The International Politics of an Embodied God: Nationalism in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Ebook
In a world of violence in which religion seems to play an increasing role, the understanding of the Religions of the Book, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, is highly important. This book concentrates on these religions, all with common ancestry, that claim their mandates come from a holy text. These religions are embodied in both a text and a political purpose associated with a contentious nationalism and internationalism. Chan indicates their commonalities, especially in the political realm, but also their approaches to conflict with one another, within themselves, and with others who do not have a centralizing Book.
Preface: A Meditation on the Book of Job
Chapter 1. The Religions of the Book: The Embodied God and Judaism
Chapter 2. The Religions of the Book: The Embodied Christ
Chapter 3. To Be Embodied or to Be Embalmed?
Chapter 4. Quarrels among the Adherents of the Same Book
Chapter 5. Quarrels Involving Those with No Book
Chapter 6. The Impossibility of Life Outside the Realm of the Book
The Postscript of Possibilities
A Problematic Postscript: The God of Blood
Index
About the Author
Stephen Chan is a doyen of world politics, a gentle authority who has narrated international relations for decades. The present study connects neatly to this unique legacy, as it is essential reading for everyone interested in the politics of religion.
Stephan Chan takes a unique, innovative approach to the role of monotheistic religion in the world today, those that consider their doctrines are derived from a holy text and followers are 'people of the book.' He first discusses the three explicit monotheistic religions, relying on the works of many well-known, contemporary scholars to support his arguments, then brings them together and draws upon how other religions also envision an embodied god and address temporal conflict. This is a must-read for all interested in the interplay of politics and religion in the contemporary, volatile world.
In this time of rampant religious nationalism, Stephen Chan explores some of the ways in which throughout history the religious narratives of the religions of the book have been shaping global politics - a set of erudite and stimulating meditations sketching the ambivalence of the sacred and pointing to the potential for internationalism of these three interlinked traditions.
In this new book, Stephen Chan offers a series of insightful reflections on the politics of religion. Erudite and provocative at times, he foregrounds different human imaginations of God and then explores their implications for the struggle over power in domestic and international affairs.
- Title: The International Politics of an Embodied God: Nationalism in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
- Author: Obe Stephen Chan
- Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
- Print Publication Date: 2024
- Logos Release Date: 2024
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9798881801427, 9798881801403
- Resource ID: LLS:9798881801427
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-10-09T01:28:02Z
Stephen Chan was awarded the OBE by Queen Elizabeth in 2010 – ‘For services to Africa and Higher Education’ – the same year he was awarded the International Studies Association accolade, Eminent Scholar in Global Development. Earlier a newspaper editor and literary publisher, and an international civil servant stationed in Africa, he has held responsible positions – including Deanships – at three British universities; held the George Soros Chair at the Central European University, and the Konrad Adenauer Chair at the elite Palestinian Bir Zeit University, among a string of other named and honorific appointments. He is Professor of World Politics at SOAS University of London, remains seconded to diplomatic engagements in Africa and the Middle East and heads the philanthropic Kwok Meil Wah Foundation. He has published 36 earlier scholarly books, five volumes of poetry, and three novels.