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Project

Gilles Deleuze and Theology: A New Philosophical Mediation for a Western Liberation Theology?

In the past, Liberation Theology was usually inspired by (neo-)Marxist thought for its vision on a just society. However, at the end of the 20th century, the Marxist legacy has lost its credibility. As a consequence, Liberation Theologies lost an encompassing perspective on economical and social justice. The research hypothesis that comes forth from this problematic situation, is that the philosophy of the French thinker Gilles Deleuze can offer a new mediation for a Western Liberation Theology with an explicitly macro-political agenda, a mediation that is strong enough to effectively resist oppressive structures in society. This hypothesis will be tested from two angles: on the one hand, we critically investigate Deleuze's philosophy as a political 'project of liberation'. On the other hand, we ask if Deleuze, from the perspective of a contemporary Western Liberation Theology, can be a fruitful mediation for a Liberation Theology that wants to have macropolitical impact. Does the core thought of each Liberation Theology - the preferential option for the poor - find a suitable philosophical basis in Deleuze's thinking? Does Deleuze's political projcet have enough strength to offer resistance to neoliberal capitalism - in the service of a Liberation Theology that uses this project to create a vision of liberation?
Date:1 Oct 2009 →  30 Sep 2010
Keywords:Western liberation theology, Gilles Deleuze, Political theology
Disciplines:Theology and religious studies, Other philosophy, ethics and religious studies not elsewhere classified, Theory and methodology of philosophy, Philosophy