Joerg Reiger’s Northey Lecture Recap

Joerg Rieger’s Northey Lecture “Why Global Solidarities are a Matter of Life and Death: The Difference Religion Can Make” drew a small gathering at Pilgrim Theological College on Thursday, 4 September. Professor Rieger’s lecture addressed the importance of building up a broader form of solidarity in an era where the ruling powers are not only using the strategy of divide and conquer, but also what he described as “unite and conquer,” through forms of false solidarities. Rather than positioning itself as helper or advocate to the poor and the marginalized, Professor Rieger argued that a better stance for the church in its service to the world would be positioning itself as part of the majority of the population, which is the working people, and deepening its solidarity.

“The difference between liberal theology and liberation theology,” said Rieger, “is that liberation theology believes in miracle. That another world is possible”.

Pilgrim Lecturer in Systematic Theology, Rev Dr Daniel Sihombing said that he found the lecture to be insightful, as it “highlights the limitations of identity politics and the importance of class analysis in the field of theology. It’s not just about advocating for the poor or giving more space to the marginalized. It’s about how to build a new world together as part of the emerging forces of the majority working people.”

For more information on the Northey lecture series and upcoming public lectures, visit the Northey page on the Pilgrim website.