Political Theology

Should we speak of an idea of political theology in the highly secularised world of contemporary Western societies? Norman Porter thinks that we should, but that to do so convincingly requires meeting some difficult theological, philosophical and political challenges. A significant attempt to meet these is found among advocates of what he calls a radical idea of political theology. At the heart of this idea, we find theories of freedom and knowledge that derive from a concept of praxis. Through their auspices, we are offered a political interpretation of revelation which claims immunity from philosophical critiques of religion and contributes to the quest of human emancipation from social and political oppression. But, argues Porter, the radical idea, despite its insights, is not sufficiently impressive theologically, philosophically or politically. An alternative idea which grants politics a more modest theological role, even as it recommends expanded philosophical and political thinking, is required.