Christianity and Democracy
Christianity and Democracy
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The need for global democratisation is now widely recognised, but there is considerable debate about what this means and how it can be achieved. In this important study John de Gruchy examines the historic and contemporary roles of Christianity in the development of democracy. He traces the gestation of modern democracy in medieval Christendom, and then describes the virtual breakdown of the relationship as democracy becomes the polity of modernity. Five twentieth-century case studies - the USA, Nicaragua, sub-Saharan Africa, Germany and South Africa - demonstrate the extent to which ecumenical Christianity has begun to reconnect with democracy and act as its contemporary midwife. De Gruchy argues that democracy needs to rediscover its spiritual heritage, while Christianity needs to develop a theology adequate for its participation in the realisation of a just democratic world order.
- Examines contemporary debates about democracy and democratic transition from a Christian theological perspective
- Looks at five important twentieth-century case studies including Nazi Germany and South Africa
- Will be of interest to both specialists and lay people who are concerned about relating Christian faith to political and social concerns
Reviews & endorsements
"De Gruchy has made an excellent contribution to a burgeoning field of research and a thoughtful offering to churches as they reflect on their future role in democratizing societies." Religion and Values in Public Life
"After a helpful conceptual schematization, de Gruchy surveys the history of political thought, presents his own insightful account of the contemporary situation, and offers a constructive proposal....one hopes his future work will continue this book's important project..." Anglican Theological Review
"De Grunchy's intriguing analysis adds new luster to this well-received Cambridge series." Choice
"...de Gruchy is to be congratulated for seeing that theological reflection on the issue at hand cannot proceed apart from an investigation into the present and past history of interconnections between Christianity and democracy." Kathryn Tanner, Modern Theology
"While some might contest de Gruchy's embrace of what amounts to a neo-constantinian position for the church, his straightforward defense of democracy as the best available option for embodying penultimate expressions of God's shalom is a welcome retrieval of the question of Christianity and democracy from the hands of capitalism's court chaplains." Daniel M. Bell, Jr., Journal of Church and State
Product details
April 2011Adobe eBook Reader
9780511884337
0 pages
0kg
This ISBN is for an eBook version which is distributed on our behalf by a third party.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Part I. The System and the Vision:
- 1. Democracy: an open-ended tradition
- 2. The prophetic vision
- Part II. Historical and Theological Connections:
- 3. The Christian matrix
- 4. The polity of modernity
- Part III. Churches and the Struggle for Democracy:
- 5. Civil rights and liberation in the Americas
- 6. The post-colonial struggle for democracy in sub-Saharan Africa
- 7. Midwives of democracy in East Germany and South Africa
- Part IV. Critical Theological Reflection:
- 8. A theology for a just democratic world order.
