What is the role of theology in forming the citizenry of the 21st century nation? Historically, religions whether Jewish, Christian, Islamic, Buddhist or Hindu have often asserted a prescriptive claim over the workings of the political sphere. Such claims consequently aroused strong political responses, resulting in the religious sphere being drawn into the orbit of the state. Lecturer Susan Abraham is Professor of Theology and Postcolonial Cultures, VP of Academic Affairs, Dean of Faculty at Pacific School of Religion and a proud alumna of Catholic Theological Union (MA, 1995).