Christian Political Theology in an Age of Discontent: Mediating Scripture, Doctrine, and Political Reality
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
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.
Key Features
- Explores the nature, purpose, and content of Christian political theology
- Examines the relative value of moral character among political leaders
- Analyzes the impact of John Calvin on political theory
Contents
- The Challenge for Christian Political Theology
- The Art of Political Theology
- Carl Schmitt and the True German Origins of Christian Political Theology
- The Problematic Greek Roots of Contemporary Christian Political Theology
- Christian Political Theology and Secular Political Philosophy
- Reason and Nature
- “Thank You Lord Jesus for President Trump”
- The Calvinist Roots of Evangelical Support for President Trump
- Christianity and the American Conservative Movement
- The Politics of Jesus and Christian Anarchism
- Political Anthropology and the Post-Liberal Future
- In Defense of Politics
Praise for the Print Edition
Jonathan Cole offers a powerful and fresh account of the importance and indispensability of political theology. Cole challenges simplistic notions of what it means to do political theology and he argues that it is time for political theology to grow up and become a real discipline. The essays in this book offer a creative, illuminating, and stimulating account of the issues and challenges facing political theology today. A major contribution from a formidable and exciting scholar.
—Stephen Pickard, Director, Centre for Public and Contextual Theology, Charles Sturt University
- Title: Christian Political Theology in an Age of Discontent: Mediating Scripture, Doctrine, and Political Reality
- Author: Jonathan Cole
- Publisher: Wipf & Stock
- Publication Date: 2019
- Pages: 146
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Topic: Political Theology
Jonathan Cole is a research fellow of the Centre for Public and Contextual Theology, Charles Sturt University, Canberra, Australia. He is the director of AIOCS Press, a contributing editor to The New Polis, and a lecturer at the Lachlan Macquarie Institute. He previously spent fourteen years working for the Australian government in a range of departments and agencies, including as a senior terrorism analyst at the Office of National Assessments (2010–14).