Theology and Contemporary Culture
Liberation, Postliberal and Revisionary Perspectives

This book reviews three major schools of modern theological thought and proposes solutions to inter-movement disputes.

David G. Kamitsuka (Author)

9780521093606, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 11 January 2009

220 pages
21.6 x 14 x 1.3 cm, 0.29 kg

"David Kamitsuka's book is a refreshingly honest and thoughtful analysis of some of the most intractable debates in contemporary theological method." Modern Theology

Drawing from postliberal, revisionary and Latin American liberation theological perspectives, David Kamitsuka offers proposals on theological method and doctrine responsive to the intellectual, pastoral and socio-political challenges of contemporary culture. He recasts inter-movement polemics in order to forge a theological approach which promotes what are often considered to be competing values among these three theological movements: solidarity with the oppressed (liberationist), redescribing the Christian communal sense of scripture (postliberal), and fully critical reflection (revisionist). The author advocates an apologetic strategy entailing coherentist and consensus elements for justifying Christian claims in the pluralistic public realm. He provides a model for reading scripture theologically which addresses the challenges of poststructuralism and a globally diverse Church. Kamitsuka uses rule theory to adjudicate doctrinal disputes on the relationship between salvation and political liberation, and he proposes methodological 'virtues' for theological practice rooted in practical judgements concerning the vitality and fidelity of Christian communities.

Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. Values informing conceptions of theology
2. Apologetics and the linguistic-historical turn
3. Credibility in the pluralistic public realm
4. Reading the Bible theologically as the church's book
5. Pursuing doctrinal common ground
6. Virtues and vices in theological practice
Select bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Christian theology [HRCM]