Engaging Politics?: The Tensions of Christian Political Involvement

by Nigel Oakley, Nigel Oakley

This world or the next? In the world but not of it? Prophetic vision or grubby engagement with the world as it is? These are the tensions Nigel Oakley grapples with as he shows how Christians can, indeed must, engage with politics and with political debate. He shows, in chapters on Augustine, Liberation theology, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Stanley Hauerwas, how these tensions exist in every strand of Christian political thinking, and then he applies those tensions to case studies varying from todays highly charged debates on sexuality to the war on terrorism. In every case, he demonstrates that noninvolvement is a nonoption. This book is both an intelligent introduction to the difficult world of Christian political theology and to some of the key debates that are shaping our times.

226 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2007

Reviews

[Jonathan Meintjes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clearly looking at various strands of thought on the relationship between Christian faith and political engagement this was a book that built a strong case for our engagement, as people of faith, in the world around us. Highly readable I found Oakley's discussion of the issues we need to face in this world both engaging and challenging. This should be essential reading for all serious minded Christians.