Critical Theory and Early Christianity

This volume explores the intersection of early Christian texts and the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, creating dialectical images that challenge traditional thinking about gentrification, progress, early Christianity, revolutionary movements, history, the body of Christ, canonicity, language, gender, and bodies. Eleven international scholars contribute to the book, which is based on Walter Benjamin's concept of the dialectical image.

Format: Hardback
Publication date: 15 May 2022
Publisher: Equinox Publishing Ltd

This volume aims to create, in Walter Benjamin's terms, dialectical images from early Christian texts and the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. It blasts the past and the present into one another, creating new constellations of thought, ones connected with tensions and mediated by theory (mediation being what Theodor Adorno adds to Benjamin's concept of the dialectical image). Our ancient images derive from the Gospels, the Apostle Paul, Revelation, Irenaeus, Origen, and Augustine. Our modern images and theories derive from Walter Benjamin, Gilles Deleuze, Alain Badiou, and Judith Butler. Together, these images and theories challenge the way we think about gentrification, progress, early Christianity, revolutionary movements, history, the body of Christ, canonicity, language, gender, and bodies, both human and non-human. Eleven international scholars contribute to this volume. These scholars are experts in the fields of Biblical Studies, Early Christian Studies, Philosophy, and Critical Theory.

Introduction:
This volume seeks to explore the intersection of early Christian texts and the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, employing Walter Benjamin's concept of dialectical images. By juxtaposing these two temporal and cultural contexts, we aim to create new constellations of thought that are connected by tensions and mediated by theory. This approach draws upon the rich tapestry of ancient images derived from various sources, including the Gospels, the Apostle Paul, Revelation, Irenaeus, Origen, and Augustine. At the same time, it incorporates contemporary images and theories developed by influential thinkers such as Walter Benjamin, Gilles Deleuze, Alain Badiou, and Judith Butler.

Ancient Images:
Our ancient images are rooted in the Gospels, the Apostle Paul, Revelation, Irenaeus, Origen, and Augustine. These texts provide us with a wealth of insights into the early Christian world and its beliefs. The Gospels, in particular, offer a narrative account of Jesus Christ's life, teachings, and miracles, which continue to shape our understanding of Christianity. The Apostle Paul's letters to the early Christian communities provide a theological framework for understanding the nature of God and the role of the church in the world. Revelation, meanwhile, offers a vision of the end times and the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom.

Contemporary Images:
Our contemporary images and theories, on the other hand, are influenced by a range of thinkers who have grappled with the complexities of the modern world. Walter Benjamin, for instance, was a German philosopher who famously explored the relationship between art and politics in the 20th century. His concept of the "dialectical image" sought to capture the dynamic and ever-changing nature of the modern world, which he saw as a product of historical and cultural forces. Gilles Deleuze, another influential philosopher, developed a complex theory of the body and its relationship to technology and capitalism. He argued that the body is not a fixed entity but rather a fluid and dynamic system that is constantly being shaped by these forces.

Theory and Mediation:
The key to understanding the relationship between our ancient and contemporary images and theories is the concept of theory and mediation. According to Benjamin, the dialectical image is created through the interaction of two forces: the past and the present. The past provides the material and historical context for the image, while the present adds the theoretical and conceptual dimension. The theory, in turn, mediates between these two forces, providing a framework for understanding the tensions and conflicts that arise between them.

Challenges to Traditional Thinking:
The images and theories presented in this volume challenge traditional ways of thinking about gentrification, progress, early Christianity, revolutionary movements, history, the body of Christ, canonicity, language, gender, and bodies, both human and non-human. They encourage us to think critically about the ways in which these concepts have been constructed and deployed in the past and to consider alternative perspectives that may offer a more nuanced and complex understanding of these issues.

Contributors:
Eleven international scholars contribute to this volume, each of whom is an expert in their respective field. These scholars come from a range of academic backgrounds, including Biblical Studies, Early Christian Studies, Philosophy, and Critical Theory. Their contributions provide a diverse and interdisciplinary perspective on the topics discussed in this volume.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, this volume aims to create dialectical images from early Christian texts and the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, challenging the way we think about these two temporal and cultural contexts. By juxtaposing these two forces, we hope to create new constellations of thought that are connected by tensions and mediated by theory. The images and theories presented in this volume offer a rich and complex understanding of the issues at hand, and we hope that they will inspire further exploration and debate in the fields of Biblical Studies, Early Christian Studies, Philosophy, and Critical Theory.

Weight: 4078g
ISBN-13: 9781781794128