The doctrine of progress is better called a theology because of its Christian origins

Evidence

For a critique of the residues of this doctrine in Critical Theory and in the early Frankfurt School thinkers, see Amy Allen, The End of Progress: Decolonizing the Normative Foundations of Critical Theory (New York: Columbia University Press, 2016). In the present book, I employ the expression “theology of progress,” rather than “theory” or “idea” of progress for at least two reasons, the first having to do with the Christian origins of this trenchant belief, and the second its posited nature. — Wael Hallaq, Restating Orientalism, 754

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to Amy Allen’s decolonizing critique of Critical Theory; relevant to any reading of Frankfurt School residues in postcolonial thought.
• DEFINE: Hallaq’s key terminological choice — ‘theology of progress’ — is justified here against the standard ‘theory’ or ‘idea’.