Renewing British Political Theology

Keynote Address

The Children of This Age and the Children of Light: A Biblical Apologia for Political Theology and a Critique of Its Traditional Defenders

Without doubt, the Western world is in a political crisis. Beyond the regular scandals and struggles which trouble governments in all ages, there is a sense that an established social and political order is under immense strain. After decades of political liberalism since WW2, leading thinkers are now discussing “postliberalism”. Many fear the rise of populism; others are sounding the alarm on a dangerous minority of progressive elites. Some cry “tyranny”, while others cry “anarchy”. There seems little agreement even on what our political problems are, let alone how we solve them.

For most British Christians, this is a purely political matter, not a theological one. British politicians “don’t do God”, and British Christians quite happily “don’t do politics.” Expending too much thought on politics does not seem worthwhile anyway, given the increasingly marginal status of Christians in British public life. Those few British Christians who are interested in politics (plenty of them clergy, and invaraibly of the progressive kind) have often simply ceased to be Christian.

Among some, however, there has been a renewed interest in political theology. As part of a wider movement of theological retrieval, some Christians (and Protestants in particular) are rediscovering how previous generations interpreted Scripture’s teachings and assumptions about government, society, and the nations. It is clear that many of our Christian forebears did not think about politics in the way that we do today.

Yet whilst debates about “Christian Nationalism” or “Catholic integralism” have drawn large audiences, they often generate more heat than light, and many do not know where to begin. What’s more, with political discourse constantly dominated by the USA, British Christians especially have yet to begin a serious consideration of what a renewed political theology might look like in the UK today.

We will be gathering at Oak Hill College to reflect on how British political theology might be renewed in a way that does justice to Scripture, the Christian tradition, and our current moment. Our keynote speaker will be Prof. Oliver O’Donovan, who will be drawing from Luke 16 and the Parable of the Dishonest Manager. There is currently an open “call for papers” for other addresses.

Interest in this topic is growing throughout the UK, and many are doubtless in search of other like-minded people. We hope also that the day will provide the opportunity for people to forge connections with others in the same pursuit.

“contemporary politics and the crisis of the spiritual sense”

Dr. Graham Shearer (Ph.D., Presbyterian Theological Faculty of Ireland) is a Lecturer in Thelogy at Union Theological College, Belfast. He previosuly served in student ministry with UCCF and in the pastorate. His work has been published in Themelios, First Things, Mere Orthodoxy, and Ad Fontes. He lives with his wife and three children in Belfast.

“THE POLITICAL THEORY OF JOHN OWEN (1616-1683): LAW, GOVERNMENT, AND LIBERTY”

Daniel Caballero (Ph.D candidate, Queen’s University Belfast) is currently undertaking doctoral reserach in early European history, natural law, and political theology, under the supervision of Dr. Crawford Gribben. He has previously studied at Westminster Theological Seminary, the University of London, and London Seminary.

“The ANTICULTURE AND THE CRISIS OF METAPHYSICS”

Imogen Sinclair is Director of the New Conservatives and the New Social Covenant Unit. She has several years’ experience working in Parliament and is the author of “Community Capital” (2019) for the Centre for Social Justice. She holds a Masters with distinction in Philosophy and is a visiting fellow at St Mary’s University Institute of Theology and Liberal Arts.