Religion at ground zero : theological responses to times of crisis

"'The world will never be the same!' How many times have human beings uttered this cry after a tragic event? This book analyzes how such emotive reactions impact on the way religion is understood, exploring theological responses to human tragedy and cultural shock by focusing on reactions to the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and 7/7, the two World Wars and the Holocaust, the 2004 South-East Asian tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. It discusses themes such as the theodicy question, the function of religious discourse in the face of tragedy, and the relationship between religion and politics. The book explores the tension between religion's capacity to both cause and enhance the suffering and destruction surrounding historical tragedies, but also its potential to serve as a powerful resource for responding to such disasters. Analyzing this dialectic, it engages with the work of Slavoj Žižek, Karl Barth, Theodor Adorno, Emil Fackenheim and Rowan Williams, examining the role of belief, difficulties of overcoming the influence of ideology, and the significance of trust and humility."--Bloomsbury Publishing. This title explores theological responses to human tragedy and cultural shock in order to analyze the peril and promise of speaking to God in times of terror. 'The world will never be the same!' How many times have human beings uttered this cry after a tragic event? This book analyzes how such emotive reactions impact on the way religion is understood, exploring theological responses to human tragedy and cultural shock by focusing on reactions to the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the two World Wars and the Holocaust, the 2004 South-East Asian tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. It discusses themes such as the theodicy question, the function of religious discourse in the face of tragedy, and the relationship between religion and politics. The book explores the tension that exists between religion's capacity to both cause and enhance the suffering and destruction surrounding historical tragedies, but also its potential to serve as a powerful resource for responding to such disasters. Analyzing this dialectic, this book engages with the work of Slavoj Zizek, Karl Barth, Theodor Adorno, Emil Fackenheim and Rowan Williams, examining the role of belief, difficulties of overcoming the influence of ideology, and the significance of trust and humility The World Will Never Be The Same!' How Many Times Have Human Beings Uttered This Cry After A Tragic Event? This Book Analyzes How Such Emotive Reactions Impact On The Way Religion Is Understood, Exploring Theological Responses To Human Tragedy And Cultural Shock By Focusing On Reactions To The Terrorist Attacks Of 9/11 And 7/7, The Two World Wars And The Holocaust, The 2004 South-east Asian Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina And The 2010 Earthquake In Haiti. It Discourse Themes Such As The Theodicy Question, The Function Of Religious Discourse In The Face Of Tragedy, And The Relationship Between Religion And Politics. Introduction A. Focusing The Problem -- Introduction B. Contextualizing The Problem In The Author's Research Background -- Christopher Hitchens And How Religion Poisons Everything -- Eli Berman, Religious Terrorism And The Innocent Economist -- International Relations And Religion's Return From Exile -- Scott M. Thomas, Religion Resurging And International Relations -- Elizabeth Shakman Hurd : The Politics Of Secularism In International Relations -- Where The Author Stands : A Question Of Commitment. Christopher Craig Brittain. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. 'The world will never be the samel' How many times have human beings uttered this cry after a tragic event? This book analyzes how such emotive reactions impact on the way religion is understood, exploring theological responses to human tragedy and cultural shock by focusing on reactions to the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and 7/7, the two World Wars and the Holocaust, the 2004 South-East Asian tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. It discusses themes such as the theodicy question, the function of religious discourse in the face of tragedy, and the relationship between religion and politics The book explores the tension that exists between religion's capacity to both cause and enhance the suffering and destruction surrounding historical tragedies, but also its potential to serve as a powerful resource for responding to such disasters. Analyzing this dialectic, this book engages with the work of Slavoj ziziek, Karl Barth, Theodor Adorno, Emil Fackenheim and Rowan Williams, examining the role of belief, difficulties of overcoming the influence of ideology, and the significance of trust and humility. Book jacket Cover Half-title Title Copyright Dedication Contents Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter 1 In the Wake of Lisbon, Katrina and Haiti: On the Limits of Theodicy Chapter 2 The ‘War to End All Wars’: Religion in the Trenches of the Great War Chapter 3 Jewish Theological Responses to the Shoah Chapter 4 September 11, 2001: Religion Reviled and Revived Chapter 5 Belief and the Trauma of Catastrophic ‘Events’ Chapter 6 Religion as Ground Zero? Chapter 7 Speaking of God in a Time of Terror Afterword Bibliography Index