Authors:
- Addresses social, economic, and political issues of renewal and Christianity in the context of the United States
- Draws from interdisciplinary sources and speaks to social and political issues based on a biblical pneumatology
- Contributes to the development of the traditions, beliefs, practices and scholarship of the renewal movements while focusing on transformation and action
Part of the book series: Christianity and Renewal - Interdisciplinary Studies (CHARIS)
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Table of contents (10 chapters)
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Front Matter
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American Decline
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Front Matter
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A Political Theology of the Spirit
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Front Matter
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The Spirit and National Renewal
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Front Matter
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Back Matter
About this book
Studebaker asserts that American Christians are currently not properly engaged in preventing America’s decline or halting the shifts in its core values. The problem, he suggests, is that American Christianity not only gives little thought to the state of the nation beyond a handful of moral issues like abortion, but its popular political theologies lead Christians to think of themselves more as aliens than as citizens. This book posits that the proposed Pentecostal political theology would help American Christians view themselves as citizens and better recognize their stake in the renewal of their nation. The foundation of this proposed political theology is a pneumatological narrative of renewal—a biblical narrative of the Spirit that begins with creation, proceeds through Incarnation and Pentecost, and culminates in the new creation and everlasting kingdom of God. This narrative provides the foundation for a political theology that speaks to the issues of Christian political identity and encourages Christian political participation.
Reviews
“This is a breakthrough book in US Christian political theology, from a fresh and unexpected Pentecostal perspective. Studebaker's extraordinarily rich theological reflection brings the Pentecostal tradition's emphasis on the work of the Holy Spirit into political theology in exceedingly fruitful ways. Integrated with the theology, the book is very well-informed and well-researched in relation to both the details and the big picture of US public life, including both domestic and foreign policy issues. Along the way Studebaker offers cogent critiques of current pop and scholarly US Christian political theologies, including Anabaptist, Radical Orthodoxy, and Augustinian, Christian Right and Left. Many particular judgments can be challenged. But there is no denying that this book is a major new contribution to US Christian political theology and should be read by all Christians.” (David P. Gushee, Distinguished Professor of Christian Ethics and Director, Center for Theology & Public Life, Mercer University, USA; Vice President, American Academy of Religion )
“In a richly prophet book, Studebaker underscores the significant resources of the Holy Spirit (and the Pentecostal community in which they are celebrated) for living in the cities of both Jerusalem and Babylon. Rejecting both the Platonic asceticism that caused Christians to abandon the world, on the one hand, as well as ‘the triumphalism and presumption’ of the Prosperity Gospel on the other, Studebaker rightly calls for a rich and balanced engagement with American culture by Christians with an eye to transformation and human flourishing. What has emerged from such an engaging effort is nothing less than a solid re-affirmation of what has been so long neglected: that is, the God of redemption is none other than the God of creation. I highly recommend this book!” (Kenneth J. Collins, Professor of Historical Theology and Wesley Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary, USA; author of “Power, Politics and the Fragmentation of Evangelicalism”)
Authors and Affiliations
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McMaster Divinity College, Hamilton, Canada
Steven M. Studebaker
About the author
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: A Pentecostal Political Theology for American Renewal
Book Subtitle: Spirit of the Kingdoms, Citizens of the Cities
Authors: Steven M. Studebaker
Series Title: Christianity and Renewal - Interdisciplinary Studies
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-48016-3
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan New York
eBook Packages: Religion and Philosophy, Philosophy and Religion (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2016
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-137-48015-6Published: 27 October 2016
eBook ISBN: 978-1-137-48016-3Published: 26 October 2016
Series ISSN: 2634-5854
Series E-ISSN: 2634-5862
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XIV, 292
Topics: Christianity, Religion and Society, Christian Theology, Evangelicalism and Pentecostalism