Social justice: Now, later or never? The contribution of Albrecht Ritschl and Johannes Weiss to social justice theology

This paper considers the influence of Albrecht Ritsch (1822-1889) and Johannes Weiss (1863-1914) on current social justice theologies. It begins by pointing to the significance of Ritschl and Weiss within the context of fin de siecle German theology. This is followed by an explication of the different interpretations of the kingdom of god that appear in the works of Ritschl and Weiss. Finally, the interpretations of Ritschl and Weiss are tied to current Christian reflection concerning social justice in the work of Rosemary Ruether (1936- ) and Stanley Hauerwas (1940- ). The paper demonstrates the relevance of Ritschl and Weiss to contemporary religious discourse concerning the role that Christianity can and should play in the promotion of social justice.