About

Sheffield Seminar for Radical Political Theology is still a project in planning.  The aim of this blog is to help start the ball rolling.  So, permit us to expand on five words:

Sheffield - the largest city in the UK outside of London (at least in area) and home to an interesting history of radical theology (details will appear in future posts).  The seminar will meet in Sheffield.  We make no apologies for that.  All three of us live in the area and so it makes sense to meet here.  We don't want to exclude anyone who can't get to our meetings and indeed would like to hear from anyone, anywhere who is interested.  We'd be happy to post links to relevant blogs and websites, we invite you to write for this blog and encourage you to start a seminar in your city.  Perhaps if we find there are several such seminars, we can combine into a single blog or website?  If there are groups out there, or formed in response to this, we may be able to co-ordinate some of our study programmes.

Seminar - does sound a bit academic.  We expect to work to academic standards held in tension with a freedom to explore new ideas.  We will share ideas but expect them to be pulled apart and tested to destruction!  But we're not all academic philosophers.  I, Chris, for example hope one of our aims will be to present the material we consider in an accessible format.  Translating from academic language into ordinary language is one of the challenges we need to take on. 

Radical - our thinking is rooted in Praxis, action/reflection and this has implications for the underlying nature of this blog.  We expect it to be Christian and committed to the transformation of society.  This means we will be seeking a study community, ultimately committed to relationship with the mainstream churches and yet free to push the boundaries.  We particularly want to see the seminar bear fruit in terms of Christian community, liturgy and prayer as well as social action.

Political - James' first post summarises the political theology dimension.  We live in a society where the vision of the Christian Socialists has been subsumed beneath monetarist, neo-liberal ideology.  It is time we returned to our roots.  We're not all members of the Labour Party, I'm a member of the Green Party for example, but we are all committed to a radical political praxis.  If you're a Tory, a liberal or an anarchist you're probably reading the wrong blog but before you go, let us ask, are you prepared to seriously to engage with arguments with academic rigour?  If so, perhaps you might like to keep reading.

Theology - God talk - this seminar is rooted in the Christian faith.  We make no apology for that and expect those who undertake this journey to share a commitment to the Christian faith (usually understood as traditions thatb are members of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (or its equivalents overseas)).   We believe radical Christians in the past have moved away from the church, seeking alternative structures.  We still need alternative structures but we have learned over the years that we also need accountability (something that is perhaps reciprocal).

If you're interested, keep reading!  And don't forget to comment ...