ABSTRACT
Having explored the general nature of a Trinitarian form of narrative about matters of social and religious plurality in the previous chapter, this chapter identifies the disposition of desire as a critical factor in the continuation of the forms of relationality identified as central to the Trinitarian perichoresis. Having done so, the chapters aims to explore the implications of this desire for the performance of Christian identity and faith within a religiously plural context. It begins by examining contemporary notions of desire, drawing on the post-modern work of Foucault to encapsulate the forms of desire current within contemporary society while bringing this into conversation with the aspects of desire and hyper-reality apparent within the work of Baudrillard. This exploration of modern and post-modern forms of desire is then contrasted with the form of desire apparent within the relations of the triune divine, specifically looking at the way in which this desire is both performed and culminated. In doing so, this chapter argues that the form of desire expressed within the Trinity is a fundamentally queer form of desire that relies on aspects of postponement, non-finality, and non-appropriation in order to preserve that aspect of difference that is critically important to the rejection of marginalisation and violence in relation. Having done so, the chapter looks at this desirous proposal practically, drawing on forms of non-hierarchical, non-appropriative, and non-marginalising practice in order to gesture towards a practical performance of Trinitarian desire towards the other in society.
