Postcolonial Politics and Theology
Unraveling Empire for a Global World
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S.
Published:7th Dec '21
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
Postcolonial Politics and Theology seeks to reform and reimagine the field of political theology—uprooting it from the colonial soil—using the comparative lenses of postcolonial politics and theology to bring attention to the realities of the Global South. Kwok Pui-lan traces the history of the political impacts of Western theological development, especially developments in the U.S. context, and the need to shift these interlocking fields toward non-Western traditions in theory and practice.
A special focus of the book is on the changing sociopolitical realities of American Empire and Sino-American competition, illustrated in Donald Trump's slogan of "Make America Great Again" and Xi Jinping’s hope for a “China Dream.” The shifting of U.S. and Asian relationships highlights the need to move our theological and political categories away from a vision of strongman domination and toward a postmodern, postcolonial, and transnational world, especially exemplified in the Asia Pacific context.
Throughout, Kwok overturns the idea of centering one cultural framework and marginalizing others in favor of living into a multiplicity of deeply contextual theologies. She explores how these theologies are being developed in global, postcolonial contexts, through struggles for democracy and civil disobedience in Hong Kong, by efforts to reclaim selfhood and sexual identity from exploitative colonial desire, through the work of interreligious solidarity and peacebuilding, and in the practice of earth care in the face of ecological crisis.
"Kwok Pui-lan's Postcolonial Politics and Theology expands the horizons of political theology that are steeped in Eurocentric theories and Western colonial legacy by shifting theological locus to the geopolitical and social realities of the Global South. This comprehensive book could not come at a more relevant time. It is a must read for anyone who is interested in what radically reimagined contours of political theology have to offer from postcolonial and transnational perspectives." —Nami Kim, Professor of Religious Studies, Spelman College "A stunningly accessible and comprehensive map of postcolonial thought and global theology. With this text, Kwok Pui-lan gives us the gift of nourishing and insightful analyses of postcolonial geographies of race, class, gender, and sexuality that 'challenge the Eurocentric preoccupation of political theology." —Traci C. West, Professor of Christian Ethics and African American Studies, Drew Theological School "Deeply rooted in wide-ranging scholarship yet lucidly written, this book also brings theoretical reflections to bear on theological pedagogy, preaching, and interreligious dialogue. I enthusiastically recommend it to the widest circle of readers." —Peter C. Phan, The Ignacio Ellacuria Chair of Catholic Social Thought, Georgetown University "Kwok leads us in an exploration of how to reimagine theology through the political lens of the Global South, interrogating the dominating views of both MAGA and a China Dream. A must read for those wishing to expand and build on the political theology discourse while paying close attention to the changing geopolitical situation in Asia Pacific and its impact on Sino-American competition." —Miguel De La Torre, Professor of Social Ethics and Latinx Studies, Iliff School of Theology "As much of theology is trying to figure out its relation to the political, Kwok moves the discussion forward by substantially expanding the horizons of the conversation. As the political engages the colonial and postcolonial, imperialism, as well as race, gender, sexuality, and class in global perspective, fresh theological insights emerge here in conjunction with specific practices that are bound to make a difference." —Joerg Rieger, Distinguished Professor of Theology, Cal Turner Chancellor’s Chair in Wesleyan Studies, Vanderbilt University Divinity School
ISBN: 9780664267490
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
252 pages