*Article* **Climate Emergency as Revelation: The Tragedy and Illusion of Sovereignty in Christian Political Theologies**

**Ryan Williams LaMothe**

> Pastoral Care and Counseling, Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, St. Meinrad, IN 47577, USA; rlamothe@saintmeinrad.edu

**Abstract:** In this article, the realities of the climate emergency reveal that human beings, especially those of us in the grips of capitalism, imperialism, and nationalism, have little control over nature and we are inextricably a part of nature. This revelation further exposes the tragedy and illusions of sovereignty, which is produced and maintained, in part, by Judeo-Christian scriptures and political theologies. While this revelatory event is disruptive, it also invites us to reimagine political theologies without the belief that sovereignty is existentially or ontologically necessary for political belonging. This includes embracing the revelation of the infinite, non-privileging care of a non-sovereign God for all creation.

**Keywords:** climate emergency; belonging; political theology; revelation; sovereignty
