ABSTRACT
The dialogue between continental philosophy and theology has been growing in recent years, with new emergent forms of so-called ‘postmodern’ theology.1 While the work of Jacques Derrida, with his continuing play with theological themes, has largely dominated much of this discussion, there has been a growing appreciation of other French post-structuralist writers and their engagement with religion. New works and translations are continually revealing important, but as yet unexplored, aspects of a body of literature that reworks traditional theological questions. The work of Michel Foucault (1926-84) is one of the developing fronts of this discussion, with new translations and works examining his contribution to religious, theological and philosophical thought. While Foucault’s work has become a major strand of postmodern theology and new forms of body theology, the wider relevance of his work for theology still remains largely unexamined. One striking feature, among many, emerging from theological examinations of Foucault’s work is the sense in which his thinking holds a distinctively Catholic dimension, particularly with its visual piety and confessional agenda. This stands in contrast to the predominantly Protestant theological concerns with the ‘word’ and ‘text’ of the postmodern gospel. However, what also remains distinctive in Foucault’s thinking is his critical analysis of institutional practices, which opens up the wider social and political agenda of theology. Foucault both engages with the Christian tradition and critically challenges its disciplinary regime. He therefore becomes, at once, both guardian and adversary of the Christian faith, a tension which creates the possibility of developing new relationships within Christianity that are more inclusive and less oppressive.
