Theological Disputes lecture series - Dr Jonathan Cole

In the latest ‘Theological Disputes’ lecture, Dr Jonathan Cole spoke on “Politics and the Pulpit are Terms that Have Little Agreement”: Burke’s critique of the political theologian.’

Dr Cole examined Edmund Burke’s use of the term ‘political theologian’ in Reflections on the Revolution in France (one of the first uses of the term in English). Burke used the term during his polemic against Dr Richard Price, and a sermon Dr Price gave supporting the French Revolution. Dr Cole argued that Burke considered political theology an oxymoron. Despite presenting a positive picture of the relationship between church and state, Burke considered that politics and the church serve different functions, with the church being a place of charity and a refuge from conflict, whereas politics was an area of conflict and a lack of charity. Dr Cole argued that Burke’s main aversion was to ‘partisanship’, where preachers take a position on political issues. At the same time, politicians could be partisan as that was part of the role of being a politician. The church, however, should be free of such partisanship and a refuge or sanctuary from the conflict and debate that occurred in politics. Dr Cole argued that, according to Burke, while the church could play an important role in the state, it should stand apart from politics and partisanship.

There was a lively Q&A discussion following the lecture, with many participants drawing links between Burke’s views and the church’s role within politics today, and whether it should take a particular stand on political issues.

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The next lecture in the ‘Theological Disputes’ series will be by Prof Scott Cowdwell on ‘Trinity Beyond Revelation, Salvation and Sociality’.