Customer Reviews

The Blackwell Companion to Political Theology (Wiley-Blackwell Companions to Religion)

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This book could have been titled many things. It could be an "introduction" to political theology, because, although it is over 500 pages, there is much more that needs to be said on the topic. Political theology "reader" would also be an appropriate description, since it contains essays by many thinkers working in the field. In the end, though, this book is definately a "companion" to the other writings on the topic available today.

As ought to be expected, this book represents many different perspectives on the task of political theology. It does a good job sampling the numerous viewpoints currently being articulated. One should not expect a coherent presentation. Instead, this is a collection that draws from many conversations.

The book is broken into five parts. The first discusses traditional resources in political theology. This includes scripture, worship, and various traditions prior to the twentieth-century. The second surveys various understandings of the task of political theology. These essays include expositions of movements as well as thinkers. Undoubtedly this section could be greatly expanded, but it does a fair job at surveying the field. The third section is, in my opinion, the most beneficial. Through various doctrines, the task of political theology is examined in a constructive manner. Here the differences in perspective truly come out. The fourth section, also exceptional, gives a response to various movements in the world and academia. Here, for instance, a response to democracy is given. This section could easily have included 2 essays on each topic to present a balanced picture. The final section gives an Islamic and Jewish perspective on the task of political theology. I found these two essays very helpful.

This is a must read for those interested in the interaction of Christian theological thought and the political (however the terms are defined). Readers will be challenged in their beliefs and forced to examine their true convictions. This is a good text to be used as a survey or a springboard for further discussion.