Identity, Ethics, and Nonviolence in Postcolonial Theory A Rahnerian

Abraham argues that a theological imagination can expand the contours of postcolonial theory through a reexamination of notions of subjectivity, gender, and violence in a dialogical model with Karl Rahner. She questions of whether postcolonial theory, wit

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Identity, E thics, and Nonviolence in Postcolonial Theory A Rahnerian T heological Assessment Susan Abraham

IDENTITY, ETHICS, AND NONVIOLENCE IN POSTCOLONIAL THEORY

© Susan Abraham, 2007. Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2007 978-1-4039-7070-1 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. First published in 2007 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN™ 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010 and Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, England RG21 6XS Companies and representatives throughout the world. PALGRAVE MACMILLAN is the global academic imprint of the Palgrave Macmillan division of St. Martin’s Press, LLC and of Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. Macmillan® is a registered trademark in the United States, United Kingdom and other countries. Palgrave is a registered trademark in the European Union and other countries. ISBN 978-1-349-53240-7 ISBN 978-0-230-60413-1 (eBook) DOI 10.1057/9780230604131

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Abraham, Susan. Identity, ethics, and nonviolence in postcolonial theory : a Rahnerian theological assessment / Susan Abraham. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Postcolonialism. 2. Christianity and politics. 3. Rahner, Karl, 1904–1984. I. Title. BR115.P7A247 2007 261.7—dc22

2006051516

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Design by Newgen Imaging Systems (P) Ltd., Chennai, India. First edition: May 2007 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Contents

Preface 1 Doing Theology in the Postcolonial Context: Issues and Problems Why Rahner? Political and Liberation Theologies Postcolonial, Anticolonial, and Decolonizing Theory Disarticulating Theology and Theory: Faith and Power in the Postcolonial Context 2 Negotiating Cultural and Religious Identity in the Postcolony Cultural and Religious Identity at the Boundary The “Supernatural Existential”: Grace as Intrinsic to Religious Identity Porous Cultural Boundaries Porous Religious Boundaries Hybrid Cultural and Theological Strategies: Intercultural and Interreligious Proposals

vii

1 10 30 38 45 51 59 70 79 86 93

3 Embodied Ethics in the Postcolony Ethics in the Postcolony Existential Ethics: Rahner’s “Fundamental Option” Embodied Interventions: The Interruptive Caress Incarnating the “Fundamental Option” Love as the Singular Caress of the Gendered Subaltern

101 109 120 129 135 141

4 Spirituality and Nonviolent Polity in the Postcolony Decolonizing the Mind and the Spirit Indiferençia as the “Mysticism of Everyday”

149 153 164

C o n t e n ts

vi

Embracing Many Worlds: The Practice of Spirituality Practical Mysticism Mysticism of Identity and Mysticism of Love

175 184 192

5 Theology in the Postcolonial Context

195

Notes

207

Bibliography

221

Index

241

Preface

Postcolonial theory provides an (im)possible space to imagine theologically. On the one hand, it incisively articulates the effects