Divine Democracy - Political Theology After Carl Schmitt

Why has religion become such a politically contested issue in the late 20th century? In liberal democracies the state is meant to be neutral towards religious beliefs and rituals of its citizens; the legal system is supposed to decide about guilt or innocence without religious prejudice. Political theology is a discourse developed during the 20th century that questions these widely held assumptions. It studies how political and legal concepts were derived from theological ones, dissolving the connection between the public sphere and secularism, and bringing religion out from the private sphere and into democratic life. This book examines to what extent contemporary democracy rests on theological assumptions.

List of contents

• Introduction: Political Theology and Democratic Legitimacy in the 20th Century


• Chapter 1: Carl Schmitt and Sovereignty


• Chapter 2: Eric Voegelin and Representation


• Chapter 3: Jacques Maritain and Human Rights


• Chapter 4: Ernst Kantorowicz and Government


• Chapter 5: Jürgen Habermas and Public Reason


• Conclusion: "Only a god can resist god." Gnosticism and Political Theology

About the author

Miguel Vatter is Professor of Politics at Flinders University, Australia. He is author of The Republic of the Living: Biopolitics and the Critique of Civil Society.

Product details

• Authors: Miguel Vatter, Miguel (Professor of Politics Vatter
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 09.12.2020
• EAN: 9780190942366
• ISBN: 978-0-19-094236-6
• No. of pages: 312
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Religion: general, reference works; POLITICAL SCIENCE / History & Theory, RELIGION / Religion, Politics & State, Political science & theory, Religion & politics, Religion and Politics, Political science and theory, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Religion, Politics & State