T&T Clark Handbook of Public Theology

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T&T Clark Handbook of Public Theology introduces the various philosophical and theological positions and approaches in the emerging discourse of public theology. Distinguishing public theology from political theology, as well as from liberation theology, this book clarifies central terms like public sphere, the secular, and post-secularity in order to highlight the specific characteristics of public theology. Its particular focus lies on the ways in which much of public theology has established itself as a contextual theology in politically secular societies, aiming to continue the apologetical tradition in this specific context. Depending on what is regarded as the most pressing challenge for the reasonable defence of the Christian hope in liberal democracies, public theologians have focused on (social) ethics, ecclesiology, or Soteriology, with the aim to strengthen the virtues needed for democratic citizenship. Here, attention is being paid to Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox perspectives. The volume further illustrates the characteristics of the discourse by introducing the ways in which public theologians have responded to concrete challenges arising in the spheres of politics, economics, ecology, sports, culture, and religion. To highlight the international scope of the public theological discourse, the volume concludes with a summarizing overview of public theological debates in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and Latin America.

Reviews

This is a handbook that, with high intellectual sophistication and high sensitivity toward concrete contemporary challenges, both serves as a primer for the state of the art of public theology in the Global North and as indicator of a highly dynamic debate that is ongoing and growing. -- Prof. Dr. Rudolf von Sinner, Curitiba/Brazil Chair, Global Network of Public Theology
Public theology is a model of theology that emphasizes the communicability between faith and reason. This Handbook paves the way for a new discussion, providing new argumentations and topics. Situating public theology in different traditions and debates, the Handbook is much more than a collection of essays. Its goal is to show how Christian theology may defend modernity against its theological as well as its secular enemies. It engages in theoretical reflections, recounts the complicated history of the concept, and opens the discussion to new ecumenical approaches. It emphasizes the inherent relationship of public theology with ethical questions, especially freedom, justice, and solidarity. This Handbook is a great success, and it could not be timelier. -- Prof. Dr. Hille Haker, Richard McCormick Endowed Chair of Ethics, Loyola University Chicago, USA

Author Bio

Christoph Hbenthal is Professor of Systematic Theology and Director of the Center for Catholic Studies at Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Christiane Alpers is Research and Teaching Fellow at the Catholic University of Eichsttt-Ingolstadt, Germany.