Politics, Theology And History

This page intentionally left blank Politics, Theology and History is a major new book by a prominent academic and an active politician. It ranges widely across the disciplines of theology, political theory and philosophy and poses acute questions about the basic moral foundations of liberal societies. Lord Plant focuses on the role that religious belief can and ought to play in argument about public policy in a pluralistic society. He examines the potential political implications of Christian belief and the ways in which it may be deployed in political debate. The book is a contribution to the modern debate about the moral pluralism of western liberal societies, discussing the place of religious belief in the formation of policy and asking what sorts of issues in modern society might be the legitimate objects of a Christian social and political concern. Raymond Plant has written an important study of the relationship between religion and politics which will be of value to students, academics, politicians, church professionals, policy makers and all concerned with the moral fabric of contemporary life. r ay m on d pl an t is Professor of European Political Thought at the University of Southampton and a Member of the House of Lords. He was a Home affairs spokesperson for the Labour Party from 1992 to 1996, and Master of St Catherine's College, Oxford, from 1994 to 2000. Lord Plant's main publications are Social and Moral Theory in Casework (1970), Community and Ideology: An Essay in Applied Moral Philosophy (1974), Hegel (1974), Political Philosophy and Social Welfare (with H. Lesser and P. TaylorGooby, 1979), Philosophy, Politics and Citizenship (with A. Vincent, 1983), Hegel: Second Edition (1983) and Modern Political Thought (1994). POLITICS, THEOLOGY AND HISTORY cambridge studies in ideology and religion General Editors: Duncan Forester and Alistair Kee Editorial Board: j o s EÂ m IÂ g u e z b o n i n o , r e b e c c a s . c h o p p , john de gruchy, graham howes, yeow choo lak, david mclellan, kenneth medhurst, raymond plant, c h r i s t o p h e r r o w l a n d , e l i s a b e t h s c h u¨ s s l e r - f i o r e n z a , c ha r l e s v i l l a - v i c e n c i o , h a d d on w i l m e r Religion increasingly is seen as a renewed force, and is recognized as an important factor in the modern world in all aspects of life ± cultural, economic, and political. It is no longer a matter of surprise to ®nd religious factors at work in areas and situations of political tension. However, our information about these situations has tended to come from two main sources. The news-gathering agencies are well placed to convey information, but are hampered by the fact that their representatives are not equipped to provide analysis of the religious forces involved. Alternatively, the movements generate their own accounts, which understandably seem less than objective to outside observers. There is no lack of information of factual material, but a real need for sound academic analysis. Cambridge Studies in Ideology and Religion meets this need. It attempts to give an objective, balanced and programmed coverage to issues which ± while of wide potential interest ± have been largely neglected by analytical investigation, apart from the appearance of sporadic individual studies. Intended to enable debate to proceed at a higher level, the series should lead to a new phase in our understanding of the relationship between ideology and religion. A list of titles already published in the series is given at the end of the book. POLITICS, THEOLOGY AND HISTORY R AY M O N D P L A N T University of Southampton Honorary Fellow of St Catherine's College, Oxford The Pitt Building, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, United Kingdom The Edinburgh Building, Cambrid