Hope in Dark Times

Theological Accounts of Hope as Critical Resources for Coping with Political Defeatism

Abstract

The aim of this article is to ponder how Jewish and Christian discourses on hope can contribute in a critical way to contemporary political and philosophical discussions of hope. Taking its cue from the biblical idea of messianic redemption, the first part of the article describes how this idea throughout history has been interpreted in both restorative and apocalyptic ways. In the second part, these various tendencies are related to the contemporary political situation and to current politico philosophical debates on hope. Finally, the article addresses the intricate question of what to hope for in a time of rising populism and reemerging xenophobic and antisemitic tendencies.