Future of Political Theology

Péter Losonczi's fields of research were early modern and contemporary philosophy of religion, inter-religious dialogue, and postsecularism. His publications cover these areas and he was involved in several related research projects. He was editor of the book series Schnittpunkte/Intersections and Dialogos (L'Harmattan, Budapest), and a member of the editorial board of the journal Katekhón. His publications include Reflecting Diversity: Historical and Thematical perspectives in the Jewish and Christian Tradition (co-edited, 2007) and his forthcoming edited and authored books include: Religion, Philosophy, Theology: On the Idea of Interreligious Dialogue (authored, 2009); Religio Academici: Religion, Scepticism, and the Pursuit of Knowledge (co-edited, 2009); Philosophy Begins in Wonder: An Introduction to Early Modern Philosophy, Theology, and Science (co-edited, 2009). Mika Luoma-aho is in the editorial board in both of the two Finnish political science journals, Politiikka and Kosmopolis. His research interests include critical international relations theory, political conservatism, and Christian political symbolism. He has published several articles internationally on Carl Schmitt's political theory and theology, most recently in International Political Sociology (2009). He is also the responsible leader of a research project on the political theology and civil religion of Laestadianism, a Christian revival movement, also funded by the Academy (2010-2). Aakash Singh's scholarly interests range from comparative political philosophy to liberation theology. He is author/editor of several books, including: Eros Turannos (authored, 2005); a French edition/translation of Maulana Azad's India Wins Freedom (2006); Buddhism and the Contemporary World: An Ambedkarian Perspective (co-edited, 2007); Reading Hegel: The Introductions (co-edited, 2008). Forthcoming books include: Macaulay's Post-Modern Children: Post-Colonial Theory as Neo-Orientalism (authored); Indian Political Thought (co-edited); Hegel's India (co-edited); and, B. R. Ambedkar's The Buddha and His Dhamma: A Critical Edition (co-edited).

• Foreword by Graham WardIntroduction Péter Losonczi, Mika Luoma-aho and Aakash Singh Part I The Past of Political Theology: Concepts and Challenges 1. The secular sphere in Western theology: a historical reconsideration Matthias Riedl2. Political theology and its discontents Michael Hoelzl3. 'How should we live?': nature, metaphysics, and political wisdom Andras LancziPart II Political Theology and the New Theological Trends 4. The interruption of political theology Lieven Boeve5. Is orthodoxy radical? Catherine Pickstock6. From first theology to political theology Péter Losonczi 7. Neither cosmopolis nor ghetto: religion and the intimate universal William DesmondPart III Contexts of Political Theology and Future Prospects 8. Political theories in Europe: a crossroads Kornel Zathureczky9. The spiral of violence and the non-violent power of Christ: a theological reading of the political philosophy of Istvan Bibo Andras Csepregi10. Family code and marriage laws in Iran Roja Fazaeli 11. The political theology of Navayana Buddhism Aakash Singh12. Millenarian development goals: commentary on the political theology of the Millennium Declaration Mika Luoma-ahoBibliographyIndex

’This new book moves beyond Christianity [...] to include contributions from Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism. The latter is of particular importance, given the current global rebalancing through the rise of China and India, and their religions.’ Church Times 'The highlight of the book is certainly its ambitious goal of the future of political theology. It is successful in presenting an alternative way of doing theology - by broad definition and in an ethos of pluralism... [It] masterfully functions as a pool of thought from which one can draw ideas, posit them side-by-side and gain a fresh understanding of political theology and its function in the political reality.' The Expository Times'... this volume’s attempt to locate a visible presence for political theology in the public realm is provocative, important, and will no doubt garner the careful attention it deserves.' Religious Studies Review 'This is a good range of essays which goes into certain themes in considerable detail whilst calling into question the existence of political theology itself as having a future at all.’ Heythrop