How does theology enlist the service of historical materialism? What is this service?
I have a quote from Zizek I’m having a little trouble with. Its this one:
Today, when the historical materialist analysis is receding, practiced
as it were under cover, rarely called by its proper name, while the
theological dimension is given a new lease on life in the guise of the
“postsecular” Messianic turn of deconstruction, the time has come
to reverse Walter Benjamin’s first thesis on the philosophy of history:
“The puppet called ‘theology’ is to win all the time. It can easily be
a match for anyone if it enlists the service of historical materialism,
which today, as we know, is wizened and has to keep out of sight.”
The trouble I’m having is with “if it enlists the service of
historical materialism,” That is to say I dont understand in what way
this service is enlisted, or for that matter, what it is. Can anyone help me?