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Cover of The Politics of God

The Politics of God

Christian Theologies and Social Justice, Thirtieth Anniversary Edition

  • Theology
  • Publisher: Fortress Press (Augsburg Fortress)
  • Published: 2022

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Publisher's Description

Thirty years ago, Kathryn Tanner put forward a daring proposal. Traditional Christian theologies, she insisted, can be a source of political transformation rather than a sponsor of the status quo. Through a rigorous analysis of Christian beliefs in their historical, theological, and social diversity, Tanner connects belief to attitudes and action and shows how doctrines can relate to each other, to social systems, and to ethical behavior. Drawing on the theologies of divine transcendence and creation that animate and organize so much of her work, The Politics of God frees traditional theology from its captivity to unjust rulers and systems and unleashes its radical potential for liberation, empowerment, and the pursuit of a just society. This anniversary edition includes a major new preface, in which Tanner addresses the changes in the social and political situation that have accumulated in the decades since the book's publication and resituates her argument for a new generation of theologians and activists.


Endorsements (2)

“Kathryn Tanner's exceptional analytical skill and theological acumen continue, now in the crucial theological questions of social justice. An acute and important study.”

David Tracy

“Kathryn Tanner's The Politics of God clearly and forcefully addresses Christian beliefs and practices about God and the world. Consistently applying the art of internal critique, Tanner offers a reconstruction of Christian tradition as a prophetic challenge to the political status quo.”

Rebecca Chopp

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