addressing societal challenges.

Over the last decades, the question of political theology has reemerged as a lens to interpret and understand the current global order, structures of governance, the moral question of normativity, and theology's or religion's role in the public sphere. Several contributors to the debate presuppose an understanding of God or the Divine that many theologians would consider uncritical, if not ideological. In the current discourse, the Divine serves as the "ultimate" authority regarding normative claims, legitimacy of (political or biopolitical) power, 1 and divine power over history.

2012

This paper proposes for consideration a version of political theology that differs from standard accounts of the content of political theology, particularly with regard to political theology's relationship to liberalism. The account of political theology proposed here is "political theology with a difference" both in the sense that it differs from the standard account of political theology (inasmuch as rejects the view that liberalism and political theology are mutually antagonistic) and in the further sense that it is based upon a philosophical doctrine that not only accepts, but valorizes human differences. That doctrine, which stands at the core of the alternative political theology presented here, is the doctrine of accommodation. For centuries, this principle was enshrined in Christian and Jewish theology as the "doctrine of divine accommodation." That theological doctrine derived in turn from the principle of accommodation that was codified in the ancient Aristotelian tradition of classical rhetoric. This article provides an overview of the evolution of the medieval doctrine of divine accommodation, showing how it gave birth to modern secularist thought, in particular secularist political thought. It demonstrates that the secularist political theory that evolved out of the principle of divine accommodation was an emergency theory of politics (hence a political theology, in the narrow sense of the term.) But it shows how the tradition of secularist political theory that derived from the principle of accommodation was also a proto-liberal political theory, out of which modern liberalism originated. On this basis, the paper argues, contra the standard view that political theology and liberalism are mutually antagonistic, that (this) emergency political theology and liberal political theory are actually one and the same thing.

Brill Publishing, 2020

Theology and the Political is the fruit of Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant conversations from East and West concerning the retrieval of theological discourse for political praxis, theo-political structural analysis of secularity/post-secularity, and distinct political engagement from varying Christian traditions that not only offer political critique but criticism of its particular tradition. This edited volume is animated by the motif of political action as witness in a missional key and makes a unique interdisciplinary contribution to the field of political theology that invites further reflection on the gospel instantiated in various cultural contexts in light of the boundary-crossing nature of mission and theological discourse. Dr. ALEXEI BODROV is Founder and Rector of St. Andrew's Biblical Theological Institute in Moscow and a researcher at VU Amsterdam. He is editor-in-chief of St. Andrew's Press, a leader in academic theology publishing in Russian. He has published on interreligious dialogue and religion-society-state relations. Prof. Dr. STEPHEN M. GARRETT recently taught at the Vilnius Academy of Arts (Lithuania) and now serves as Curriculum Vice-President for Global Scholars. He has published on Hans Urs von Balthasar and continues to explore the nexus of theology and the political via aesthetics in light of 20th century personalism.

Christian Political Theology in an Age of Discontent: Mediating Scripture, Doctrine, and Political Reality, 2019

At a moment in which interest in political theology is rising, acceptance of a public role for religion is declining, and cynicism regarding both political and religious institutions is overflowing, this book investigates the possibilities and constraints of a Christian political theology that can meaningfully mediate Scripture, doctrine, and political reality. In critical dialogue with political theologians and political philosophers past and present, we explore the origins, meaning, and purpose of Christian political theology in an age of growing discontent with the once-impregnable liberal democratic order of yesteryear. Approaching politics as both art and science, this book lays a challenge at the feet of political theologians to offer a theological account of politics that is genuinely illuminating of political reality and efficacious for the faithful who seek to operate within it.

Critical Sociology, 2007

Over the last decades, the question of political theology has reemerged as a lens to interpret and understand the current global order, structures of governance, the moral question of normativity and theology's or religion's role in the public sphere. Several contributors to the debate presuppose an understanding of God or the Divine that many theologians would consider to be uncritical, if not ideological. In the current discourse, the Divine serves as the "ultimate" authority regarding normative claims, legitimacy of (political or biopolitical) power, 1 and divine power over history.

Our objective with this article is to analyze the need and the raison d'ê tre of the participation of the faithful in the perspective of faith in politics and in the reworking of the constitution. In it we identify the fundamental elements, the representational forms and participations, seeking to understand how these elements interfere in the people's liberation militancy from the point of view of the Church's Magisterium and the Church's Social Doctrine. Thus, to show that politics, although there are few good examples of those who exercise it, there is no doubt that, in essence, it is a good for everyone. Yes, because politics is, originally, a way of thinking and living in society, with a healthy and community objective, that is, the good of the human person in society, the common well 1. Hence, in politics, it does not matter the diversity of thoughts or position, what matters is the objective for the common well. That is why it has already been said that politics is the healthy coexistence of contrary thoughts / manifestations. The important thing is that the desire for a good always arises in us, a demand for valuing the other, as a human person, image and likeness of God 2. This work is based on the theory of Social Representation since the Christian social and political faith present in that society and in the life and practice of politicians. Thus, it is possible to verify whether the political-social representation of faith is a constitutive element for the common well and the dignity of the human person, that of politics in the faith.

2017

How can Christian politics contribute to public policy making in a secular and individualised age? Within the public sphere several faith and wisdom traditions compete. Is this a power struggle - or can they enrich democratic decisions? Christians can use both their own tradition and other traditions to present a valuable and relevant vision within and for a post-liberal democracy.

Journal of Law and Religion

International Colloquium, 13-14 December 2024 Universitat Pompeu Fabra. Barcelona Organizing Committee: María Morrás (UPF), Beatriu Marcos (UPF) and Michael Peters (UPF) 'Intersections between Political Philosophy and Theology: Communities, Ideas, Discourses, and Vivere Civile' focuses on the transference of political philosophy and theology in texts from the 15th and 16th centuries. The combination of scholastic thought, Christian Aristotelianism, and classical republicanism entailed a civic translatability, making it possible to imagine and project communities and political scenarios at the dawn of Modernity. These issues were pivotal to the development of ideas and the shape that the Renaissance would take in the transition from the Late Middle Ages to the Early Modern period. Especially interesting was the intersection of ideas between theological, political, and juridical texts. Taken as a corpus, they offer a valuable source to examine how political theory and religious doctrine mutually influence each other—morally, epistemologically, and methodologically. Variegated perspectives, backgrounds, and traditions were exchanged to transform and reform the body politic. Whether reflections on the past, considerations of the present, or aspirations for the future, texts played a critical role in forming intellectual, affective, and political communities in a dialogue that traversed space and time. The aim of this workshop is to overcome univocal readings of texts while promoting a wider interpretation of them. Doctrinal texts are not only religious, but also a valuable source of political and juridical theory. A diverse and interdisciplinary approach will prove more fruitful, which would allow broadening their interpretation to the field of the history of ideas. Specifically, we invite scholars to revisit texts from the perspective of this exchange of concepts between political philosophy and theology, and the interplay between both areas. Addressing the texts under the hypothesis that they were conceived as a space for connection and dialogue about knowledge, as generators of political models and agendas, and capable to stand as forms of resistance in their socio-political environment.

2010

Faith and the political in the post secular age: explorations in practical theology, 2018

Even after two millennia of churches relating to political cultures that surround them, we're still not entirely clear what to do. This statement is not offered in despair, or to counsel other-worldly withdrawal. 'What to do' in relation to the political cultures that surround us-a question of Christian political ethics-can never be straightforwardly settled in advance by some theory of church and state. All ethical deliberation and action upholds enduring norms, but does so within the flux of a thousand variables and considerations that can only be known by those actors in this context in that place. In this chapter, I will appropriate some core insights in current Christian theological ethics to help us navigate the shoals and currents of your or my particular local polity. I seek for a way to think about politics that is less committed to grand theory and disputes about it, and more able to move practically into the world-albeit well-informed by political theology, by our faith gone public, and by canny awareness of the shifting canons in our 'secular' (or increasingly 'post-secular') culture. I will construct a 'typology' of sorts, framed by two basic axes of response. One axis concerns the kinds of moral response we take on this or that issue. Then, the ways we think of our church relating to our local political culture are plotted on the other axis. It turns out that we might locate ourselves differently on each axis depending on the specific political question before us.

In accordance with secular liberalism, many scholars and politicians argue excluding religious perspectives from political decision-making is the only way to guarantee genuine neutrality, freedom and equality. However, this paper argues secular liberalism is actually a non-neutral theology which violently excludes other religious perspectives. The paper attempts to apply Christian theology to liberal notions of public discourse for the purpose of redeeming and transforming that discourse. This redeemed 'liberalism' provides a framework for persuasion to the Good by advocating a discourse governed by the law of love. This produces genuine religious freedom which paradoxically transcends and fulfils the liberal ideals that secular liberalism proclaims but can never attain.

HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies, 2016

Party politics is a controversial subject in mainline ecclesiastical circles in South Africa. While one can be forgiven for thinking that this perception changed after 1994, the reverse seems to be the case. This article is an attempt to start a conversation on the subject of Christian leaders’ participation in politics. It will become clear from this article that the entrenched idea of the separation between the material and the spiritual is problematic. Acknowledging the sensitivity around this subject, this article aims to intentionally engage the involvement of Christian leaders in party politics. This is done in a positive albeit careful manner simply because the need for ethical leadership in present-day South Africa has become urgent.