In this module, we will use shared reading, discussion, and writing to develop in-depth, critical analysis of political theologies with attention to how this analysis can impact on Christian political thinking and practice within our social contexts.

This module has been designed with a broad understanding of politics and therefore of political theology: “Theology is broadly understood as discourse about God, and human persons as they relate to God. The political is broadly understood as the use of structural power to organize a society or community of people … Political theology is, then, the analysis and criticism of political arrangements … from the perspective of differing interpretations of God’s ways with the world.”[1] As a result, we will consider many parts of life that are political, e.g. state, society, community, church, economy, workplace, family. We will also consider many ways of thinking about politics, talking about politics, and acting in relation to politics, from many different Christian theological perspectives.

We will start with some relevant biblical passages, move on to Augustine, and then read political theologians mostly since WW2. In some weeks we will also read some other sources, mostly social-scientific. These other sources can help illuminate the political theologies of those we read, ourselves, and other Christians. They can also help deepen our understanding of the contexts in which we are reading and discussing political theologies and the politics that is going on in those contexts.