Habermas and Theology: Philosophy and Theology

Habermas has a vivid interest in Christianity as can be seen from his public meetings with Pope Benedict.

Introduction\Part A: The theological reception and critique of Habermas's work in the first two phases of its view of religion\Chapter I: Attraction and critique of Habermas's theory of communicative action in the disciplines of theology\Part B: Habermas's theory of communicative reason in philosophical debate\Chapter II: The paradigm change from the philosophy of consciousness to language theory\Chapter III: The relationship of metaphysics to modernity\Chapter IV: Postmetaphysical philosophy as stand-in and as interpreter\Chapter V:The foundation of the discourse theory of morality\Chapter VI: The motivation for agency and the aporias of morality\Part C: The current phase: Cooperation and translation in theological debate\Chapter VII: The rediscovery of religion in the genealogy of reason and the foundation of a species ethics\Chapter VIII: Religious resources for the project of modernity in theological debate\Conclusion\Bibliography\Index

In this knowledgeable work, Junker-Kenny examines the turn to religion in Habermas' latest work calling for a process of mutual translation of religion and postsecular reason. She traces this back to his early engagement with religion and the later chastening of religion in discourse ethics. She lucidly presents the major philosophical objections to the founding concepts of Habermas' reasoning, welcoming the called-for alliance of theology and postsecular reason against the 'pathologies of modernity'. The book is a thorough systematic reconstruction and a groundbreaking source for the dialogue between theology and philosophy.
Ever since the pioneering Chicago symposium and 1992 collection of essays on Habermas and theology by Browning and Schüssler Fiorenza, we have been waiting for a major interpretative work that bridges German and English language scholarship and debates on this leading European public intellectual. The time of waiting is now over. Maureen Junker-Kenny has written a finely grained interdisciplinary study of the highest order, expounding Habermas' thought with mastery and clarity and bringing it into fruitful conversation with her constructive theological concerns and criticisms. It could not be more timely. Here is the book to give the new global movement in public theology theoretical depth and conceptual rigour. I commend it to scholars and students alike in theology, philosophy, politics, and social theory, and to all who are concerned about the theological contribution in the Habermasian public sphere.