Liberation Theology For A Democratic Society Essays In Public Theology

Public Theology is an indispensable dimension of the calling of the church. As minister, bishop and academic teacher Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, in this collection of articles in English language, draws on a multitude of experiences in theological reflection as well as in pastoral praxis. The contributions of this volume include fundamental reflections on the role of churches and religion in the public sphere. But they also deal with issues of material ethics such as human rights, economic justice, overcoming violence, ecology or interreligious dialogue. The volume shows how theology can give moral guidance not only for the church but also for society as a whole.

Public Theology is one of the most important topics in the field of theology across the world but not in Korea. There are several historical and theological reasons for this indifference of Korean Reformed Christianity as the mainstream in Korea. In order to dispel doubts of Korean Reformed Christianity to the public theological approaches it is necessary to demonstrates a coherence between some characteristics of public theology and Reformed theology. This study analyses and utilises the six characteristics of public theology presented by Heinrich Bedford-Strohm as a lens to engage aspects of John Calvin's theology and the period of the Reformation in Geneva. Based on this work, the author re-examines the history of Korean Christianity with a public theological point of view and asserts the justification for Korean Reformed Christianity to actively embrace public theological approaches.

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.

This inspiring collection of 72 critical and creative contributions honouring the life and work of Desmond Mpilo Tutu comprises a rich and diverse array of reflections on the ecumenical global struggle against Apartheid, and Archbishop Tutu’s role therein, as a political priest, prophet and intellectual. The encounters with ‘the Arch’ and his work has shaped ongoing faith-based, activist and academic pursuits for justice, peace and dignity. Anyone familiar with his outstanding contributions to the promotion of justice, dignity and peace, will know that a hallmark of Desmond Tutu’s celebrated style is his use of narrative and real-life stories. In honour of his unique and remarkable example, the contributions in this book combine oral history and written history paradigms, as well as sociological, philosophical and theological approaches. While the book is meant to be a memorial recollection of encounters with the Arch, the hope is that these recollections will continue to inspire collective struggles and hopes for justice, peace and dignity.

Public theologies reflect on the contextuality of the Christian religion. Much of this contextuality is dependent on place: place as the culture and the society in which religions are situated, place as the position from where a theologian speaks, place as the biographical contingencies that shape people's lives. Moreover, public theologies ask for the contribution of Christian ethics to society, thereby shaping the social, cultural, and religious space to which they belong. The contributions in this volume analyse the categories of space and place in order to deepen the understanding of contextuality, thereby taking up some of the challenges presented by the so-called "spatial turn".

This book gives a persuasive answer to the need for public theology today. Rudolf von Sinner can draw from a rich basis of scholarship and experience related to the topic of public theology. His clear awareness of the contextuality of public theology is the reason for his repeated assurance in this book that we cannot speak about "public theology" but always only of "a" public theology. At the same time it is very clear for him that there is also an "intercontextuality". One of the great strengths of this book is its embeddedness into an international discourse on public theology, with a special emphasis on the South-South exchange. It is a contribution to public theology scholarship in its best sense. I proudly welcome its publication in our series. (Bishop Prof. Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, Evangelical Church in Germany}

"Jae Yang develops a Pannenbergian public theology by correlating Pannenberg's theological methods (postfoundational, eschatological, and trinitarian) with the aims and methods of public theology. He argues that Pannenberg's public theology engages not just the academic world, but also the political, economic, familial, religious, and cultural ones"--