Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Sarah Coakley's interesting approach to systematic theology...

In a recent speech/essay, theologian Sarah Coakley described her current project, a systematic theology which she is calling "théologie totale" (total theology). I'm very interested in reading her book when it finally comes out. Below is an excerpt of her speech which describes some of her methodology:

"[Théologie totale] is devoted precisely to the excavation and evaluation of what has previously been neglected: to theological fieldwork in a variety of illuminating social and political contexts (not merely those of privilege, in fact especially not); to religious cultural productions of the arts and the imagination; to neglected or side-lined texts; and to the examination of the differences made to theology by such factors as gender, class, or race (all these relate to chapters in my forthcoming systematic project). In short, théologie totale makes the bold claim that the more systematic one’s intentions, the more necessary the exploration of such dark and neglected corners; and that, precisely as a theology in via, théologie totale continually risks destabilization and redirection.

In an important sense, then, this form of systematic theology must always also remain, in principle, unsystematic if by that one means open to the possibility of risk and challenge. This playful oxymoron (unsystematic systematics) applies just to the extent that the undertaking renders itself persistently vulnerable to interruptions from the unexpected—through its radical practices of attention to the Spirit."

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is very similar to what Barth says in his introduction to Evangelical Theology. He thinks the word "systematic" add baggage.

Geoff said...

good connection!

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