Public Theology

This module is delivered by Dr Steve Holmes, Senior Lecturer in Theology at the University of St Andrews. Steve teaches in the areas of historical and systematic theology. His research interests presently focus on historical theology, particularly in the early modern period, the doctrine of atonement, and the doctrine of God.

Steve Holmes explains the scope of the module,
"We will explore the history and contemporary options for constructing a Christian theological account of the `public square' and consider how we might address it. We won't focus so much on accounts of formal church-state relationships, as on accounts of whether and how Christian truth-claims might shape, criticise or inform public discourse.  We'll use Biblical material on the place of Israel, and on the contrasting accounts of the role of the state in the New Testament to lead us in to discussions on such concepts as Christendom, the `godly prince', and secularity. To draw our exploration to  close we'll review some recent theological options including the Barmen Declaration and liberation theology."

Module Outline

• `The Public Square' and `Public Theology' - examining definitions, contexts and Biblical visions.
• `The Secular' - considering theological invention of this space set us as distinct from `the religious'.
• `The Empire or the Desert' - exploring historical approaches to `public theology'.
• Resourcing, Resisting or Rebelling? - recent theological approaches to the construction of a shared social space.

By the end of the module you will be able to:

• expound and critically assess arguments  for and against the possibility and desirability of a public theology;
• compare and contrast some significant historic and contemporary approaches to public theology;
• understand and critically assess the evidence for differing exegetical positions concerning public theology;
• understand and critically assess the origin and use of such key concepts as 'secularity' and 'Christendom';
• offer a synthetic account of the possibility and nature of public theology in modern society.