Following and Analyzing a Divinity
Philippe Gonzalez
Routledge eBooks October 16, 2018 DOI: 10.4324/9781315201610-6 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that charismatic prophecy, in which believers hear God publicly addressing them, can subvert the grammar and institutions of liberal, secular, pluralist democracy by eclipsing inquiry and reasoned debate as the basis for political understanding. Contends that Luhrmann's account is probably too broad in depicting people as concerned with Evangelical beliefs per se rather than their consequences for a pluralist society. |
Abstract
This chapter introduces central dimensions of Charismatic prophecy—love, belief, power—through a discussion of two important authors who explore new ways to approach religious experience and its ontology, Bruno Latour and Tanya Luhrmann. It describes how recognized prophets present the supernatural visions they claim to have received about God&s;s plans for Switzerland or the United States of America. Luhrmann&s;s statement is probably broad sweeping when she depicts people as if they were concerned by the Evangelicals&s; beliefs per se, and not by their consequences for a pluralist society. Charismatic Evangelicals are particularly fond of his royal authority—a prerogative that can subvert the grammar and the institutions of a liberal, secular and pluralist democracy. The discussion of Latour and Luhrmann helped problematize how Evangelicals hear God publicly addressing them through prophecy. Prophecy eclipses inquiry and reasoned debate as the rationale for understanding political life.