Book: Forrester on Christian Ethics and Practical Theology

Just published (at a price): Duncan B. Forrester, "Forrester on Christian Ethics and Practical Theology: Collected Writings on Christianity, India, and the Social Order" (Ashgate, June 2010):

www.ashgate.com/default.aspx?page=637&calcTitle=1&title_id=8515&edition_id=11167

Publisher's description: "Bringing together articles and chapters from his considerable work in theological ethics, India, and the social order, Duncan Forrester incorporates new writing and introductions to each thematic section to guide readers through this invaluable resource. This book offers stimulating studies in three related areas – Indian Christianity with particular attention to the caste system, contemporary Christian theological ethics, and the distinctive and challenging theological approach that Duncan Forrester has developed in relation to public issues such as prisons and punishment, welfare provision, social justice, and poverty."

From the contents: Part IV Political Theology: Introduction; The political teaching of Luther (1483-1546) and Calvin (1509-1564); The political teaching of Richard Hooker (1553-1600); The problem of natural law in theology and social science; The attack on Christendom in Marx and Kierkegaard; Mystique and politique; The theological task; The promise of liberation theology; The Church, theology and the poor; Can liberation theology survive 1989?; Violence and non-violence in conflict resolution: some theological reflections; Social justice in Protestant thought. Part V Public Theology: Introduction; The scope of public theology: what is public theology?; Punishment and prisons in a morally fragmented society; Ethics and salvation; Education and moral values: who educates?; Welfare and conviction politics; Epilogue: public theology in an age of terror

Duncan B. Forrester is Professor Emeritus of Christian Ethics and Practical Theology at the University of Edinburgh.

CFP: Mysticism and Politics

56th annual convention of the College Theology Society (CTS), at the University of Portland, in Portland, Oregon, USA, 3-6 June 2010

www.collegetheology.org/index.php/annual-convention

A seminar section on "Mysticism and Politics" is to be organized for this conference.

Papers are invited that address any of the following questions, which relate to this year's conference theme, "Religion, Economics, and Culture in Conflict and Conversation": 1) What difference does mystical-political theology make to how Christian theologians interpret the enactment of economics, culture, and religion in a globalized world? For example, must we ask who suffers in a globalized economy and how their memory interrupts cultural amnesia? 2) How does mystical-political theology critique dominant forms of globalization? 3) How does mystical-political theology suggest that Christians respond to the concrete material conditions of suffering in a globalized world?

Priority will be given to those papers that not only utilize primary sources of political theology, but that construct a political theology that is responsive to North American reality. The section convenors' goal is to propose an edited collection for publication.

The call for papers for the entire conference additionally states that sections welcome all proposals, but papers that are devoted to the convention theme or that relate specifically to the direction set by a particular section may receive priority. Presentations that require computer availability or audio/visual aids should state this clearly in the proposal. The CTS looks forward to submissions from scholars of all dimensions of theological study.

Scholars who are invited to present their work at the annual convention of the CTS must hold membership in the Society when their work is presented. No person may submit more than one proposal for consideration nor may submissions to multiple sections be considered.

Paper proposals of approximately 250 words (and including all relevant contact information and institutional affiliation) should be sent simultaneously to both convenors of the section, Laurie Cassidy (Marywood University): lcassidy@marywood.edu
and Alex Mikulich (Loyola University, New Orleans): mikulich@loyno.edu

Please check with them whether they will also accept proposals for panels and/or other presentations.

Proposal deadline: 1 December 2009

By 31 December 2009, the convenors will notify each person who has submitted a proposal whether it is accepted. The programme for the annual meeting with housing and transportation information will be posted on the CTS website in early spring 2010.

FYI: Laurie Cassidy also serves as co-editor for the annual volume of the overall convention.