Theology, Ideology and Liberation

Peter Scott seeks to show that, often despite itself, Christianity speaks of a God of freedom.

Peter Scott (Author)

9780521072298, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 14 August 2008

288 pages
22.5 x 15.2 x 2.1 cm, 0.6 kg

"[Scott] is a gifted thinker with a very clear grasp of Marxism and the challenges it presents..." Theological Studies

How is theology liberating? In the context of a post-Gorbachev world, where many demand freedom which the Western powers seem ill-equipped to deliver, is it even possible to envisage a liberative theology? Taking as his starting point the Marxist complaint that Christianity is ideological, Peter Scott argues that it is not enough for Christian theology to talk about liberation: it must be liberative. Stressing with feminist and liberation theologies the embodied, contextual nature of theology, the constructive proposal made here locates God's liberating abundance toward society in an interpretation of resurrection as social. Only in this way, in the author's view, can a trinitarian Christian account of liberation be adequately grounded. The book will be of interest to all those who wish to know if theology may speak truthfully about the transformation of society: it offers the shape of a liberative theology pointing towards social freedom.

General editors' preface
Preface
Introduction
Part I: The Shape of the Argument
1. Theology and the Marxist critique of ideology
2. Hegemony, ideology and determination
Part II: Liberating Theology
3. Against idolatry: two protocols
4. God/world: distinction and connections
Part III: Christian liberation? 5. Theology and society
6. Incarnation, resurrection and liberation
7. Society and God's trinitarian presence
8. Unfinished business
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Christian theology [HRCM]