Voices From The Borderland

Product Description

Voices from the Borderland" aims to bring urban theology into a transformative dialogue with the dynamic translocal urban world of the 21st century. This book is rooted in the argument that urban theology should be a theology for progressive change & arises out of an intimate engagement with the multicultural & multi-faith British urban experience over a period of twenty years. British urbanism provides a contextual base from which to explore comparable dynamics in an international context in an age of globalisation. " Voices from the Borderland" acknowledges the foundational contribution of John Vincent & Kenneth Leech to urban theology but moves beyond their twentieth century analyses into a new globalised century that is characterised by the influence complexity diversity & reach of Metropolitan regions/centres. The recent work of figures like Elaine Graham Anthony Reddie Robert Beckford Andrew Davey Laurie Green Chris Baker Gordon Lynch Ann Morisy & Tim Gorringe who have sought to draw urban theology into a dialogue with the processes of globalisation post-colonialism postmodernism & post-religious urban culture is critically explored. " Voices from the Borderland" introduces current British urban theology to an international audience & argues that the translocal world of the twenty-first century demands a dialogical model of cross-cultural urban theology that is not confined by singular contexts or theological camp mentality in order to engage with the trans-local fluidity of contemporary network urban societies. " Voices from the Borderland" exemplifies the hermeneutical circle rooting theological dialogue in a detailed critical engagement with debates in urban & social theory cultural studies postcolonial criticism & diasporan studies about globalisation translocal urbanism new forms of marginalisation identity difference belonging & urban multiculturalism. For the first time within urban theology the central importance of urban pop music as a vehicle for meaning-making is used as an intra-contextual resource for international urban theological reflection. Carefully selected examples of urban pop music as a pattern of impressionistic social theory are explored revealing their capacity to provide a commentary on the evolving nature of urban life & to act as a new resource for urban theology in an arguably post-religious context. " Voices from the Borderland" breaks new ground in urban theology by linking together five models of urban theological reflection which have to date existed only in self-enclosed camps (Urban Liberation Theology Urban Black Theology Reformist Urban Theology Globalisation Urban Theology & Post-religious Urban Theology). It is argued that a new interdisciplinary & dialogical chapter must be opened in urban theology which moves beyond current models towards a more fluid inclusive & multipolar metropolitan theology."