After Christendom

by Stanley Hauerwas

Liberal/conservative and modern/postmodern concepts define contemporary theological debate. Yet what if these categories are grounded in a set of assumptions about what it means to be the church in the world, presuming we must live as though God's existence does not matter? What if our theological discussion distracts us from the fact that the church is no longer able to shape the desires and habits of Christians? Hauerwas wrestles with these and similar questions constructing a theological politics necessary for the church to be the church in the world. In so doing, he challenges liberal notions of justice and freedom.

Genres: Theology, Ecclesiology, Politics, Christianity, Spirituality, Religion, Nonfiction

200 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 1991

About the author

Stanley Hauerwas (PhD, Yale University) is the Gilbert T. Rowe Professor of Theological Ethics at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. He is the author of numerous books, including Cross-Shattered Christ, A Cross-Shattered Church, War and the American Difference, and Matthew in the Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible.

America's Best Theologian according to Time Magazine (2001), though he rejected the title saying, "Best is not a theological category."

Reviews

[Stan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met Stanley Hauerwas a few years ago, and he gave me a copy of John Howard Yoder's "The Politics of Jesus." This book was what piqued my interest in Hauerwas, and Yoder made Stanley's work clearer to me. My own Christian formation has been deeply affected by Hauerwas; and his work has led me to the philosophical work of Alasdair MacIntyre. Non-Christians will find Haeurwas shocking, but not nearly as shocking as he is to many Christians who has unknowingly or unthinkingly internalized the assumptions of liberalism and modernity. Strongly recommended.

[Jake Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any Hauerwas book is a timely read for the Christian today. This book was good, not great. I understand a lot of criticism this book could get, yet I also resonate deeply with what Hauerwas is trying to say that the church must inhabit the story, not a set of claims about said story. Anyway would recommend if you are trying to navigate a different approach to being Christian in the political/social climate of today.

[Rod Buchanan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good academic redress of his book Resident Aliens. Lots of good stuff. I love Hauerwas. However, sometimes it lacked practical ideas of how to put these abstract views into practice. A bit high-minded and you kept wanting his feet to hit the ground, and instead of preaching high-sounding principles in his high/shrill voice, I kept wanting him to sit down, look me in the eye and say, "Okay, here is what this means in real life."

[Jon Beadle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed about half of this book. His take on the problems of American liberalism, and their effects on American Christianity, are gold. The rest is fairly bland, with too much quoting from other authors.

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's no such thing as a Christian America.

[Steve Irby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just finished "After Christendom" How The Church Is To Behave If Freedom, Justice, And A Christian Nation Are Bad Ideas," by Stanley Hauerwas (the sequel to Resident Aliens).

Take away from ch. 1: Why there is no salvation outside the Church--

The Church is totally at odds with liberal politics i.e. enlightenment western thinking as per Locke, and Bentham. The enlightenment philosophers worked from and to individualism while the Church inevitably has martyrdom on its radar.

Take away from ch. 2: Why justice is a bad idea for Christians--

While working for justice Christians allow their mind to run wild as though it has a concept of justice scripturally grounded and not.impacted by the enlightenment. Our trying to be politically and socially revelant makes us looks our ability to stand against the limits of our social orders. God preceeds justice.

Take away from ch. 3: Why freedom of religion is a subtle temptation--

"The state by defining is just since it provides for freedom of religion," p 88. This protection makes for an unholy union between church and state. Our faithfulness to God alone, not to a nation-state, is where the Church finds her freedom. Looking elsewhere binds one to the whore of Babylon.

Take away from ch. 4: How we lay bricks and make disciples--

People go to church to care and be cared for but not to discipline and be disciplined.

Really good chapter in comparing learning the craft of bricklaying and discipline of following Jesus. And like in learning a trade there is an element of submission and acknowledging you yet to have a master craftsmans understanding.

Take away from ch. 5: How marriage is a subversive act--

While marriage in liberal society is formed around the concept of making a voluntary institution, the marriage embedded in the church seeks to proclaim we are not our own.

Take away from ch. 6: Hiw we educate Christians in liberal societies--

This was interesting. There was a lot to unpack. Our story as the church is not being told in education rather one of conquest. We can never mix stories: Jesus doesn't win via manifests destiny.

#StanleyHauerwas #Hauerwas #AfterChristendom #Ethics #PoliticalTheology #Constantine

[Jonny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though the added appendix adds a worthy criticism of the book, that is to say that there is violence in the sort of cultural hegemony that could be read into Hauerwas's Christian vision for the world, coupled with his fundamental nonviolence, I found this book to be enlightening, refreshing, and to the point about Christian alternativity. Coming from an Anabaptist school of thought and vantage point, Hauerwas puts to words thoughts that we've had as a church covering topics of particular worth like sex, freedom, and justice. Recommended reading for Anabaptists, not necessarily for people interested in retaining their power as they influence the world in the way of Jesus.

[Jared Korver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid sequel to Resident Aliens. Gets at themes of what justice means (a la "Whose Justice, Which Rationality"), the perversion of "freedom" and the great mistake and even evil of the pursuit of a "Christian" nation.

[Joseph Sverker]

This book is predominantly a critique, or could possibly go under the name of critical theory, but in a menonite, non-violent, non-Nietzsche/Marx/Adorno-way. What I want to say with that is simply that this book does not exactly provide answers or solutions to the problems that he detects and analyses. However, I think there are seeds to how to tackle those problems that are hinted at in the book. My impression is that the main problem for Hauerwas is the liberal society, or how the Church has more or less bought the values of the liberal society lock stock and barrel. This is because it seems to fit so well with "Christian values" - freedom, justice and so on. Yet, I think Hauerwas in the main is correct to say that, yes, possibly freedom, and justice, but not quite as we know it.

I read the book over a kind of extended period of time so not everything is fresh. But I think, nonetheless, that the fifth and penultimate chapter och sexual ethics and the concept of love was one of the most rewarding. In a way, that is also where Hauerwas is close to being constructive in this particular book. I think he is right in arguing that we are wrong if we locate the predominant example for love in the family and family relations. The example of love should be the Christian community. But (and this might be my extrapolation) if Christians, like most of the wider society, points out that love, proper love and fulfilled love, can really only be found in the family. Then of course, there will be huge problems for those that are not allowed, or able, to be in a family.

Anyway, good book.

[Denise Kettering · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some challenges in reading After Christendom as it was initially a series of lectures given in Australia and still retains some of the characteristics of a lecture series. There is much here for contemporary Christians to consider, including a rethinking of the issues of justice and freedom. In particular, this book will be helpful for Anabaptists and folks interested in postliberalism.

[Jeremy Meeks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book might not make you happy all the time. It will make you long for the church to be the church. A book for those who like to imagine what the church might become if it understands it's unique place in the world

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

not one of hauerwases best, but essay 4 is one of my all time favorites from him

[Charles Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are informative books and books that change you. This is the latter. I recommend this book as basic material to read.