What happens when our political systems and our planet both seem to be breaking down at the same time? In the provocative volume Political Theology on Edge: Ruptures of Justice and Belief in the Anthropocene , editors Catherine Keller and Clayton Crockett argue that we aren't just facing a political crisis—we are facing a theological one.
There is no "theoretical trick" or "spiritual somersault" that will rescue us from our current precipice. Instead, Political Theology on Edge invites us to stay in the rupture—to look at the cracks in our systems as sites where new forms of justice and belief can emerge.
Seth Gaiters explores the "sacred politics" of the Movement for Black Lives, arguing that racial justice is central to any modern political theology. Political Theology on Edge: Ruptures of Justice...
Traditional political theology often focuses on the "sovereign"—the one who decides on the exception. This book challenges that narrow view. Instead of looking for a top-down authority to save us, contributors like and Austin Roberts explore the "Anthropocene" as a planetary machine that requires a new kind of political and religious imagination. 2. Ruptures and Social Movements
Larry L. Welborn and others look at "affect theory," examining how our shared feelings—from greed and pride to compassion—shape our policies and institutions. 3. Global and Multi-Religious Perspectives What happens when our political systems and our
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its move away from purely Eurocentric Christian concepts. It includes perspectives from:
For decades, "political theology" was a field defined by the ghost of Carl Schmitt, the controversial thinker who famously argued that modern political concepts are essentially secularized theological ones. But this new collection of essays pushes the conversation past Schmitt, situating it on the "edge" of a world grappling with climate change, neoliberal capitalism, and systemic racism. 1. Moving Beyond the Sovereign Exception Instead, Political Theology on Edge invites us to
The "edge" here refers to the literal ecological cliff we are standing on. The contributors argue that the planet itself is now a primary theological actor that forces us to rethink our cohabitation. The Takeaway