This title gives a constructive approach from a theological perspective about the category of religion in Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Karl Barth. What does it mean to speak of Christianity as a religion? What are the implications of this to relations with secular bodies? If Christianity is identified as a 'religion', how does it relate to other similar human phenomena with which it might loosely be grouped? How should these others be understood in relation to Christianity from the perspective of a Christian theology of religion (as a prior engagement before a theology of the religions)? What makes, for example, Hinduism, Judaism and Islam theologically distinctive as entities from other communities or organizations such as trade unions, political parties or large non-governmental organizations? How should Christianity relate to a complexly pluralistic, religious and secular world? This book considers the question of how to understand religion theologically. The category of 'religion' is one which continues to be used politically and generally, and this book seeks to consider this category theologically, rather than sociologically, ethnographically, philosophically or anthropologically. In order to answer these questions, this book draws constructively on Bonhoeffer and Barth's theologies of religion/religionlessness.

A constructive approach from a theological perspective about the category of religion in Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Karl Barth.

About the Author
Tom Greggs studied theology at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and is currently Professor of Theology at the University of Chester, UK.

Reviews
Greggs offers a close, careful survey of the primary source material's treatment of religion as a category and construct ... Given that theologians like Sarah Coakley and Eugene Rogers have recently called our attention to the absence of pneumatological reflection in modern and contemporary theology and the potentialities in it, Greggs' turn to the Spirit as an ecclesiological resource struck me as particularly insightful. -- Brandy Daniels * Center for Barth Studies *
'Focussing on Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Tom Greggs provides both constructive and formative insights into the manifold dimensions of theological critique of religion, particularly in terms of implications for thinking about religion in relation to other faith traditions practised by living communities of people.' - Ralf K. Wustenberg, Chair for Systematic and Historic Theology, Flensburg University, Germany. -- Ralf K. Wustenberg
'This is a profound, daring and practical book. It is more than a powerful recovery of two of the great Christian theologians, Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in their prophetic relevance today. Prof Greggs also moves beyond them in his constructive response to our complexly multi-faith and secular world. He offers a burning vision of Christianity for the twenty-first century: inspired by the Holy Spirit, following Jesus Christ along new ways, Biblical, thoughtful, building up a 'church for others', political, and involved in 'multiple intensities' springing from love of God and neighbour. The two chapters on how Christians can understand and practice inter-faith engagement are a superb culmination.' - David F. Ford, Regius Professor of Divinity and Director of the Cambridge Inter-faith Programme, University of Cambridge, UK. -- David F. Ford



Book Information
ISBN 9780567104236
Author Dr Tom Greggs
Format Paperback
Page Count 256
Imprint T.& T.Clark Ltd
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Weight(grams) 446g