Special Issue on Empirical Theology and Postcolonial Theory

Postcolonial Theory is de-and re-constructing the historical, economic, political, social, cultural, etc. impact of the European colonial past on both the formerly colonialized peoples, nations and societies, and the formerly colonizing peoples, nations and societies (Hook, 2012;Loomba;Williams & Chrisman, 2015;Young, 2020).Its basic interpretive assumption is that during the imperial period European worldview was imposed on the colonies establishing a system of European supremacy.Although the era of imperialism has ended, the imperial mindset still exists.For example, recent sociological concepts of 'modernity' and their relevance for religion and worldview more strongly represent the situation in the Global North and hardly take account of conditions in the Global South (Mannathukkaren, 2010).In consequence, today Postcolonial Theory often is applied in a more general understanding, not only addressing issues directly related to the colonial era but also deconstructing every account about people who are perceived as "foreigners" or "others" and therefore are potential victims of unfairness and discrimination.Unearthing colonial thinking, Postcolonial Theory has taken multiple forms: it is concerned with forms of political and aesthetic representation; it accounts for the differential consequences of globalization and modernization; and it reveals and reflects upon new forms of human injustice, from environmentalism to human rights.The aim of Postcolonial Theory is to identify the lasting effects of the imperial era.