Religion and the Making of Society: Essays in Social Theology (Cambridge Studies in Ideology and Religion, Series Number 4)

In This Book A Leading Contemporary Theologian Investigates The Relation Between Religion And Society. Professor Davis Begins With The Thesis That Society Is A Product Of Human Agency; This Raises Immediately The Questions Of The Meaning Of Modernity And Of The Function Of Religion In That Context. The Linguistic And Pragmatic Orientation Of Modern Philosophy And Social Theory Lead To A Discussion Of Religious Language And Of Praxis. Whether Modernity Is An Incomplete Project, As Habermas Would Have It, Or A Mistaken Universalism, As The Post-moderns Maintain, Is Debated Under The Heading Of Human Identity, Both Individual And Collective, And In An Examination Of The Formation Of The Modern Self. The Practical Relevance Of The Theoretical Analyses Comes To The Fore In A Critique Of Michael Novak's Attempt To Make 'democratic Capitalism' An Ideal. Professor Davis Shows That, Paradoxically, The Post-modern Rejection Of Secularity Can Be Interpreted As A Return From The Secular To The Supernatural. General Editors' Preface -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction : From The Secular To The Supernatural -- -- Part I. Society, Religion And Human Agency -- 1. Society And The Critique Of Modernity -- 2. The Present Social Function Of Religion -- 3. From Inwardness To Social Action : The Transformation Of The Political -- 4. The Christian Question To Radicalism -- -- Part Ii. Praxis, Narrative And Religious Language -- 5. Theology And Praxis -- 6. Revelation, Historical Continuity And The Rationality Of Tradition -- 7. The Political Use And Misuse Of Religious Language -- -- Part Iii. From The Modern Subject To The Post-modern Self -- 8. Our New Religious Identity -- 9. Post-modernity And The Formation Of The Self -- -- Part Iv. The Option For The Future -- 10. What Remains Of Socialism As A Moral And Religious Ideal -- 11. Communicative Rationality And The Grounding Of Religious Hope -- -- Index. Charles Davis. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "In this book a leading theologian provides an account and a critique of contemporary thinking on the function of religion in society. Davis begins with the thesis that society is a product of human agency, which raises immediately the questions of the meaning of modernity and of the function of religion in that context. The linguistic and pragmatic orientation of modern philosophy and social theory lead to a discussion of religious language and of praxis, with a stress upon the importance of narrative and of social practice as vehicles of meaning. A connection is made here with Alasdair MacIntyre's analysis and defence of the rationality of tradition. Whether modernity is an incomplete project, as Habermas would have it, or a mistaken universalism, as the post-moderns maintain, is debated under the heading of human identity, both individual and collective, and in as examination of the formation of the modern self. The practical relevance of the theoretical analyses comes to the fore in a critique of Michael Novak's attempt to make 'democratic capitalism' into an ideal, and in an original attempt to ground religious hope in communicative rationality. The sub-title of the book in intended to indicate that one of the forms of social theory is a theology that takes its starting-point from social and political life. Paradoxically enough, as the author shows, the post-modern rejection of secularity can be interpreted as a return from the secular to the supernatural."--Jacket One of the most influential of contemporary philosophers, Harry Frankfurt has made major contributions to the philosophy of action, moral psychology, and the study of Descartes. This collection of essays complements an earlier collection published by Cambridge, The Importance of What We Care About. Some of the essays develop lines of thought found in the earlier volume. They deal in general with foundational metaphysical and epistemological issues concerning Descartes, moral philosophy, and philosophical anthropology. Some bear upon topics in political philosophy and religion In this book a leading contemporary theologian provides an account and a critique of contemporary thinking on the function of religion in society. The chief questions of the day are taken up, expounded with lucidity and clarity, and assessed for their contributions to social theory. The practical relevance of the theoretical analyses emerges especially in a critique of Michael Novak's attempt to make "democratic capitalism" an ideal, and in an original attempt to ground religious hope in communicative rationality. There is no doubt that Roberto Unger has identified an insight basic to modern society and modern social political theory: society is an artifact.