THEOLOGY IN A TIME OF POLYCRISIS: Rethinking Public and Communal Engagement in Indonesia

Abstract

This article critically examines the role of theology in public and communal life in the context of the contemporary polycrisis confronting Indonesian society—encompassing crises of national identity, ecological sustainability, familial structures, educational integrity, and the disruptive advance of artificial intelligence. The author contends that theology, properly understood, is inherently public, grounded in the relational nature of the triune God and manifest in the ecclesial community’s engagement with the world. Through a combined methodological approach that integrates theoretical analysis with auto-ethnographic reflection, the study delineates six distinct models of public theology: theology as intrinsically public, theology in public, theology for the public, theology that constitutes a new public, universal theology applied to public issues, and theology contributing to public life. The article engages critically with political, liberationist, and intercultural theological paradigms, as well as with relevant philosophical interlocutors including Kant, Rawls, and Habermas. It argues for a public theology that is both theologically rigorous and contextually responsive, capable of addressing complex societal challenges without capitulating to reductionist or instrumentalist tendencies. The study concludes by underscoring the necessity of terminological precision and methodological clarity in the articulation and application of public theology, particularly within pluralistic and crisis-laden global contexts.