Asymmetrische Gegenbegriffe in Laktanz’ ‚Politischer Theologie‘

Abstract Lactantius’ theology is a ‚political theology‘ containing numerous asymmetrical counter-concepts. These are used to establish contradictory group constellations in whose negative part the negative others – the ‚out-group‘ – cannot necessarily recognise themselves. Among these counter-concepts, the moral-anthropological opposition of ‚the good‘ (boni) and ‚the evil‘ (mali) is of particular importance. Lactantius’ counter-concepts are politicised because they convey extremely polarised determinations of the degree of association and dissociation of human beings. These counter-concepts are also religious, because they are related to aspects of salvation history, natural law, soteriology, and eschatology. Due to their references to salvation history, Lactantius’ political group terminologies fit into the history of the radicalisation of asymmetrical counter-concepts, which stretches from antiquity to modernity and was identified by Reinhart Koselleck. Lactantius’ ‘political theology’, however, plays a special role in this history of radicalisation and violence, because, on the one hand, it marks the point at which distinctive political semantics became theologically charged. On the other hand, Lactantius did not unchain the potential for violence that was inherent in the counter-concepts. Therefore, his ‘political theology’ did not contain any praxeology or justification of violence from the Christian side.