Uncivil Disobedience

Theological Perspectives

David M Gides editor

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Published:15th Feb '23

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Uncivil Disobedience cover

This book addresses the need for theological reflection on uncivil disobedience. Existing scholarship in theology and politics mostly treats church-state relations theoretically, with studies in non-violent resistance or civil disobedience, or in other ways largely assuming traditional forms of governance and means of protest—all while paying little to no attention to post-modern political philosophies. Recent eruptions of uncivil disobedience, oftentimes involving violence, like we have seen with Antifa, Black Lives Matter protests, the storming of the U.S. Capitol Building, and in the actions of other right-wing, leftist, and religious groups, assume new ways of protesting and new forms of organizing or mobilizing. Additionally, these groups and their activities are often informed by post-modern philosophies. These new political dynamics present an opportunity for theologians to produce scholarship in response. After establishing philosophical underpinnings related to uncivilly disobedient action, the contributors cover traditional historical and theological responses to political unrest as a foundation for considering or evaluating attempts to address theologically present-day manifestations of uncivil disobedience.

We live in hyper-partisan times with dire consequences to the breakdown in public trust and concomitant political dysfunction and social dislocation we face. Meanwhile, serious theological inquiry has been increasingly relegated, either as a relic of the past or an inaccessible realm reserved for academic and religious specialists. Does contemporary theology have anything to offer to our current situation of political turmoil? Can it help us understand different modes of political protest, different claims to moral authority, and different rationales for resistance and protest? This book answers these questions with a resounding YES, and in so doing, not only shows what can be learned from well-known historical figures and standard teachings and theories but also, and most interestingly, navigates the thickets surrounding the difficult questions about our present forms of political order, power, and mobilization. -- Jeffrey W. Robbins, Lebanon Valley College, author of Radical Democracy and Political Theology
When the rules of social engagement are insufficient to address systemic injustices, a breach in the decorum becomes an imperative. Uncivil Disobedience responds to a context such as this by offering insightful resources for Christian theologians and ethicists unwilling to conform to an unjust world order and who are willing to take a risk for justice through acts of disobedience. -- Filipe Maia, Boston University School of Theology

ISBN: 9781978713567

Dimensions: 237mm x 158mm x 25mm

Weight: 567g

248 pages