Power and Christian Theology

(Paperback)

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In Power and Christian Theology, Stephen Sykes examines the ambiguous role played by the concept of power in Christian theology. Centuries of experience of the abuse of power have taught us to be instinctively suspicious of it. But can a faith which celebrates a God of power and might' dispense with it entirely

In the history of theology, and based in the Scriptures, are to be found diverging tendencies; one which sees no difficulty in the affirmation of divine power and its human embodiment, the other in which power is radically re-thought. In early modern Europe power was given new, realistic expression, and the discipline of sociology was born. Theology has had consequently to face new problems.

Stephen Sykes argues that it is not credible to attempt to dissociate Christian faith from the phenomena of power in their entirety. He holds that human beings are enmeshed in a deeply ambiguous context, a world of overlapping and intersecting powers. The dangers which inevitably accompany the use of power are better avoided by their explicit recognition, than by heroic exercises of self-deception.

Reviews

"This is an impressive book which manages in relatively few pages to cover an enormous amount of territory ... Sykes manages to accomplist with this book what he sees as the minimum definition of power: to make a difference in the world." - Theology
"This is an impressive book which manages in relatively few pages to cover an enormous amount of territory. It should begin an important conversation in the Church, not least in the often glib Christian talk about the power of God. Those outside the Church would do well to read it and to think again about what they take to be the default position on power and violence. In other words Sykes manages to accomplish with this book what he sees as the minimum definition of power: to make a difference in the world."Theology, November 2008
"Sykes seeks to demonstrate the complexity of power in Christianity. He does so through various surveys, which consider biblical traditions, the traditions of the Christian churches, and the insights of sociology. While reflections on the traditions of the church make up the bulk of Sykes' argument, there are valuable insights from these other areas as well." Religious Studies Review, September 2009
"Peppered with occasional reflections from his own career in the Church, Sykes seeks to do full justice not only to the theological dilemmas regarding the exercise of power, but also the sociological factors that impinge on the way human relations and inequalities are actually played out in church and society." -Jeffrey W. Bailey, Modern Theology, January 2009
'[A] remarkable tour de force: so much information, analysis, and constructive thinking within a mere 152 pages of text....There are fine discussions of biblical material, and also of post-biblical material...The author's condensed style provokes the reader to return to certain passages and to puzzle at them, thus to discover more of their implications. Such is the power of the skilled teacher.' ~ Dr Alec Graham, Church Times, 03/11/2006 -- Dr Alec Graham * Church Times *
'In his masterly Power and Christian Theology, the theologian Stephen Sykes, while not being some Machiavellian wolf in the clothing of a Christian sheep, understands the analytic power of the Machiavellian tradition.' -- David Martin * Times Literary Supplement *

Author Bio

Stephen Sykes is one of the most original and creative theologians writing today.He held professorial posts in Durham (1974-85) and Cambridge (1985-90) before being Bishop of Ely (1990-99). He is currently Principal of St John's College, Durham.