Rediscovering Christian social thought: Phillip Blond in Melbourne
Phillip Blond will be in Melbourne next month, 23 October, for a conference on Christian social thought. There’s now a call for papers relating to themes such as:
- Historical formulations of Christian Social Thought
- Associative relationships in theology, economics, and society
- Re-framing social justice
- Theological liberalism and conservatism/political liberalism and conservatism
- Economics, capital ownership and markets in Christian Social Thought
- Christian Social Thought and notions of Left and Right
So, what was that before about being beyond Right and Left?
I agree that this event sounds excellent, if you leave out all the topics they're discussing and get rid of Phillip Blond.
The phrase "Christian social agenda" is alone enough to spend chills up my spine.
And since we're already being a bunch of negative dicks, I might as well point this out now: you and Halden really overuse the word "excellent." Practically everything you link to, you declare "excellent." If it's not "excellent," it's a close synonym. What ever happened to a simple "interesting"? Or why not just describe the post, article, event, etc., in non-evaluative terms and leave it for the reader to determine its quality level?
Excellent point, Adam. (No seriously, it really is a good point: I'll try to keep it in mind.)
As for the conference theme: I'm just presupposing the fact that political theology is really about ecclesiology. So if you approach it in that way, I don't think you need any "Christian social agenda" (yes, the phrase gives me chills too) in order to enjoy a conference like this.
Ben,
That's a rather dangerous position, no? It is like blinding yourself. How is political theology like this really about ecclesiology if it is about taking political power? Even if that taking of power is only as one saddled up next to the powerful.
Particularly in the case of Blond, who is going out of his way with seeking material political power rather than building a church.
The comment thread delivered exactly what I was hoping for. Here's to hoping it turns in to a 150+ comment behemoth. It's Friday! (in America, at least)
You were hoping for a really long respectful conversation about the nature of politics and religion?
Hill, unless the transformationists start circling the wagons, this one's dead in the water…
the AUFS are coming! the AUFS are coming!
That's right bitches.
Or, if that's too sexist, that's right... buckos.
I love theocracy and you should too.
Seriously though, I would be annoyed if this chance to consider whether 'red toryism' is genuinely transformative, or warmed over neoliberalism, which like much neoliberalism, borrows Christian rhetorical strategies when it occasionally suits it.
Bitches and buckos, eh?
Bravo Alex and Anthony
Forget about "beyond Left and Right". At this rate, we'll need a conference on "beyond F&T and AUFS"... (And like any good conference, we can skip the papers and just go cuss each other out at the bar.)
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