Church and State : a postmodern political theology: a postmodern political theology

By McGlinn, Sen

Book Id: WPLBN0100304009
Format Type: PDF eBook:
File Size: 0.1 MB
Reproduction Date: 3/8/2022

Title:	Church and State : a postmodern political theology: a postmodern political theology
Author:	McGlinn, Sen
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Non Fiction, Religion, Bahai theology
Collections:	Religion, Authors Community
Historic Publication Date:	2022
Publisher:	self-published

Member Page:	Sen McGlinn
Citation APA MLA Chicago Mcglinn, B. S. (2022). Church and State : a postmodern political theology. Retrieved from http://self.gutenberg.org/

Description
The functional differentiation of society means that government, religion, commerce, art, education and science are increasingly independent, have different social functions, relate differently to one another, and that their lived meanings for us are different. Functional differentiation also drives the pluralism and relativism, global scope and individualisation that characterise postmodern society. In a society in which religious ritual is the mirror of individual distinctiveness, not of collective identity, in which permanent pluralism means that no one religion can provide common norms and values (and no ideology should try), and in which the norms of one sphere of life are not transferred to other spheres, religion must find a new understanding of itself, and a new job description for its role in society. The 20th century has taught us that economic affairs cannot be governed by political ideologies, that science must be free of doctrine and political agendas, that church and state must be separated. But it has not provided us with a new world view that explains the postmodern world that we actually experience. This book draws on the Bahai scriptures, and the Bible and Quran, to show that the differentiation and globalisation of postmodern society are signs that the Kingdom of God is growing in the world.

Summary
This is a political theology for the Bahai Faith, and a philosophy for personal orientation in our globalising, postmodern society.

Excerpt
The title ‘church and state’ will appear strange to most Bahai readers, since the Bahai faith is an independent religion born from Shiah Islam, not a church. However ‘church and state studies’ is the accepted name of a field of study which is not confined to Christianity. There is, for example, a Journal of Church and State, and research schools on the topic. These deal with the general issue of the relationship between organised religion and the institutional part of political life, while placing both of these within the vague field of less organised life (religiosity and civil society) and relating them to other disciples such as law and sociology. As we will see, much of what Baha’u’llah (Bahá’u’lláh) and Abdu’l-Baha (cAbdu’l-Bahá ) teach on the issue is not specific to the Bahai Faith, but refers to the role of religion, religions, or leaders of religion in general. So ‘church and state’ is the best term available, just because it has become universalised. It is also Effendi’s choice, when observing Shiah Iran: ... in the slow and hidden process of secularization ... a discerning eye can easily discover the symptoms that augur well for a future that is sure to witness the formal and complete separation of Church and State.

Table of Contents
Foreword Introduction Transitions and translations About this book The dynamics of globalisation The limits of theology Of church and state Religion and Politics in Islamic history In Islamic historiography In Classical Islam In Shiah Islam In Shiah Iran The pre-Safavid period The Safavid Era The interregnum The Qajar Era The Bab and the Babis The Qajars again Shicism in essence? Muhammad at Mecca and Medina The power of a paradigm Muhammad at Mecca Muhammad at Medina From the surrender of Mecca Conclusion The succession to Muhammad Religion and politics in the Quran Theses on church and state . The issue of church and state is universal (and always local) . Islamic, Christian and Jewish political theologies are a common tradition . Shi`ism is not different . The people count . Establishment is not the issue . In the modern state, political participation is a religious duty . Religions do not supply society with common values, but with virtuous individuals . Religious law is different in nature to civil law Church and State in the Bahai Writings The Writings of Baha’u’llah The Kitab-e Iqan The Tablets to the Kings The Kitab-e Aqdas The Ishraqat and Bisharat The Kitab-e cAhd The Lawh-e Dunya: religion and state in partnership Conclusions The Writings of Abdu’l-Baha The Secret(s) of Divine Civilization The Sermon on the Art of Governance The Will and Testament of Abdu’l-Baha Some other writings of Abdu’l-Baha Suspect the text : Paris Talks Suspect the text : The Promulgation of Universal Peace The Writings of Shoghi Effendi Twin processes The Unfoldment of World Civilization ‘The World Order of Baha’u’llah’ “The Baha’i theocracy, on the contrary ...” Conclusions The Theology of the State Four landmarks The Reason of the matter The meaning of organic unity The Kingdom of Names Implications Church and State in the secondary literature The reception of the message Early days Secondary Bahai literature Recent western Bahai literature Bahai literature in French Bahai literature in German Summary of the Bahai secondary literature Recent non-Bahai authors Academic studies In conclusion Challenges for the future The Moral Weight of Theocratic Ideals Church and state in contemporary crises Appendix 1: Abdu’l-Baha’s Sermon on the Art of Governance Translator’s foreword The background and audience of the Sermon on the Art of Governance The Sermon on the Art of Governance (Text) Appendix 2: J.E. Esslemont’s conversation with Abdu’l-Baha Appendix 3: Paris Talks and earlier versions Bibliography Index of scriptural sources cited Index