Missiological Mutilations - Prospective Paralogies

The aim of this study is to demonstrate intrinsic power structures in language patterns of contemporary Christian mission theories. Bringing in questions and concerns raised by postcolonial theory and critical discourse analysis, the study explores the structuralist ideologies behind modern epistemology and it is maintained the associated «modern» language patterns. Based on discourse analyses of language and terminology employed by a number of significant contemporary mission theorists the author in conclusion points towards a widespread use of 'power language' within the modern mission movement. Eventually the study moves from critical analysis into theological construction suggesting a mission theory based on postmodern assumptions, both reconciled with religious diversity through 'paralogies' (Jean-François Lyotard) and acknowledging the unavoidable relativity of any theological claim.

Autorentext

The Author: Jørgen Skov Sørensen is General Secretary of the Council on International Relations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark. He has previously taught ecumenism, missiology and interreligious relations at the United College of Ascension, Birmingham (United Kingdom), and systematic theology at the Centre for Multireligious Studies at University of Aarhus (Denmark).

Inhalt
Contents: Critical Missiology Mission Theory Mission History Colonialism Post-Colonial Theory Globalization Language Studies Critical Discourse Analysis Epistemology Modernity Postmodernity Paralogy Contemporary Systematic Theologies Constructive Theologies.