FAITH, REFORM, AND THE INTEGRITY OF DOCTRINE

A CRITICAL REVIEW OF BEYOND DOCTRINE

Abstract

Januarius Asongu’s Beyond Doctrine: A Critical-Liberative Theology of Faith and Emancipation (2026) represents a bold and interdisciplinary attempt to reconfigure Christian theology around the principles of liberation, critical rationality, and historical consciousness. Drawing from liberation theology, critical philosophy, and ecclesial experience, the work challenges doctrinal rigidity and institutional complacency while advocating for a renewed prophetic Church. This review critically engages Asongu’s central thesis, affirming his call for reform and justice while interrogating key theological tensions related to doctrinal continuity, moral theology, and ecclesial identity. By situating the text in dialogue with major theological and philosophical traditions—including Aquinas, Newman, Rahner, Boff, and MacIntyre—this essay argues that Beyond Doctrine is a significant yet contested contribution to contemporary theology, particularly within African and global ecclesial contexts.