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Political Theologies at the End of the World

Svenungsson, Jayne LU orcid (2024) In Eco-Ethica 12. p.1-23
Abstract
This article engages critically with one of the more original and thought-provoking efforts of recent years to respond philosophically to the current predicament of the world: Thomas Lynch’s 2019 study Apocalyptic Political Theology. While agreeing with Lynch that the urgency of our times calls for more radical approaches than cautious dialogue or reformist adaptation, it nonetheless argues that apocalyptic political theologies eventually fall short precisely in their lack of radicality. To respond philosophically to a “world in crisis,” we need instead to explore alternative traditions of radical thinking, including alternative conceptions of revolutionary temporality. Drawing on the Jewish Trotskyist thinker Daniel Bensaïd, the... (More)
This article engages critically with one of the more original and thought-provoking efforts of recent years to respond philosophically to the current predicament of the world: Thomas Lynch’s 2019 study Apocalyptic Political Theology. While agreeing with Lynch that the urgency of our times calls for more radical approaches than cautious dialogue or reformist adaptation, it nonetheless argues that apocalyptic political theologies eventually fall short precisely in their lack of radicality. To respond philosophically to a “world in crisis,” we need instead to explore alternative traditions of radical thinking, including alternative conceptions of revolutionary temporality. Drawing on the Jewish Trotskyist thinker Daniel Bensaïd, the concluding part offers an endeavor in this direction. Given the urgency of the moment, it suggests, we need to shift focus away from the idea of radicality as negativity and disinvestment towards an idea of radicality as tenacity, persistence, and hope against all odds. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Eco-Ethica
volume
12
pages
1 - 23
ISSN
2186-4802
DOI
10.5840/ecoethica202582067
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8760b450-c93a-41ab-b074-924b9ca2f8b8
date added to LUP
2025-09-21 11:36:14
date last changed
2025-09-25 11:17:15
@article{8760b450-c93a-41ab-b074-924b9ca2f8b8,
  abstract     = {{This article engages critically with one of the more original and thought-provoking efforts of recent years to respond philosophically to the current predicament of the world: Thomas Lynch’s 2019 study Apocalyptic Political Theology. While agreeing with Lynch that the urgency of our times calls for more radical approaches than cautious dialogue or reformist adaptation, it nonetheless argues that apocalyptic political theologies eventually fall short precisely in their lack of radicality. To respond philosophically to a “world in crisis,” we need instead to explore alternative traditions of radical thinking, including alternative conceptions of revolutionary temporality. Drawing on the Jewish Trotskyist thinker Daniel Bensaïd, the concluding part offers an endeavor in this direction. Given the urgency of the moment, it suggests, we need to shift focus away from the idea of radicality as negativity and disinvestment towards an idea of radicality as tenacity, persistence, and hope against all odds.}},
  author       = {{Svenungsson, Jayne}},
  issn         = {{2186-4802}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{1--23}},
  series       = {{Eco-Ethica}},
  title        = {{Political Theologies at the End of the World}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.5840/ecoethica202582067}},
  doi          = {{10.5840/ecoethica202582067}},
  volume       = {{12}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}