Power, Knowledge and Authority in Public Theology

2007 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine Graham
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Christian Theology ◽  
Public Theology ◽  
The Past ◽  
Past Generation ◽  
Theological Discourse ◽  
The Church

AbstractOne of the most distinctive movements within Christian theology to have emerged over the past generation has been the various theologies of liberation which originated in Latin America but which now span a diversity of styles, including feminist and womanist, Black, Asian and lesbian/gay/bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) theologies. All theologies of liberation purport to give a voice to the experiences of those formerly silenced or marginalized by society and/or the Church. This is essentially an issue of power, since one of the authenticating marks of such theologies is the extent to which they enable such groups to move from powerlessness to empowerment. Yet theologies of liberation also represent, potentially, another redistribution of power, by enabling previously excluded groups to bring their interpretations and testimonies into theological discourse. This article examines the background to this intersection of power and knowledge in theology, and asks how public theology might assist such a process of theological empowerment.

The Church and Society Movement and the Roots of Public Theology in Brazilian Protestantism

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raimundo Barreto
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Public Theology ◽  
Social Injustice ◽  
European North ◽  
The Social ◽  
Theological Discourse ◽  
Church And Society ◽  
Organic Intellectual ◽  
The Church

Abstract Brazilian Protestantism in its origins tended to develop a kind of pietistic and individualistic spirituality without much concern with the social structures of Brazilian society. Nevertheless, in its historical relation with a reality marked by poverty, social injustice and oppression, some Brazilian Protestants began to develop a sense of social responsibility and social justice, which has been manifest in different ways. This article is an overview of the first attempt from a Protestant viewpoint to develop a public theological discourse in Brazil, during the 1950s and early 1960s. It focuses on the Religion and Society movement, which not only preceded liberation theology in Latin America, but also dialogued with liberationist thought and influenced it, as well as other later public discourses among Catholics and Protestants in Latin America. Richard Shaull was the first significant organic intellectual who mediated the dialogue between European/North American theologies and the Latin American public theology, which was in the making.

Is Sino-Christian Theology Truly “Theology”? Problematizing Sino-Christian Theology as a Public Theology

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-119
Author(s):  
Jason Lam
Keyword(s):  
Christian Theology ◽  
Public Theology ◽  
Public Realm ◽  
Public Concern ◽  
Self Identity ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
The Past ◽  
State Of Affairs ◽  
The Church ◽  
Chinese Public

Abstract Most participants in the Sino-Christian theology movement are not affiliated with the church. This state of affairs naturally raises the question whether what scholarship arises is really a kind of theology or merely writings on public and/or political issues with reference to Christian themes. And yet the movement is more influential than the church in the Chinese public realm in terms of its ability to produce a Christian voice. The purpose of this article is first to examine the historical development of Sino-Christian theology over the past several decades. Some particular themes of this movement are then explored. These themes are intertwined with the discussion of polytheistic values, nationalism, and self-identity in times of cultural conflict: all of these matters are of wide public concern. There are evident tensions within the Sino-Christian theology movement: the intention is to show points of difference can be transformed and become a creative drive behind the construction of a new kind of theology in the Chinese public realm.

scholarly journals KEBANGKITAN STUDI TEOLOGI PATRISTIK: Doktrin Trinitas (Perikhoresis)

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-76
Author(s):  
Minggus Minarto Pranoto
Keyword(s):  
Christian Theology ◽  
Church Fathers ◽  
The Past ◽  
Christian Service ◽  
Theological Discourse ◽  
Doctrine Of The Trinity ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Trinity

Teologi Patristik atau teologi bapa-bapa gereja muncul di masa-masa awal dalam sejarah perkembangan gereja. Namun demikian pemikiran teologi Patristik masih terus relevan berhadapan dengan persoalan-persoalan kehidupan sekarang ini. Teologi Patristik merupakan warisan berharga teologi Kristen yang tidak pernah membeku dan menjadi fosil di masa lalu, sebaliknya teologi Patristik mengalami kebangkitan dalam topik-topik kajiannya dan mempunyai daya dorong yang kuat untuk mendasari praksis transformasional pelayanan Kristen di masa sekarang ini. Kebangkitan studi teologi Patristik menunjukkan bahwa teologi Patristik memiliki ruang yang luas untuk diaplikasikan dalam berbagai isu kehidupan. Teologi Patristik setia terhadap kerygma rasul-rasul dan tujuannya agar kehidupan orang percaya memuliakan Allah dan berjuang melakukan praksis transformasional pelayanan Kristen. Doktrin Trinitas (perikhoresis), yang telah diformulasikan dalam teologi Patristik, merupakan salah satu doktrin yang begitu luas didiskusikan dan dikembangkan dalam wacana berteologi sekarang ini. Abstract: Patristic theology or theology of the Church Fathers emerged in the early days in the history of the development of the Church. However, the thought of Patristic theology continues to be relevant in dealing with the problems of life today. Patristic theology is a valuable legacy of Christian theology that has never been frozen and fossilized in the past, instead Patristic theology experienced a revival in its study topics and has a strong impetus to underpin the transformational praxis of Christian service in the present. The revival of the study of Patristic theology shows that Patristic theology has ample scope to be applied in various issues of life. Patristic theology is faithful to the apostolic faith and its purpose so that the lives of believers glorify God and strive to carry out transformational praxis of Christian service. The doctrine of the Trinity (perikhoresis), which has been formulated in Patristic theology, is one of the doctrines that is so widely discussed and developed in current theological discourse.

Public Theology: Its Pastoral, Apologetic, Scientific, Political, and Prophetic Tasks

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-177
Author(s):  
Ted Peters
Keyword(s):  
Public Discourse ◽  
Political Theology ◽  
Christian Theology ◽  
Public Theology ◽  
Constructive Work ◽  
The Church

Abstract This blueprint for a constructive public theology assumes that Christian theology already includes public discourse. Following David Tracy’s delineation of three publics—church, academy, culture—further constructive work leads to a public theology conceived in the church, reflected on critically in the academy, and meshed with the wider culture. Public reflection on classic Christian doctrines in a post-secular pluralistic context takes the form of pastoral illumination, apologetic reason, a theology of nature, political theology, and prophetic critique.

Personhood and the problem of the Other

2001 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 204-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian McFarland
Keyword(s):  
Mental Retardation ◽  
Mental Capacity ◽  
The Other ◽  
Severe Mental Retardation ◽  
The Past ◽  
Past Generation ◽  
Cast Doubt ◽  
The One ◽  
The Church

The question of what it means to be a person is hardly new in theology, but it has arguably been posed with renewed urgency over the past generation. On the one hand, traditional answers have been challenged by those whose personhood had long been viewed inside and outside the church as somehow inferior or deficient (especially men of colour, and women of all backgrounds). On the other, reflection on the situation of people suffering from severe mental retardation, psychosis and dementia (not to mention the debates over abortion and euthanasia) has cast doubt on ancient and modern attempts to understand personhood in terms of self-consciousness or some other mental capacity.

scholarly journals “MELAMPAUI DUNIA LATIN : KEMURIDAN DAN KEWARGAAN DALAM TEOLOGI PUBLIK KEKRISTENAN ASIA”

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 265
Author(s):  
James Haire
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Christian Theology ◽  
Public Theology ◽  
Nation State ◽  
The Third ◽  
Asian Society ◽  
Pauline Theology ◽  
Christian Discipleship ◽  
Concrete Reality ◽  
The Church

Abstract: This article looks at the issues of discipleship and citizenship in the context of Asian Christianity in terms of “belonging”. The concept of discipleship refers to the concept of belonging within the church, while the concept of citizenship refers to belonging within the nation-state. Thus the issue of belonging within these two spheres is a sub-set of the questions relating to public theology within Asian Christianity. The first issue considered is the question as to what extent the assumptions of public Christian theology actually are the assumptions of post-Enlightenment western Christian theology alone, and therefore have only very indirect links with Asian Christianity. The second issue is the intercultural nature of Christian theology, and its implications for public theology, including discipleship and citizenship. The third issue is the reality of Asian society and Asian Christian theology, particularly public theology. Where Christianity is a minority (albeit, large minority), what is the contribution of a public Christian theology to the debates of civil society? In this section the author looks at the concrete reality of violence in Asia, and seek to analyse how the dynamics of Pauline theology frequently used in Asia engage with the fact of violence. Finally the article seeks to answer the question as to what we can learn from Asian Christian contexts on the interaction of faith and culture in relation to Christian discipleship and engaged citizenship. Keywords: kekristenan, budaya, teologi publik, gereja, lokal, global, Asia, reformasi.

Public Theology and Counter-Public Spheres

1992 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Owen C. Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Public Discourse ◽  
Modern Science ◽  
Christian Theology ◽  
Public Theology ◽  
Public Spheres ◽  
The Past ◽  
Alternative Proposal ◽  
Special Revelation

In the past decade a number of influential theologians have claimed, based on the analogy of modern science, that Christian theology is or should be public discourse, a public discipline which is addressed to all people and which uses criteria acceptable to all. This claim is usually contrasted with a view in which theology is understood as private, subjective, authoritarian, based on faith or a special revelation, and limited to a particular community. In this essay I shall explore in particular David Tracy's claim that theology should be public discourse, point out some difficulties with regard to this claim, and make an alternative proposal.

THE CHURCH IN LATIN AMERICA: CONFRONTATION WITH THE PAST - AN IMPERATIVE

Exchange ◽  
1978 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Klaus van der Grijp
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Church

scholarly journals Theology in the Public Sphere in the Twenty-First Century

Horizons ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 351-356
Author(s):  
Bryan N. Massingale
Keyword(s):  
Public Sphere ◽  
First Century ◽  
Public Theology ◽  
The Public ◽  
Theological Discourse ◽  
Church And Society ◽  
Twenty First Century ◽  
The Public Sphere ◽  
The Church

Several decades ago David Tracy wrote that theologians speak to three publics: the academy, the church, and society. Since then many theologians have exhibited, in Tracy's words, “that drive to publicness which constitutes all good theological discourse[,] … a drive from and to those three publics.”1 Our four roundtable authors discuss how and why theologians engage the public sphere in the twenty-first century. In arguing for the necessity of such engagement, they also draw attention to the promise and perils of doing public theology today.

scholarly journals Postmoderne kerk-wees in die lig van publieke teologie – eenheid en verskeidenheid

2006 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yolanda Dreyer
Keyword(s):  
Practical Theology ◽  
Faith Communities ◽  
Public Theology ◽  
The Public ◽  
Theological Discourse ◽  
Truth Claims ◽  
Institutional Church ◽  
The Church ◽  
Postmodern Thinking

Being postmodern church in light of public theology – unity and diversityFoundationalism criticizes the “relativism” of postmodernity which deconstructs absolute and objective totalitarian truth claims. Although most postmodern scholars deny advocating relativism, they do acknowledge that plurality features significantly in postmodern thinking. Plurality and diversity are important to the theological discourse tool, because the church claims to be catholic and ecumenical. In a postmodern context people who do not necessarily affiliate with the institutional church may nevertheless regard themselves as Christians. The article supports a public theological discourse and aims to provide a framework for reflection on unity and diversity in postmodern faith communities. Public practical theology includes the public as one of its audiences. After a brief overview of the phenomenon of postmodernity, the article explores the role of plurality in ecclesiology. It reflects on the challenge of facilitating a dialogue between members of churches and those who regard themselves as spiritual in the secularized context of a “churchless Christianity”. The purpose of the article is to contribute to the ecumenism and the catholicity of the church.

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