Publisher Description

This book asks thequestion 'what is religion?' from a theological perspective. In an age in whichreligion has reasserted itself on national and international stages, Theology against Religion argues that weshould take seriously the critique of religion, and engage with that critiquetheologically. The book argues that theologizing the critique of religion wascentral to the theological purposes of Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, andthat Barth and Bonhoeffer should be seen as traveling along the sametrajectory in terms of their theological approaches to religion. It is thistrajectory that this book seeks to explore in thinking with and beyondBonhoeffer, and by identifying a series of themes around which constructionengagements can take place. The result is an exciting series of discussionswhich take seriously the interplay of the religious, the secular, pluralism andthe concept of God, with chapters on salvation, the church, the public squareand other faiths.

Author Biography

Tom Greggs is Professor of Historical and Doctrinal Theology at King's College, Aberdeen University, UK.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements\Abbreviations\Chapter 1: Introduction\Section I - Christianizing the Critique of Religion: Barth and Bonhoeffer\Chapter 2: Barth's early discussions of religion\Chapter 3: Bonhoeffer's Religionless Christianity\Chapter 4: After religionlessness: back to Barth & formative motifs\Section II - Doctrine after Christendom: Secularism, Salvation and the Church\Chapter 5: Saviour of all: soteriology against religion\Chapter 6: Post-Christendom Ecclesiology\Chapter 7: Religionlessness and Public Space: Generous Particularism\Section III - Engaging with the Religions: Pluralism and Theology against Religion\Chapter 8: A theology of religions against religion\Chapter 9: From Theory to Practice: Inter-faith Dialogue\Chapter 10: Conclusion: A Coda on Mystery and Hope\Bibliography\Index

Review

Greggs offers a close, careful survey of the primary source material's treatment of religion as a category and construct … Given that theologians like Sarah Coakley and Eugene Rogers have recently called our attention to the absence of pneumatological reflection in modern and contemporary theology and the potentialities in it, Greggs' turn to the Spirit as an ecclesiological resource struck me as particularly insightful. -- Brandy Daniels * Center for Barth Studies *
'Focussing on Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Tom Greggs provides both constructive and formative insights into the manifold dimensions of theological critique of religion, particularly in terms of implications for thinking about religion in relation to other faith traditions practised by living communities of people.' - Ralf K. Wüstenberg, Chair for Systematic and Historic Theology, Flensburg University, Germany. -- Ralf K. Wüstenberg
'This is a profound, daring and practical book. It is more than a powerful recovery of two of the great Christian theologians, Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in their prophetic relevance today. Prof Greggs also moves beyond them in his constructive response to our complexly multi-faith and secular world. He offers a burning vision of Christianity for the twenty-first century: inspired by the Holy Spirit, following Jesus Christ along new ways, Biblical, thoughtful, building up a 'church for others', political, and involved in 'multiple intensities' springing from love of God and neighbour. The two chapters on how Christians can understand and practice inter-faith engagement are a superb culmination.' - David F. Ford, Regius Professor of Divinity and Director of the Cambridge Inter-faith Programme, University of Cambridge, UK. -- David F. Ford

Promotional

A constructive approach from a theological perspective about the category of religion in Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Karl Barth.

Long Description

This book asks thequestion 'what is religion?' from a theological perspective. In an age in whichreligion has reasserted itself on national and international stages, Theology against Religion argues that weshould take seriously the critique of religion, and engage with that critiquetheologically. The book argues that theologizing the critique of religion wascentral to the theological purposes of Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, andthat Barth and Bonhoeffer should be seen as traveling along the sametrajectory in terms of their theological approaches to religion. It is thistrajectory that this book seeks to explore in thinking with and beyondBonhoeffer, and by identifying a series of themes around which constructionengagements can take place. The result is an exciting series of discussionswhich take seriously the interplay of the religious, the secular, pluralism andthe concept of God, with chapters on salvation, the church, the public squareand other faiths.

Review Quote

'This is a profound,daring and practical book. It is more than a powerful recovery of two of thegreat Christian theologians, Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in theirprophetic relevance today. Prof Greggs also moves beyond them in hisconstructive response to our complexly multi-faith and secular world. He offersa burning vision of Christianity for the twenty-first century: inspired by theHoly Spirit, following Jesus Christ along new ways, Biblical, thoughtful,building up a 'church for others', political, and involved in 'multipleintensities' springing from love of God and neighbour. The two chapters on howChristians can understand and practice inter-faith engagement are a superbculmination.' - David F. Ford, Regius Professor of Divinity and Director of theCambridge Inter-faith Programme, University of Cambridge, UK.

Promotional "Headline"

A constructive approach from a theological perspective about the category of religion in Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Karl Barth.

Details