Anti-human Theology

Peter Manley Scott offers a theological and ethical reading of our present situation. Due to the vigour of its re-engineering of the world by its technologies, western society has entered into a postnatural condition in which standard divisions between the natural and the artificial are no longer convincing. This postnatural development is liberating - both theologically and politically. Scott develops an 'anthropology' that does not repeat Christianity's history of anthropocentrism but instead criticises it by exploring the mutual entanglement of animals, humans and other creatures. Deeply disrespectful of traditional centres of power, his ethical critiques of 'pioneering' technologies expose their anti-social and anti-ecological tendencies and identify possible paths of oppositional political action. This is ethical theology at its best: deeply informed by theological tradition, immersed in contemporary political-technological problematics in radically oppositional ways, and yet fiercely hopeful of a good outcome for animals - human and non-human - and other life in history.

'Barr cuts a devastatingly clear path through selected controversies, saying something convincing, constructive and often original on each.' Expository Times; 'All who are concerned about the authority of the Bible should read these essays.' Church Times; 'More valuable even than the exploding of numerous half truths and errors achieved in this volume is the positive appreciation which it enables its readers to enjoy of the multiform character of the Bible and its place both in the Church and in the wider academic community.' Theology 'Irreplaceable as a reference to where Catholic theology is at any given moment, Concilium maps the state of the most pressing questions with solid contributions from leading theologians and cutting edge voices. Each volume addresses major issues in dialogue with wider public discourses, regularly engaging perspectives from the religions of the world. For volumes of substance, breadth and insight, Concilium provides a most impressive response to the most important issues in theology today.'Jeanine Hill Fletcher, Fordham University. 'Today-perhaps more than ever-we need the voices of Concilium: informed, international, inspiring, prepared to speak across the borders that still persist in an 'open' world. Different voices, they are yet united by the one who calls them to love God and neighbour, to meet in others the face of salvation.'Gerard Loughlin, Durham University

Dr Peter Manley Scott is Senior Lecturer in Christian Social Thought and Director of the Lincoln Theological Institute at the University of Manchester, UK.