The Blackwell Companion to Political Theology (Blackwell Companions to Religion) (Hardcover)

~ Peter Scott (Editor), William T. Cavanaugh (Editor) "First, there is the long-term tension between centralized political authority-articulated in the Old Testament as monarchy-and local authority, reflecting a segmented social arrangement..." (more)
Key Phrases: mystical communalism, political theology today, black political theology, New York, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Just when I was beginning to think that there are too many companion volumes in the world, I have read one that is pure delight. Political theology is a hot topic, and this book is required reading for it ... It is a book of books." Stephen H. Webb, Wabash College, Indiana

"An excellent resource for both teaching and research, this anthology is recommended for every theology library." Daniel J. Kuntz, Brescia University, Owensboro

“This is a very important, pioneering book, full of scintillating arguments and fresh insights. It is likely to redefine political theology for a new generation, and arouse a great deal of useful and vigorous debate. It will be an indispensible stimulus and resource for students and scholars concerned with the bearing of Christian theology on the political and public sphere.” Duncan Forrester, University of Edinburgh

“The strength of the collection lies in part two, a state-of-the-art summary of political theologies. The usefulness of companion, suitable for seminary libraries, is enhanced by an index of names and subjects and an index of biblical references.”
Timothy D. Lincoln
Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary

Product Description

Written by a team of international experts, this Companion provides the first comprehensive survey and interpretation of contemporary Christian political theology.

The Companion comprises 35 freshly-commissioned essays which embody the best current thinking in the field. These essays:-

Explore the political aspects of Christian sources such as scripture and liturgy Consider the interface of theology with political ideologies, including the contribution of theology to feminist, ecological, black and pacifist movements Assess the contribution of major political theologians and theological movements Indicate how central Christian doctrines such as the Trinity and Christology have politics embedded within them Show how theology impacts upon present-day political issues Two concluding essays present Jewish and Muslim perspectives on political theology.

The contributors are drawn from various traditions of political theology, but all of them demonstrate that Christian theology is inherently political, and that politics is properly illuminated by Christian perspectives.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 576 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell (December 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0631223428
• ISBN-13: 978-0631223429
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.8 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,406,282 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great political/theological writing, February 17, 2005

By	Tedd Steele (Naperville, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.