Awaiting the King

Reforming Public Theology

By: James K. A. Smith

Narrated by: Timothy Andrés Pabon

In this culmination of his highly acclaimed Cultural Liturgies project, James K. A. Smith examines politics through the lens of liturgy. What if, he asks, citizens are not only thinkers or believers but also lovers? Smith explores how our analysis of political institutions would look different if we viewed them as incubators of love-shaping practices—not merely governing us but forming what we love. How would our political engagement change if we weren't simply looking for permission to express our "views" in the political sphere but actually hoped to shape the ethos of a nation, a state, or a municipality to foster a way of life that bends toward shalom?

This book offers a well-rounded public theology as an alternative to contemporary debates about politics. Smith explores the religious nature of politics and the political nature of Christian worship, sketching how the worship of the church propels us to be invested in forging the common good. This book creatively merges theological and philosophical reflection and includes helpful exposition and contemporary commentary on key figures in political theology.

©2017 James K. A. Smith (P)2022 Tantor

Good content, tough listen

This book examines complex and deep subject matter, so audio format is tough since it should be studied rather than just read. I had not read a lot of the authors who the Mr. Smith repeatedly referenced and was not intimately familiar with what they had said, which often made it difficult to follow.