Theology, Political Theory, and Pluralism

Abstract

How can we live together in the midst of our differences? This is one of the most pressing questions of our time. Tolerance has been the bedrock of political liberalism, while proponents of agonistic political thought and radical democracy have sought an answer that allows a deeper celebration of difference. Kristen Deede Johnson describes the move from tolerance to difference, and the accompanying move from epistemology to ontology, within political theory. Building on this 'ontological turn', in search of a theological answer to the question, she puts Augustine into conversation with recent political theorists and theologians. This theological option enables the Church to envision a way to engage with contemporary political society without losing its own embodied story and practices. It contributes to our broader political imagination by offering a picture of rich engagement between the many different particularities that constitute a pluralist society.

The Crisis of the Political. Polis and an Individual

“…Atrodė, kad graikai pavargo nuo agono, kuris dar neseniai atrodė visų jų kultūrinių, ekonominių ir karinių laimėjimų laidas. Agono idėja, akcentuojanti galią, konfliktą ir chaosą, Graikijoje griovė bet kokią harmonijos ir vienybės viltį (Johnson 2007;3). Įtampos ir nevilties atmosferoje žmonės nenumaldomai šaukėsi taikos (gr.…”