From Political Theory to Political Theology

This is an invaluable resource to the theory of democracy and the political problem it poses in relation to the new visibility of religion. During the last two decades we have witnessed what Jose Casanova has characterised as 'religion going public'. This has not been a trend exclusive to traditionally religious nations. Rather, it has been visible in as diverse environments as that of the construction of the new Russian political identity or in the 'post-9/11' political discourses of the USA. Surprisingly, important religious manifestations also influenced the political discourses in Britain and, more recently, in France. Partly as a consequence of these phenomena an intensive debate is now evolving about the compatibility of the neutrality of liberal democracy in relation to religiously motivated opinions in public discourses, and the conditions under which such religiously driven contributions could viably 'go public'. This book offers a collection of essays on Religion and Democracy which critically discusses the most important questions that characterize these debates at the points of their intersection within political theory, political theology and the philosophy of religion, and considers both the challenges and the prospects of this new era which, following Habermas, one may call post-secular. The relationship between religion and politics is both fascinating and challenging, and recent years have seen substantial changes in the way this relationship is studied. Aimed at undergraduates studying in this area, titles in this series look specifically at the key topics involved in the relationship between religion and politics, taking into account a broad range of religious perspectives, and presenting clear, approachable texts for students grappling with often complex concepts.