English Public Theology

English Public Theology is a tour de force of historical scholarship, theological acuity, and sharp critical analysis of the modern ‘liberal’ tradition of human rights discourses. Probably only Joan Lockwood O’Donovan could have written this extraordinary book, because her notable understanding of Reformation Tudor public theology, while not uncritical of its foibles and excesses, forces the reader to think backwards once more in order to go forwards. Is there a future for an established Church in England? No one who cares about this topic (and especially no bishops) can afford to ignore the stringent arguments of this book. * Sarah Coakley FBA, University of Cambridge (UK), University of St Andrews (UK) and the Australian Catholic University. * Grounded in an extensive and scholarly recovery of the public theology of the English Tudor Reformation, Joan Lockwood O’Donovan has provided us with a wonderfully erudite and perceptive elaboration of her previous work. Her radical Christian critique of the dominant liberal-democratic rights tradition presents a powerful challenge to theologically-sensitive appropriators of that tradition. It will surely provoke reflection and reconsideration for many years to come. * Julian Rivers, University of Bristol Law School, UK * This remarkable recollection of the significance of the English reformers’ public theology, taking form as an apology targeted at prevailing political pathologies, especially those concerned with subjective rights, provides an invaluable resource for current and future generations of theologians. Any concerned with the theological critique and reformation of both church life and political life owe a vast debt to Joan Lockwood O’Donovan. Her landmark achievement in this volume will equip those who follow her guidance to deploy critically the English reformers’ convictions and insights regarding the Scriptural testimony to Jesus Christ in a variety of contemporary contexts. * Joshua Hordern, Harris Manchester College, University of Oxford, UK *