Normalization? German Theologians Respond to the Rise of the Far RightChristentum von Rechts: Theologische Erkundungen und Kritik [Right‐wing Christianity: Theological Explorations and Critique], Johann HinrichClaussen, MartinFritz, AndreasKubik, RochusLeonhardt, and ArnulfvonScheliha, Mohr Siebeck, 2021 (ISBN 978‐3‐16‐160005‐0), vi + 234 pp., pb €26.95Rechte Normalisierung und politische Theologie. Eine Standortbestimmung [Right‐wing Normalization and Political Theology: Defining a Standpoint], Jan NiklasCollet, JuliaLis, and GregorTaxacher

Abstract

AbstractThe far right is on the rise across Europe. In Germany, the political party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has had striking success in several elections, establishing itself in parliaments across the country. Although Christianity comes up in the programmes and the politics of this party, theologians in Germany have been hesitant to engage the rise of the far right. In this review, I present two publications that put an end to this hesitation. Although I cannot cover each and every chapter, I aim to showcase the key concerns and the key concepts of both publications in order to stress the contrast between them. Both theologically and politically, the stakes are high. The question of how to respond to the rise of the far right, I suggest, cuts to the core of the conceptualization of the identity of Christianity.