Reclaiming Narrative for Public Theology

Mary Doak

Description

This book furthers the development of American public theology by arguing for the importance of narrative to a theological interpretation of the nation's social and political life. In contrast to both sectarian theologies that oppose a diverse public life and liberal theologies that have lost their distinctiveness, narrative public theology seeks an engaged yet critical role consistent with the separation of church and state and respectful of the multireligious character of the United States. Mary Doak argues for a public theology that focuses on the narrative imagination through which we envision our current circumstances and our hopes for the future. This theology sees both our national stories and our religious ones as resources that can contribute to a public and pluralistic conversation about the direction of society. Doak highlights arguments from Paul Ricoeur, Johann Baptist Metz, William Dean, Stanley Hauerwas, Franklin Gamwell, and Ronald Thiemann that can both contribute to and challenge a narrative public theology. She also proposes a model of public theology using narratives from Abraham Lincoln, Virgil Elizondo, and Delores Williams.

Acknowledgments

1. INTRODUCTION: THE IDEA OF A NARRATIVE PUBLIC THEOLOGY

Narrative as a Resource for Historicizing Theology
The Public Theology Project
Why Call It Public Theology?
Achievements in Public Theology Thus Far
The Public Character of Narrative
How This Argument Will Proceed

2. PUBLIC THEOLOGY IN A PLURALISTIC SOCIETY

Arendt's Defense of a Pluralistic Public Life

Public Life as Resistance to Totalitarianism
The Nature of Public Life and Action
Is Christianity Inherently Antipublic?
Conclusion

Public Theology without Establishment of Religion

The Complex Meaning of Religious Freedom
Case #1. The Ten Commandments
Religious Morality and the Limits of Legislation
Case #2: Lawrence v. Texas and the Legislation of Morality
Religious Freedom and Public Debate

Public Theology Amidst Diversity

3. E PLURIBUS UNUM? NATIONAL NARRATIVES AND THE RECOVERY OF PUBLIC LIFE

Introduction: Why Nations and Why Narratives?
A Defense of Public Life on the National Level

Arguments Against the Nation-State
A Qualified Defense of the Nation-State
National Identity

Historical Narratives and the Nation-State

National Narratives and the Repression of the Other
Ricoeur's Theory of Narrative

The Structure of Narrative
The Narrative Structure of Historical Understanding

Identity and Purpose as Conceptualized through Historical and Fictional Narratives
Bifurcated Histories or a Common Narrative

Conclusion

4. TOWARD A NARRATIVE PUBLIC THEOLOGY

Narrative in a Practical Fundamental Theology: J. B. Metz

A Narrative, Practical Approach to Fundamental Theology
Human Freedom in History
Theology and the Critique of Narratives
Metz's Contributions to Public Theology

North American Narrative Theologians: Stanley Hauerwas and Ronald Thiemann

A Narrative Theological Ethics: Stanley Hauweras

Narrative as the Basis of Communal Identity
The Christian Task in History
The Public Mission of the Church
The Christian Narrative and Public Discourse
Hauerwas's Contributions and Challenges to a Narrative Public Theology

A Public Narrative Theology: Ronald Thiemann

Thiemann's Argument for Public Theology
Why Narrative in This Public Theology?
Thiemann's Proposal for a Theological Method
Thick Descriptions and Public Debate

Oppositional or Publicly Engaged Theology?

Conclusion: Towards a Narrative Public Theology

The Importance of Narrative in Christian Theology
A Double Narrative Construction for Public Theology
Narrative and Public Debate

5. Lincoln, Elizondo, and Williams as Narrative Public Theologians

The Argument for a Narrative Public Theology Summarized
Abraham Lincoln: Narrating Judgment

The Narrative Structure in the Gettysburg Address and the Second Inaugural Address
Public Theology or Civil Religion?
Lincoln's Contributions to a Narrative Public Theology

Virgil Elizondo: Narrating Mestizaje

Three Levels of Narrative
Elizondo's Contributions to a Narrative Public Theology

Delores Williams: Narrating Re

Sujets

• Religion
• Christianisme
• Ethics in religion
• Theology
• Christianity

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 01 février 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• EAN13: 9780791484371
• Langue: English

Extrait

Mary Doak

Reclaiming

Narrative for

Public Theology

RECLAIMING NARRATIVE FOR PUBLIC THEOLOGY

SUNY series, Religion and American Public Life William Dean, editor

R ECLAIMING N ARRATIVE FOR P UBLIC T HEOLOGY

Mary Doak

STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK PRESS

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany

© 2004 State University of New York

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

For information, address State University of New York Press, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207

Production by Diane Ganeles Marketing by Michael Campochiaro

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Doak, Mary, 1961– Reclaiming narrative for public theology / Mary Doak p. cm. — (SUNY series, religion and American public life) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7914-6233-1 (alk. paper) 1. Church and state—United States. 2. United States—Religion. I. Title. II. Series.

BR516.D63 2004 261.7’0973—dc22

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

2003068662

“Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield, and patriot grave, to every living heart and hearth-stone, all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.” —Abraham Lincoln, First Inaugural Address, March 4th, 1861

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Acknowledgments

Contents

1. INTRODUCTION: THE NEED FOR A NARRATIVE PUBLIC THEOLOGY Narrative as a Resource for Historicizing Theology The Public Theology Project Why Call It Public Theology? Achievements in Public Theology Thus Far The Public Character of Narrative How This Argument Will Proceed

2. PUBLIC THEOLOGY IN A PLURALISTIC SOCIETY Arendt’s Defense of a Pluralistic Public Life Public Life as Resistance to Totalitarianism The Nature of Public Life and Action Is Christianity Inherently Antipublic? Conclusion Public Theology without Establishment of Religion The Complex Meaning of Religious Freedom Case #1. The Ten Commandments Religious Morality and the Limits of Legislation Case #2:Lawrence v. Texasand the Legislation of Morality Religious Freedom and Public Debate Public Theology Amid Diversity

vii

xi

1 1 5 7 12 19 23

27 31 31 35 38 47 48 48 53 56 60 63 67

viii

Contents

3.E PLURIBUS UNUM? NATIONAL NARRATIVES AND THE RECOVERY OF PUBLIC LIFE Introduction: Why Nations and Why Narratives? A Defense of Public Life on the National Level Arguments Against the Nation-State A Qualified Defense of the Nation-State National Identity Historical Narratives and the Nation-State National Narratives and the Repression of the Other Ricoeur’s Theory of Narrative The Structure of Narrative The Narrative Structure of Historical Understanding Identity and Purpose as Conceptualized through Historical and Fictional Narratives Bifurcated Histories or a Common Narrative? Conclusion

4. TOWARD A NARRATIVE PUBLIC THEOLOGY Narrative in a Practical Fundamental Theology: J. B. Metz A Narrative, Practical Approach to Fundamental Theology Human Freedom in History Theology and the Critique of Narratives Metz’s Contributions to Public Theology North American Narrative Theologians: Stanley Hauerwas and Ronald Thiemann A Narrative Theological Ethics: Stanley Hauerwas Narrative as the Basis of Communal Identity The Christian Task in History The Public Mission of the Church The Christian Narrative and Public Discourse Hauerwas’s Contributions and Challenges to a Narrative Public Theology A Public Narrative Theology: Ronald Thiemann Thiemann’s Argument for Public Theology Why Narrative in This Public Theology?

71 71 77 77 79 85 86 86 89 89 90

94 100 104

107 110 110 115 119 122

126 126 126 131 135 140

143 145 145 147

Contents

Thiemann’s Proposal for a Theological Method Thick Descriptions and Public Debate Oppositional or Publicly Engaged Narrative Theology? Conclusion: Towards a Narrative Public Theology The Importance of Narrative in Christian Theology A Double Narrative Construction for Public Theology Narrative and Public Debate

ix

150 153 158 159 159 163 166

5. LINCOLN, ELIZONDO, AND WILLIAMS AS NARRATIVE PUBLIC THEOLOGIANS 173 The Argument for a Narrative Public Theology Summarized 173 Abraham Lincoln: Narrating Judgment 177 The Narrative Structure in the Gettysburg Address and the Second Inaugural Address 177 Public Theology or Civil Religion? 182 Lincoln’s Contributions to a Narrative Public Theology 184 Virgil Elizondo: NarratingMestizaje189 Three Levels of Narrative 189 Elizondo’s Contributions to a Narrative Public Theology 194 Delores Williams: Narrating Resistance 197 Narrating a Womanist Theology 197 Williams’s Contributions to a Narrative Public Theology 202 Conclusion 205

Notes Index

207 239