Toward a Counternarrative Theology of Race and Whiteness

This book argues that race and whiteness are central to the construction of the modern world. Constructive Theology needs to take them seriously as primary theological problems. In doing so, Constructive Theology must fundamentally change its approach, and draw from the emerging field of Philosophy of Race. Christopher M. Baker develops a genealogy of race that understands whiteness as a kind secular soteriology, and develops a counternarrative theological method informed by resources from Philosophy of Race. He then deploys that method to read science fiction cinema and superhero stories as cultural, racial, and theological documents that can be critically engaged and redeployed as counternarratives to dominant racial narratives.

Develops a theological method for understanding the construction and function of race and whiteness. Addresses a weakness in constructive theological method, and proposes the use of Philosophy of Race as a solution. Explores how science fiction and superhero stories can be used as theological and racial counternarratives

Auteur
Christopher M. Baker holds a PhD in Theology from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, USA and teaches Philosophy and Religious Studies at College of DuPage, USA

Texte du rabat

This book argues that race and whiteness are central to the construction of the modern world. Constructive Theology needs to take them seriously as primary theological problems. In doing so, Constructive Theology must fundamentally change its approach, and draw from the emerging field of Philosophy of Race. Christopher M. Baker develops a genealogy of race that understands whiteness as a kind secular soteriology, and develops a counternarrative theological method informed by resources from Philosophy of Race. He then deploys that method to read science fiction cinema and superhero stories as cultural, racial, and theological documents that can be critically engaged and redeployed as counternarratives to dominant racial narratives.

Contenu

1. Introduction.- 2. Constructive Theology and Philosophy of Race, Part I.- 3. Constructive Theology and Philosophy of Race, Part II.- 4. Race, Whiteness, and Science Fiction Cinema.- 5. Race, Whiteness, and Superhero Stories.- 6. Conclusion.