The Desire of the Nations: Rediscovering the Roots of Political Theology [Paperback]

Oliver O'Donovan (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521665167 | ISBN-13: 978-0521665162 | Publication Date: August 13, 1999

This book by Oliver O'Donovan is a work of systematic Christian political thought, combining Biblical interpretation, historical discussion of the Western political and theological tradition, theoretical construction and critical engagement with contemporary views. It argues for an alternative to political theology, one that is more politically constructive than the dominant models of the past generation.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a powerful argument by a subtle thinker. And it is a serious book to which anyone interested in questions of theology and politics must attend." Kenneth R. Craycraft Jr., The Review of Politics

"The Desire of the Nations is as significant a work of theology as I can recall reading in the last twenty years....this book is important....the book is carefully plotted." Gilbert Meilaender, First Things

Book Description

This book by Oliver O'Donovan is a work of systematic Christian political thought, combining biblical interpretation, historical discussion of the Western political and theological tradition, theoretical construction and critical engagement with contemporary views. It argues for an alternative to political theology, one that is both more politically constructive than the dominant models of the past generation developed under the influence of Latin American theology and more receptive to the Western Christian tradition. This book makes an important contribution to contemporary political theology and Christian ethics.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (August 13, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521665167
• ISBN-13: 978-0521665162
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #480,173 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real political theology, May 5, 2006

By 

D. H. Knight "Doug" (London UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Desire of the Nations: Rediscovering the Roots of Political Theology (Paperback)

`The Desire of the Nations: Rediscovering the roots of Political Theology'. O'Donovan sets out to rediscover what it means to say that `God is king'. God does not leave us to the tender mercy of our leaders and politicians. He is their ruler so they are responsible to him. When they do not rule us well we can appeal over their heads to God - we can pray to him - and he will dismiss them. Theology that is obedient to God must be done in the face of those political authorities, and often against their resistance. Christians have to name those illegitimate entities, centres of authority and modes of personhood that exercise a hidden power over us.

O'Donovan thinks that until, let us say, four hundred years ago, it was well enough understood that God is a ruler. Now it seems less obvious, with the result that modern people don't know how to give or take authority. They don't know how to tell one another what to do, or how to be told what to do. Moderns are driven by resentment - though it is difficult for them to say who they resent, who can be blamed for the way things are. They don't know what to do with other people, because they define themselves in opposition to other people. They tend to assume that being free, means being free from other people, not having anyone to tell you what to do.

Imagine it like this. Modern political thinkers are a group of college students. They go on strike against college authorities and stage a sit-in. To their consternation the college authorities join in, with the result that there are no authorities, no one to meet their demands. Nonetheless everyone declares that rules are an imposition, that no one can teach them anything, that we don't need exams because it is unfair to say that one student is better than another. Who wouldn't enjoy a strike, at least on the first day? But we know that in any protest movement, after the initial spontaneity, there comes one crisis after another - who is going to get the coffee, who is going to clean up, and using what for money? No one is responsible for anyone else. We follow whoever shouts loudest - but we do not manage to stick with what we agreed, but regularly reverse our collective resolutions. This is the environment O'Donovan believes is represented by modernity. I rob you, but if you take me to court I protest that the court has no right to try me or punish me. By what right do you intend to make me suffer any punishment against my consent? So then, it is a matter of my interpretation of my rights against your interpretation of your rights. When I play too rough, who is going to protect you from me?

O'Donovan says it though it may be a good thing to resist authority it may also be a good thing to suffer it. He shows that for hundreds of years Christians have shown how to suffer authority, and how to oppose illegitimate authority. They have something to measure authority against, and they know how to accept and suffer authority, good and bad. They show virtues and courage - they learned it, from previous generations of Christians, and from Christ. Without such virtue and patience and suffering you can never become one of the grown ups, you cannot be free of your own unfocussed resentments.

O'Donovan shown us how the modern distinction between the religious and the secular and political came into being. He has found two things. The first is that there is no necessary distinction between the two - theology is politics, because Christians confess that God is lord, he has real political authority over us. The second is that this distinction was itself the creation of Christian theology - the distinction between Church and state, and between `religious' and `secular', was intended to assert the prophetic responsibility of the Church to keep the leaders to the task of the formation of their people. So O'Donovan says that there is no such thing as secularisation as such, apart from this Christian prophetic office. O'Donovan provides a history of the West which is not a history of increasing secularisation. Modern political thought is the continuation of a pagan politics and a theory about nature that claims that man is master of himself, who feels no obligation to acknowledge the authority of any other, and who has therefore the greatest problem coming to terms with other people. The otherness of other people - that is the perennial problem, the one that systematic theology must cope with, in the future, as in the past. This political theology, willing to read back deep into the medieval tradition, has produced some much more political theology than the liberation theology that was the exciting thing thirty years ago. For the future of theology, O'Donovan stands for learning from the rich resources of Christian doctrine.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magisterially done (no pun intended), February 21, 2007

By 

Baroque Norseman (Louisiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Desire of the Nations: Rediscovering the Roots of Political Theology (Paperback)

Thesis
Oliver O'Donovan (hereafter OO) meticulously sets forth the case for the Rule of Christ in contemporary society. Unlike modern-day authors who like a vague notion of "kingship" because it sounds like something Jesus might have said, OO develops a thorough biblical theology of "God's rule" and then applies it to tough situations.

Exposition:
1. Kingship is mediated through "judgment," "Law-keeping/giving," and "salvation." To "judge is to bring the already-present distinction between the righteous and unrighteous to light. The third point of reference, salvation, leads to the theme of "possession." "Political authority arises where power, the execution of right and the perpetuation of tradition are assured together in one coordinated agency" (46).
2. The individual is the lonely one who prophecies against the chosen people for the sake of the chosen people. He is commonly called to suffer for the sake of bringing wisdom to the community. He is the one who speaks both for Yahweh against the community and for the community in its anguish under Yahweh's blows. Ultimately, this is the servant of Isaiah 53. The individual in general, however, is the one who applies the mediated rule of Yahweh in specific applications.
3. Jesus' works of power were victories over and judgments against the demonic realm. He also proclaimed the coming judgment of Israel, which would ultimately redefine what it meant to be "Israel" and "Abraham's seed." In short, Jesus demonstrated power, judgment, and continuity in Israel.
4. The Kingdom of God is brought into sharp relief when it confronts the powers of this world. The Kingdom of God enhances our knowledge of "community." The Church is a model to the State of how God rules a community.
5. The Church is a political society. It is to find the nations (in mission) and to be the New World Order for the Kingdom of God. Its political character is discerned by faith (166).
6. "The Church represents God's kingdom by living under its rule and welcoming the world to its rule" (174). O'Donovan's strongest point is his discussion of "martyrology." Martyrdom is the focal point of a struggle between Christ and Society, with the powers inevitably bound to lose (179). We suffer for the sake and salvation of the world. As the church we are a glad community who rejoices in the receiving back of the created order.
7. Society and rulers--society is to be transformed while rulers disappear. OO defines Christendom as a Christian secular political order. The Church is to witness to the Kingdom of God and Christendom is the response to that witness. Christendom is the only way to legitimately maintain the two kingdoms doctrine. Christendom separates the priest-role from the king-role.

Thoughts:
This book is written on the advanced level. It sometimes makes for slow reading. OO's best sections were on the church and Christendom. Why is Christendom such a radical idea? Surely if rulers get converted the will...well...maybe live and rule like....converted Christians! Seriously, this book gives hope for the Christian future and a challenge against naievete. A few flaws with the book: I would like to see these ideas put into a more concrete form. Secondly, the last chapter had too much information in it. I lost track of the argument.

Aside from the difficult read, this book is masterfully done.

5 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A specifically Christian political Theology, March 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Desire of the Nations: Rediscovering the Roots of Political Theology (Paperback)

In this important work, Oliver O'Donovan provides a political theology which does not require one to leave one's Christian identity at the door. It is a valuable contribution to a thriving conversation. For another important "theological" approach to political life, see William Cavanugh's "Torture and Eucharist."