Social Science versus Christian Theology, Reconsidered: The Case of British Social Policy Studies
This paper reconsiders the ‘versus’ relationship between Christian Theology (ct) and social sciences with reference to Social Policy Studies (sps) in Britain. I argue that the organised scepticism of sps towards ct, on the grounds that it is a conservative episteme, is unwarranted. It misrecognises...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Brill
2017
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| In: |
International journal of public theology
Year: 2017, Volume: 11, Issue: 2, Pages: 211-235 |
| RelBib Classification: | CG Christianity and Politics CH Christianity and Society FA Theology ZA Social sciences |
| Further subjects: | B
Christianity
religion
theology
social science
social policy
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| Online Access: |
Presumably Free Access Volltext (Verlag) |
| Summary: | This paper reconsiders the ‘versus’ relationship between Christian Theology (ct) and social sciences with reference to Social Policy Studies (sps) in Britain. I argue that the organised scepticism of sps towards ct, on the grounds that it is a conservative episteme, is unwarranted. It misrecognises Church Theology as ct writ large and thus demonstrates an oversight towards radical forms of ct with which it might make common cause. I also question radical theologians that reject social sciences on similar grounds, i.e. for lacking a sufficiently revolutionary episteme. Although I am sympathetic to intellectual projects that seek to overcome this ‘versus’ relationship by focusing on the discursive similarities of ct and sps, such projects are precarious. I elaborate praxis rather than discursive similarities as a sounder basis for reconciliation. Much mutual learning takes place at the level of praxis that, if acknowledged, could strengthen the movement for radical social change. |
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| ISSN: | 1569-7320 |
| Contains: | In: International journal of public theology
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/15697320-12341483 |