Jonathan Cole
Conservatism, libertarianism and political theology
About Jonathan
Dr Jonathan Cole is a classical liberal political philosopher who researches conservatism, libertarianism and political theology.
He is currently Director of the Centre for Religion, Ethics and Society, Charles Sturt University (CSU) and co-host of The Political Animals Podcast: "Two political philosophers, one a right-wing radical, the other a left-wing heretic, come together to discuss the social, political and cultural issues of our day."
He has a PhD in political theology from CSU, an MA in Islamic theology and Middle Eastern politics from the Australian National University and a BA Hons in Modern Greek language and history from La Trobe University. He speaks Greek.
He spent 13 years working in a number of Australian federal government departments and agencies in Canberra, including seven years in intelligence, most recently as a Senior Terrorism Analyst at the Office of National Assessments (2010–2014).
He is currently Director of the Centre for Religion, Ethics and Society, Charles Sturt University (CSU) and co-host of The Political Animals Podcast: "Two political philosophers, one a right-wing radical, the other a left-wing heretic, come together to discuss the social, political and cultural issues of our day."
He has a PhD in political theology from CSU, an MA in Islamic theology and Middle Eastern politics from the Australian National University and a BA Hons in Modern Greek language and history from La Trobe University. He speaks Greek.
He spent 13 years working in a number of Australian federal government departments and agencies in Canberra, including seven years in intelligence, most recently as a Senior Terrorism Analyst at the Office of National Assessments (2010–2014).
Podcast
Available on Apple, Spotify and other podcast platforms.
Books
https://www.bloomsbury.com/au/reign-of-god-9780567707475/
About
The Reign of God constitutes the first detailed and systematic critical engagement with Oliver O'Donovan's political theology. It argues that O'Donovan's theological account of political authority is not tenable on the basis of exegetical and methodological problems.
The book goes on to demonstrate a way to refine O'Donovan's theology of political authority by incorporating insights from his earlier work in moral theology. This can provide a cogent basis for thinking that the Christ-event redeems the natural political authority embedded in the created order and inaugurates its new historical bene esse in the form of Christian liberalism.
Endorsements
"At last, a full-length monograph on Oliver O'Donovan's remarkable theology of political authority. Jonathan Cole does us a great service in this comprehensive, clearly-written and constructively critical account of O'Donovan's political thought. Both seasoned readers of O'Donovan and newcomers to his corpus will find this an invaluable companion."
— Jonathan Chaplin, Institute for Christian Studies, Canada
"This book is no doubt a significant step in the ongoing reception of O'Donovan's political theology, developing a detailed and carefully argued critique of O'Donovan's account of political authority. To his credit, Cole does not let his overall sympathy and appreciation stand in the way of critical examination and disagreement."
— Guido de Graaff, St Augustine College of Theology, UK
"The Reign of God provides a clear map of the logic of O'Donovan's theology of political authority, a lucid understanding of the alternatives that troubled him, and a constructive resolution to his theology's internal contradictions. By thinking with and beyond O'Donovan, this book makes a distinctive contribution to Christian political theology."
— Aristotle Papanikolaou, Professor of Theology, Archbishop Demetrios Chair of Orthodox Theology and Culture, Co-founding director, Orthodox Christian Studies Center, Fordham University, USA
About
The Reign of God constitutes the first detailed and systematic critical engagement with Oliver O'Donovan's political theology. It argues that O'Donovan's theological account of political authority is not tenable on the basis of exegetical and methodological problems.
The book goes on to demonstrate a way to refine O'Donovan's theology of political authority by incorporating insights from his earlier work in moral theology. This can provide a cogent basis for thinking that the Christ-event redeems the natural political authority embedded in the created order and inaugurates its new historical bene esse in the form of Christian liberalism.
Endorsements
"At last, a full-length monograph on Oliver O'Donovan's remarkable theology of political authority. Jonathan Cole does us a great service in this comprehensive, clearly-written and constructively critical account of O'Donovan's political thought. Both seasoned readers of O'Donovan and newcomers to his corpus will find this an invaluable companion."
— Jonathan Chaplin, Institute for Christian Studies, Canada
"This book is no doubt a significant step in the ongoing reception of O'Donovan's political theology, developing a detailed and carefully argued critique of O'Donovan's account of political authority. To his credit, Cole does not let his overall sympathy and appreciation stand in the way of critical examination and disagreement."
— Guido de Graaff, St Augustine College of Theology, UK
"The Reign of God provides a clear map of the logic of O'Donovan's theology of political authority, a lucid understanding of the alternatives that troubled him, and a constructive resolution to his theology's internal contradictions. By thinking with and beyond O'Donovan, this book makes a distinctive contribution to Christian political theology."
— Aristotle Papanikolaou, Professor of Theology, Archbishop Demetrios Chair of Orthodox Theology and Culture, Co-founding director, Orthodox Christian Studies Center, Fordham University, USA
Books
https://www.amazon.com/Christian-Political-Theology-Age-Discontent/dp/1532679343
https://wipfandstock.com/christian-political-theology-in-an-age-of-discontent.html
About
At a moment in which interest in political theology is rising, acceptance of a public role for religion is declining, and cynicism regarding both political and religious institutions is overflowing, this book investigates the possibilities and constraints of a Christian political theology that can meaningfully mediate Scripture, doctrine, and political reality. In critical dialogue with political theologians and political philosophers past and present, we explore the origins, meaning, and purpose of Christian political theology in an age of growing discontent with the once-impregnable liberal democratic order of yesteryear. Approaching politics as both art and science, this book lays a challenge at the feet of political theologians to offer a theological account of politics that is genuinely illuminating of political reality and efficacious for the faithful who seek to operate within it.
Endorsements
“Jonathan Cole offers a powerful and fresh account of the importance and indispensability of political theology. Cole challenges simplistic notions of what it means to do political theology and he argues that it is time for political theology to grow up and become a real discipline. The essays in this book offer a creative, illuminating, and stimulating account of the issues and challenges facing political theology today. A major contribution from a formidable and exciting scholar.”
— Stephen Pickard, Director, Centre for Public and Contextual Theology, Charles Sturt University
https://wipfandstock.com/christian-political-theology-in-an-age-of-discontent.html
About
At a moment in which interest in political theology is rising, acceptance of a public role for religion is declining, and cynicism regarding both political and religious institutions is overflowing, this book investigates the possibilities and constraints of a Christian political theology that can meaningfully mediate Scripture, doctrine, and political reality. In critical dialogue with political theologians and political philosophers past and present, we explore the origins, meaning, and purpose of Christian political theology in an age of growing discontent with the once-impregnable liberal democratic order of yesteryear. Approaching politics as both art and science, this book lays a challenge at the feet of political theologians to offer a theological account of politics that is genuinely illuminating of political reality and efficacious for the faithful who seek to operate within it.
Endorsements
“Jonathan Cole offers a powerful and fresh account of the importance and indispensability of political theology. Cole challenges simplistic notions of what it means to do political theology and he argues that it is time for political theology to grow up and become a real discipline. The essays in this book offer a creative, illuminating, and stimulating account of the issues and challenges facing political theology today. A major contribution from a formidable and exciting scholar.”
— Stephen Pickard, Director, Centre for Public and Contextual Theology, Charles Sturt University
Translations
Available for free download via Winchester University Press
https://www.winchesteruniversitypress.org/site/books/m/10.21039/book2/
About
"What is the criterion of truth?", asks Christos Yannaras in The Effable and The Ineffable: The Linguistic Boundaries of Metaphysical Realism. Christos Yannaras is a Greek philosopher, Eastern Orthodox theologian and author of more than fifty books which have been translated into many languages. He is a professor emeritus of philosophy at the Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens.
Endorsements
"Christos Yannaras is one of the most original and revolutionary thinkers of modern Europe, and in this arresting, demanding book he sets out his vision of how a post-truth society might rediscover the reality of shared meaning and the hope of authentic life. Bringing the Greek Fathers into dialogue with the foremost thinkers of modernity, he gives us a comprehensive picture of what 'logos' really means and why it matters."
— Rowan Williams
https://www.winchesteruniversitypress.org/site/books/m/10.21039/book2/
About
"What is the criterion of truth?", asks Christos Yannaras in The Effable and The Ineffable: The Linguistic Boundaries of Metaphysical Realism. Christos Yannaras is a Greek philosopher, Eastern Orthodox theologian and author of more than fifty books which have been translated into many languages. He is a professor emeritus of philosophy at the Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens.
Endorsements
"Christos Yannaras is one of the most original and revolutionary thinkers of modern Europe, and in this arresting, demanding book he sets out his vision of how a post-truth society might rediscover the reality of shared meaning and the hope of authentic life. Bringing the Greek Fathers into dialogue with the foremost thinkers of modernity, he gives us a comprehensive picture of what 'logos' really means and why it matters."
— Rowan Williams
In the media
ABC Religion & Ethics, 21 July 2021
Read MoreGod Forbid, ABC Radio National, 31 January 2021.
Read MoreSpectator Australia, 23 November 2020. Co-authored with Simon Kennedy.
Read MoreABC Religion & Ethics, 6 April 2020
Read MoreThe Sydney Morning Herald, 16 December 2015.
Read MoreEssays
The New Polis, 27 February 2018.
Read MoreThe Political Theology Network, 12 December 2017.
Read MoreThe Political Theology Network, 18 October 2017.
Read MorePolitical Theology Network, 5 September 2017.
Read MoreAcademic writing
Religions 2021, 12 (11), 998; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel12110998
Read MoreStudies in Christian Ethics, 33, no.4 (2020): 549–564.
Read MoreThe Evangelical-Orthodox Theological Dialogue: Managing Diversity and Navigating Asymmetry
European Journal of Theology 29, no.1 (2020): 27–38.
Middle East Quarterly 26, no.1 (2019).
Read MoreSt Mark's Review 246, no.4 (2018): 14–28.
Read MoreIn Polis, Ontology, Ecclesial Event: Engaging with Christos Yannaras' Thought, edited by Sotiris Mitralexis, 47–63. Cambridge: James Clarke & Co., 2018.
Read MoreIn Does Religion Cause Violence? Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Violence and Religion in the Modern World, edited by Scott Cowdell, Chris Fleming, Joel Hodge, and Carly Osborn, 207–228. New York: Bloomsbury, 2018.
Read MoreIn Mustard Seeds in the Public Square: Between and Beyond Theology, Philosophy, and Society, edited by Sotiris Mitralexis, 61–92. Wilmington, Del.: Vernon Press, 2017.
Read MoreStudies in Christian Ethics 32, no.3 (2019): 307–335.
Read MorePolitical Theology 20, no.4 (2019): 297–310.
Read MoreSt Mark's Review 233, No. 3 (2015): 60–73.
Read MoreContact Jonathan
In the media
God Forbid, ABC Radio National, 31 January 2021.
Read MoreSpectator Australia, 23 November 2020. Co-authored with Simon Kennedy.
Read More