Hegel's Political Theology

This study attempts to grasp the continuing contemporary relevance of Hegel's political theology, which the author interprets as a uniquely radical critique of every sort of religious authoritarianism. By relating Milan Kundera's concept of 'kitsch' to Hegel's thought, Dr Shanks shows that Hegel's philosophy has important implications, and that it is still able to serve as a resource and an inspiration in modern times, an age in which 'kitsch' is pervasive and damaging. Hegel emerges, in the author's estimation, as a religious reformer, and it is the centrality of practical concerns which is seen to characterise his systematic, theoretical enterprise as a whole. On that basis, an attempt is made to widen the scope for creative dialogue between Hegel and a number of his later critics: theologians such as Barth and Metz, and philosophers like Kierkegaard, Voegelin, Adorno, Foucault and Arendt.Shanks, Andrew is the author of 'Hegel's Political Theology' with ISBN 9780521403214 and ISBN 0521403219.