Augustine and Aquinas: Interpretation Reconciling Religion and Politics

Abstract

The reappearance of talk about the role of religious interpretation in sparing humanity the opposition between "the state" and "religion" comes at a time of increasing conflict between church and the seat of temporal power. This is because revival in discussion about issues of religion and politics in the world today—whether in the Muslim or Western context. Religious movements in both worlds are struggling for liberation from the private sphere where they were placed by successive waves of secularization, and seek to return to the public sphere.