Exodus Church and Civil Society (Ashgate New Critical Thinking in Religion, Theology, and Biblical Studies)

This book investigates the intersection of theology and social theory in the work of Jurgen Moltmann. In particular, it examines the way in which his concept of the 'Exodus Church' can illuminate the importance of the idea of civil society for a Christian public theology. The concept of civil society can aid in moving from the narrower category of 'political theology,' a term used frequently by Moltmann to emphasize the church's public commitment, to a broader understanding of theology's public task, which takes into account the plurality of ends and institutions within society. The idea of the Exodus Church enables deeper understanding of Christian ethical participation within a complex modern society.