Criticism of Theology

Roland Boer, Ph.D. (1993) in Biblical Studies, McGill University, is Research Professor at the University of Newcastle, Australia. He has published extensively in theology, Marxism, biblical criticism and political theory. His most recent works are Criticism of Religion (2009), Political Myth (2009), Political Grace (2009) and Criticism of Heaven (2007).

• PrefaceIntroduction1. The Superstitions of Max HorkheimerReligion as resistanceLonging for the totally otherThe founderOn freedom and the individualAtheism and resistanceHonest religionReligion betrayedThe stateOn the Jewish stateLiberal theologyReligion in the bad sense, or, the dialectic of evilConclusion: Modalities of the dialectic of religion2. The Dissent of E.P. ThompsonCorrupt parsons and the impetuous IrishThe ‘psychic terror’ of MethodismReligious terrorismMoral machineryPolitical reactionRadicals in the ranksThe ambivalence of the MethodistsWilliam Blake and the politics of radical dissentAntinomianism, or, justification by faithMuggletonian MarxistsRadical dissentPoetry and apocalypticAnti-nuclearPolitical ChristmasConclusion3. The Zeal of G.E.M. de Ste. CroixThe politics of styleTheology Chora versus polisFrom chora to polis: property, slavery and womenAssessmentFall narrativesOn contradictionReligion as primary cause… And historyClassTrade and propertyMode of productionConclusion: Ste. Croix among Marxists and theologians4. The Alchemy of Michael LöwyElective affinitiesEmergenceUntidy corners and sexy dialecticsLiberation theologyRoman-Catholic social teachingThe ontological reserveOne or many?Conclusion5. The Myths of Roland BarthesBetween description and accusationBasicsBaleful deformations of languageDesperate resistanceDialectics of oppositionHiding something?Producing and concealing oppositionPreserving rebellionThe cunning of mythAlternative mythsTowards utopiaConclusion6. The Flights of Gilles Deleuze and Félix GuattariGoing tribal, or, primitive pre-signifiersNumbers and nomads, or, the counter-signifying régimeIn bed with the despot, or, the signifying régimeThe scapegoat’s arseFrom outside to insideOriental despotsOn the tail of the scapegoat, or, the post-signifying régimeConclusion7. The Radical Homiletics of Antonio NegriRadical homileticsPhilosophical commentaryKairós and ákairosMeasure and immeasureThe olitics of cosmogonyNegri’s aporiaExcursus on the MessiahBack to the whirlwindConclusionConclusionReferencesIndex

"A great philosopher once wrote that 'some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested'. The five volumes of Roland Boer's magisterial series Marxism and Theology may well be all three." – Matthew Sharpe, in: Arena Journal 41/42 (2013), [28]-58