Liberal Interpretations: Richard Hooker and the Theologico-political Problem in Recent Canadian Historiography
https://archives.anglican.ca/link/article37856
- Author
- Lofft, Jonathan S.
- Material Type
- Journal Article
- Journal
- Journal of the Canadian Church Historical Society
- Date
- 2014 Fall
- Author
- Lofft, Jonathan S.
- Material Type
- Journal Article
- Date
- 2014 Fall
- Volume
- 52
- Issue
- 2
- Page
- [83]-91
- Notes
- "An increasing concern for defining liberalism has characterized Canadian historiography in the last decade or so. That is, since Ian McKay boldly proposed ... that Canada, as a category, muse be 'seen again' as denoting an historically specific project of rule. 'Canada-as-project can be analyzed as the implantation and expansion over a heterogeneous terrain of a certain politico-economic logic -- to wit, liberalism;, writes McKay of his reconnaissance mission" (p. [83]). "The theological politics McKay emphasizes in [Pierre] Manent's work are surely best exemplified in what Manent himself terms the 'theologico-political problem'. 'The political development of Europe is understandable only as the history of answers to problems posed by the Church, which was a human association of a completely new kind', writes Manent. For his part, McKay suggests an analysis of the fusion of British ethnicity, British Protestant religion, and British imperialism that has created an image of the ideal Canadian individual who dominated so much of the public life here in the last two centuries. What of Canadians weren't dealing with trends in nationalism, or secularization in their historiography, McKay provocatively ventures, but instead a history of robustly theologized liberalization, the advancement of consistently liberal policies ranging from establishmentarianism to multiculturalism mediated by historical circumstances and authority ? The implications for church historians in Canada, and their colleagues working in historical and political theology, especially the Hookerians, out on the edge of liberalism's historiography, seem seismic" (p. 84-85). In the end, it may be impossible to render conclusive judgments in any of the controversies touched upon here" (p. 90).
- Location
- General Synod Archives