The Edward Schillebeeckx Project at KU Leuven will hold a three-day symposium on The Authority of the Church in Politics: The Future of Political Theology from November 3–5, 2016.
The symposium especially seeks participation from junior scholars in the fields of theology and religious studies, philosophy, and philosophy of religion, particularly for scholars interested in the work of Edward Schillebeeckx.
The world religions, secular governments, and international movements and ideologies all claim to exert authority in the political sphere, but how the Church itself is and can be a political body in this climate remains a topic of fierce debate. In a world that is simultaneously polarized by political crises and knitted closer together by new communications technology, what kind of authority does the Church possess and what kind of claims can it make with reference to itself and to the wider society? In order to deal with this question theologians are also asked to reevaluate the foundations, efficacy, and goals of politically oriented fundamental theology: political theology and its future as a part of the Church’s mission and discourse.
These reflections on both the nature and future of political theology can contribute to Church’s self-understanding and exercise of authority in its pursuit of the eschatological promise of the Church as the Body of Christ.
This forum will explore the future of political theology and the necessity of systematic theological approaches to politics in the contemporary context in relation to both ecclesial and secular authority. It will proceed under the guiding reflection of Edward Schillebeeckx, that “theological reflection can also anticipate and pave the way for future proclamation” of the gospel in the world.
The symposium will be undertaken in the spirit of Edward Schillebeeckx’s theological legacy, and with special attention to furthering the academic research on Schillebeeckx that is being performed at KU Leuven.
Keynote speakers include Bradford Hinze, Kurt Appel, Erik Borgman, Daniel Minch, Guido Vergauwen, Paul Murray, Anthony Godzieba, and Stephan van Erp.
Abstracts must be submitted to daniel.minchjr@kuleuven.be by 30 August 2016. Acceptance of papers will be decided by 7 September 2015 and the results communicated by email.
Papers will be accepted on the following topics:
- The relationship of the Church to the social and political responsibilities of the theologian
- The role of digital media for the reception and the imagination of Church authority
- New theological approaches in response to the socio-political crises of terrorism and migration
- The interrelation of economic and theopolitical interests
- The responses and responsibilities of the theologian and the church to the ruling economic paradigm
- The theology and thought of Edward Schillebeeckx
Further more detailed information go to the conference website, or send an email to daniel.minchjr@kuleuven.be.
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