Critical Theory Of Religion The Frankfurt School From Universal Pragmatic To Political Theology

Since its founding by Jacques Waardenburg in 1971, Religion and Reason has been a leading forum for contributions on theories, theoretical issues and agendas related to the phenomenon and the study of religion. Topics include (among others) category formation, comparison, ethnophilosophy, hermeneutics, methodology, myth, phenomenology, philosophy of science, scientific atheism, structuralism, and theories of religion. From time to time the series publishes volumes that map the state of the art and the history of the discipline.

At present in European and American civil society a new paradigm of doing not only philosophy, psychology and sociology, but also religiology and theology is emerging: communicative action. A new communicative political theology, including a critical religiology, is arising. Its central theme is the theodicy problem. The present study approaches this theme in the framework of a critical religiology and communicative political theology narratively as well as discoursively. In search for a solution to the theodicy problem, we explore with the help of critical theorists from M. Horkheimer over W. Benjamin and Th. W. Adorno to J. Habermas and of political theologians from J. B. Metz over H. Peukert to E. Arens the philosophical and theological constellation of justice, love, freedom and reconciliation. This study follows the dialectical method: determinate negation - affirmation through negation of negation.

At present, in European and American civil society a new paradigm of doing not only psychology, sociology and philosophy, but also comparative religiology and theology is emerging: it is called communicative rationality and action. A new communicative theology and religiology are also arising. Their central theme is the theodicy problem. The present study approaches this theme in the framework of a critical political theology and comparative religiology in a narrative and discursive fashion. In search for a solution to the theodicy problem, we explore with the help of the critical theory from Max Horkheimer through Walter Benjamin and Theodor W. Adorno to Jürgen Habermas, and with the assistance of the new political theology from Johann B. Metz through Helmut Peukert to Edmund Arens, the psychological, sociological, philosophical and theological constellation of universal freedom, reconciliation, and non-possessive love and solidarity out of personal autonomy and sovereignty.

Critical Theory and the Future of Religion; Dubrovnik Papers in Honour of Rudolf J. Siebert This collection documents an historically significant period in the life of the Inter-University Centre of Postgraduate Studies (IUC) in Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia. It covers conversations on the Future of Religion' during the 15 years from 1977-1991, an extremely important time not only for the IUC, but for Yugoslavia itself. Essays address the nature, role and future of religion in the modern and post-modern and post-modern world. [TST 64*] $99.95 364pp. 1992

Eduardo Medieta has brought together a selection of readings and essays which will make available the contribution of the thinkers of the Frankfurt School on the subject of religion.

The Manifesto develops further the Critical Theory of Religion intrinsic to the Critical Theory of Society of the Frankfurt School into a new paradigm of the Psychology, Sociology, Philosophy and Theology of Religion. Its central theme is the theodicy problem in the context of late capitalist society and its globalization.