Synopses & Reviews
In this important study John de Gruchy examines the past, present and future roles of Christianity in the development of democracy. He traces the relationship from its gestation in early Christendom to its virtual breakdown as democracy becomes the polity of modernity, and focuses on five twentieth-century case studies, including Nazi Germany and South Africa, which demonstrate the revival of the churches as a force in the struggle for democracy. His conclusions point the way to the development of a theology for a just world order.
Review
"De Gruchy has made an excellent contribution to a burgeoning field of research and a thoughtful offering to churches as they reflect on their future role in democratizing societies." Religion and Values in Public Life
Review
"After a helpful conceptual schematization, de Gruchy surveys the history of political thought, presents his own insightful account of the contemporary situation, and offers a constructive proposal....one hopes his future work will continue this book's important project..." Anglican Theological Review
Review
"De Grunchy's intriguing analysis adds new luster to this well-received Cambridge series." Choice
Review
"...de Gruchy is to be congratulated for seeing that theological reflection on the issue at hand cannot proceed apart from an investigation into the present and past history of interconnections between Christianity and democracy." Kathryn Tanner, Modern Theology
Review
"While some might contest de Gruchy's embrace of what amounts to a neo-constantinian position for the church, his straightforward defense of democracy as the best available option for embodying penultimate expressions of God's shalom is a welcome retrieval of the question of Christianity and democracy from the hands of capitalism's court chaplains." Daniel M. Bell, Jr., Journal of Church and State
Synopsis
In this important study John de Gruchy examines the historic and contemporary roles of Christianity in the development of democracy. Distinguishing between, yet relating, democracy to the prophetic vision of a just society, he traces the gestation of modern democracy in medieval Christendom, and then describes the virtual breakdown of the relationship as democracy becomes the polity of modernity.
Synopsis
Examining the role of Christianity in the development of democracy, this study traces the relationship from early Christendom to its virtual breakdown as democracy became the polity of modernity. It focuses on five 20th-century case studies, including Nazi Germany and South Africa.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 279-281) and indexes.
Table of Contents
Introduction; Part I. The System and the Vision: 1. Democracy: an open-ended tradition; 2. The prophetic vision; Part II. Historical and Theological Connections: 3. The Christian matrix; 4. The polity of modernity; Part III. Churches and the Struggle for Democracy: 5. Civil rights and liberation in the Americas; 6. The post-colonial struggle for democracy in sub-Saharan Africa; 7. Midwives of democracy in East Germany and South Africa; Part IV. Critical Theological Reflection: 8. A theology for a just democratic world order.