Philosophy of religion Books

Book SynopsisIn this short book Peter Sloterdijk clarifies his views on religion and its role in pre-modern and modern societies. He begins by returning to the Mount Sinai episode in the Book of Exodus, where he identifies the emergence of what he calls the 'Sinai Schema'.Trade Review"Subjectivity is minted in the fire of introjected violence, we learned from Adorno and Horkheimer. Sloterdijk, following on their trail, argues in this short but rich essay, that the ritualistic violence of orthodoxy that is the crucible of peoples is prior and more foundational. God is born from and kept alive by the blood of martyrs to the purity of a people�s faith. But he beams a light of hope: religion can be its own antidote." Eduardo Mendieta, Penn State University "Bold and very imaginative." Ethical PerceptivesTable of Contents Narrowing the Battle Zone On the Genesis of Peoples in General The Sinai Schema: Integral Swearing-In Phobocracy: On the Proliferation of the Principle of Total Membership Metamorphoses of Membership

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Book SynopsisIn this short book Peter Sloterdijk clarifies his views on religion and its role in pre-modern and modern societies. He begins by returning to the Mount Sinai episode in the Book of Exodus, where he identifies the emergence of what he calls the 'Sinai Schema'.Trade Review"Subjectivity is minted in the fire of introjected violence, we learned from Adorno and Horkheimer. Sloterdijk, following on their trail, argues in this short but rich essay, that the ritualistic violence of orthodoxy that is the crucible of peoples is prior and more foundational. God is born from and kept alive by the blood of martyrs to the purity of a people�s faith. But he beams a light of hope: religion can be its own antidote." Eduardo Mendieta, Penn State University "Bold and very imaginative." Ethical PerceptivesTable of Contents Narrowing the Battle Zone On the Genesis of Peoples in General The Sinai Schema: Integral Swearing-In Phobocracy: On the Proliferation of the Principle of Total Membership Metamorphoses of Membership Index

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Book SynopsisThe teachings of Jesus examined by one of the leading philosophers of our day.Trade ReviewThe overwhelming message is a joyful and liberating one and, if it does nothing else, it makes the reader look at the all too familiar with fresh eyes. -- Nicholas Lowton * The NEWspaper Spring 2012 *In the Gospels there is a breadth of thinking and use of language which is symbolic rather than literal (as many have come to believe). There is much here to ponder in one’s heart. -- Winifred Smart * The Lance *

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Book SynopsisAn accessible yet authoritative overview addressing the issues of a rational basis to Christian faith.Table of ContentsCONTENTSIntroduction / 91 Is There Any Such Thing as Objective Truth? / 132 Why Believe in God? / 293 Is the Bible’s Picture of Jesus Reliable? / 504 Was Jesus Raised from the Dead? / 685 Does Evolution Disprove Christianity? / 816 Can Cognitive Science Explain Religion? / 1017 Is Christianity Unique? / 1218 Do Evil and Suffering Show That God Does Not Exist? / 1409 Can We Be Happy Apart from God? / 151Conclusion / 161Further Reading / 175Notes / 177

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Book SynopsisA philosophical exploration of the question of whether the world we inhabit offers us hospitality or indifference.Trade Review"We Find Ourselves Put to the Test will interest students, scholars, and general readers alike. Crooks approaches the material with freshness and aplomb, and the result is an engaging and thoughtful interpretation of an important canonical text." Ron Srigley, Laurentian University"Crooks argues "that Job is best read as a careful description of how [one finds oneself] put to the test" to meet "reality point blank" and in silence. That experience is what leads Job to restoration. Crooks does not try to solve critical and exegetical issues; he attempts to find usefulness and meaning in what is a most opaque book. Recommended." Choice

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Book SynopsisOccult influences march freely across the American landscape today. From Pokemon cards and Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Marilyn Manson and psychic hotlines, the nation is under siege. Occult beliefs--presented as the path to enlightenment and peace--permeate our society, powerfully influencing our children, our neighbors, our government, and even our churches. Cindy Jacobs reveals the deadly impact of Satan''s dominion over the media and the resulting rise in violence and immorality that plague our society. She then shows how through prayer, spiritual warfare, and activism we can halt the destructive advance of the devil''s kingdom in the land.

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Book SynopsisThis third book in a series of successful textbooks offers a comprehensive narrative of philosophical thought from a Christian perspective.Table of ContentsContentsIntroductionPart 1: Approaching Christian Philosophy1. Why Philosophy?2. Faith and PhilosophyPart 2: The Story of Western Philosophy3. Ancient Pagan Philosophy: The Pre-Socratics to Socrates4. The High Point of Greek Philosophy: Plato, Aristotle, and Their Legacy5. Medieval Synthesis Philosophy: Augustine to Abelard6. The Middle Ages: Aristotle Rediscovered7. The Renaissance and Reformation8. Early Modern Philosophy: Bacon to Leibniz9. Modern Philosophy: Hume to Schleiermacher10. Modern Philosophy: Romanticism to Gadamer11. Postmodernism and Philosophy TodayPart 3: Christian Philosophy Today12. Christian Philosophy Today13. Reformed Epistemology14. Reformed Epistemology Applied15. Reformational PhilosophyConclusionAnnotated Further Reading ListIndex

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Book SynopsisThrough an in-depth engagement with social theorist Pierre Bourdieu, this book explicates the relationship between theology and its social context, articulating a vision for the church's involvement with what God is doing in the world.Table of ContentsContentsSeries Editor's Foreword James K.A. Smith1. Fieldwork in Theology: Waking Up to the World God Loves2. Rigorous Self-Reflection: Bachelard, Science, and Sin3. Embodied Perception: Merleau-Ponty and the Incarnate Body4. Practical Logic: Bourdieu and the Social Art of Improvisation5. Surrendering to the Other: Wacquant and Carnal SociologyEpilogue: Understanding as a Spiritual ExerciseIndex

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Book SynopsisThis up-to-date introduction to Christian philosophy covers the four major areas of philosophical thought: epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of religion, and ethics.Table of ContentsContents1. Introduction to PhilosophyPart 1: Epistemology2. Truth and Knowledge3. Justification and Reformed Epistemology4. Skepticism, Certainty, and Virtue Epistemology5. Faith, Reason, and Modern Science6. Natural Revelation and Natural TheologyPart 2: Metaphysics7. The Nature of Reality8. Properties and Universals9. Particulars10. Freedom and Determinism11. Minds, Bodies, and Human PersonsPart 3: Philosophy of Religion12. The Existence of God13. Evil and the Hiddenness of God14. Divine Interaction: Miracles and Prayer15. The Possibility of Life after DeathPart 4: Ethics16. Metaethics17. Normative EthicsGlossary of TermsIndexes

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Book SynopsisIn exploring this tradition of philosophical reflection on the nature of goodness, the twelve essays in this book (all but two published here for the first time) present some of the best recent historical scholarship in...

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Book SynopsisThis book develops a powerful and original defense of the notion that God is eternal in that he exists timelessly; that is, that though God exists, he does not exist at any time.

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Book SynopsisWhy, if a loving God exists, are there "reasonable nonbelievers," people who fail to believe in God but through no fault of their own? In Part 1 of this book, the first full-length treatment of its topic, J. L. Schellenberg argues that when we notice...

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Book SynopsisCatherine Evtuhov resurrects the brilliant and contradictory currents of turn-of-the-century Kiev, Moscow, and St. Petersburg through an intellectual biography of Sergei Bulgakov (1871–1944), one of the central figures of the Silver Age. The son of a...Trade ReviewA splendid book, filled with thought-provoking ideas, and a major contribution to the field. * Journal of Modern History *

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Book SynopsisWhen confronted by horrendous evil, even the most pious believer may question not only life's worth but also God's power and goodness. A distinguished philosopher and a practicing minister, Marilyn McCord Adams has written a highly original work on a...Trade ReviewIt is her own dissatisfaction with the usual strategies that philosophy and theology have adopted in the face of evil—strategies that she feels underestimate either the horror of evil or the goodness of God—that led her to mount her own philosophical alternative.... She proposes an entirely different approach. Instead of seeking reasons why a good God might permit evil, philosophy should seek an explanation of how God might 'make good' on evil. * New York Times Book Review *Adams argument is an important contribution to recent philosophical and theological discussions on the problem of evil.... Whether one agrees with... Adams' answer to the problem of evil, it is hard not to think that we are better off for the ways that her attempts to think about evil encourage and challenge us to take evil seriously. * The Hedgehog Review *In this post-Holocaust world, much that passes for philosophical analysis of the problem of evil seems beside the point, if not culpably irrelevant. It is to Adams's great credit that in her often insightful discussion of the issue, she puts the emphasis where it belongs: on the victims' point of view.... A provocative book. * Theological Studies *It would be difficult to take offense at a book which is so manifestly honest in its search for the truth, and which so clearly expresses a deep awareness of, and compassion for, the suffering and moral frailty of human beings.... Whatever their own views on the problem of evil, most readers will find insights here that they will want to hold on to. * Religious Studies *Marilyn Adams... makes a compelling argument at several levels. * First Things *This book is based on work on God and evil that Adams did over a period of more than a decade.... But the book is by no means a mere collection of previously published essays.... The book integrates them into a unified whole that highlights their coherence and displays connections among them. So even those who are very familiar with her earlier work on God and evil will profit from reading the book carefully.... This is a brave book. It has something fresh to say on a difficult and important philosophical topic. It deserves readers who will debate its challenging claims. * The Philosophical Review *

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Book SynopsisThe first volume of trilogy of books providing a bold, original, and systematic treatment of foundational issues in philosophy of religion.Trade Review"Both Schellenberg's treatment of skepticism and his argument for principles of evaluation are superb and will draw wide attention. Indeed, the lucid writing and well-constructed arguments of this engaging, honest book draw readers into thinking and arguing of their own. Highly recommended."—Choice, April 2006"Prolegomena to a Philosophy of Religion exhibits the characteristic virtues of J. L. Schellenberg's philosophizing. It is beautifully organized and clearly expounded. It goes into the issues it treats in great detail. It is loaded with acute and ingenious argumentation. Furthermore it is a work of great originality. This book is indispensable reading for everyone engaged, at whatever level, in the philosophy of religion."—William P. Alston, author of Beyond"Justification": Dimensions of Epistemic Evaluation"J. L. Schellenberg has written an original and provocative book. I strongly recommend it."—William J. Wainwright, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy Emeritus, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

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Book SynopsisWhy, if a loving God exists, are there "reasonable nonbelievers," people who fail to believe in God but through no fault of their own? In Part 1 of this book, the first full-length treatment of its topic, J. L. Schellenberg argues that when we notice...Trade Review"A tightly argued, superbly crafted and religiously sensitive book. . . . Nobody interested in philosophical issues pertaining to our relation to God can afford to miss it."—Mind"This book deserves to be seen as the definitive study to date of its subject. That subject is the implications of the lack of clear cut evidence and argument for the existence of God."—Religious Studies"J. L. Schellenberg has developed the argument from hiddenness against the existence of God in a more thorough way than has ever been done before. I consider this book one of the six or seven most important books on the philosophy of religion published in the last fifteen years."—Richard Swinburne, University of Oxford"This book is a splendid, illuminating study of Divine hiddenness and its implications for the question of whether the God of traditional theism actually exists."—William L. Rowe, Department of Philosophy, Purdue University"Divine Hiddenness and Human Reason is a carefully argued, deeply insightful, and richly rewarding book. J. L. Schellenberg singlehandedly turned the problem of divine hiddenness into a major issue in contemporary philosophy of religion."—Paul Draper, Purdue University

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Book SynopsisBetween the opposing claims of reason and religious subjectivity may be a middle ground, William J. Wainwright argues. His book is a philosophical reflection on the role of emotion in guiding reason. There is evidence, he contends, that reason...Trade ReviewEvidentialists have often assigned the passions an important motivational role in the assessment of religious beliefs.... In what is surely one of the most important works in epistemology in recent years, William Wainwright attempts to take us further. -- Robert Holyer * International Journal for the Philosophy of Religion *Reason and the Heart calls attention in a clear and forceful way to the importance of its claims, and it provides some interesting concrete examples of philosophers who have done religious epistemology in this fashion. -- C. Stephen Evans * CrossCurrents *Much of the... literature on the epistemology of religious belief has focused on the traditional theistic arguments, so-called Reformed epistemology, and religious experience. Wainwright's book has something to offer each of these debates, but in its own right the book charts and independent, promising project. -- Charles Taliaferro * The Journal of Religion *Wainwright explores the view that religious beliefs can and should be based on supporting evidence that can be accurately assessed only by people having suitable moral and spiritual capacities.... Highly recommended for all philosophy collections. * Choice *A close and intellectually satisfying analysis and defense of the need for proper dispositions for evaluating religious truth claims. -- G. Simon Harak, S.J. * Theological Studies *Wainwright succeeds in offering a clarifying account and compelling defense of a theory of justification which is now coming to receive increasing attention, and deservedly so. I recommend this book most highly. -- M. Jamie Ferreiera * International Philosophical Quarterly *

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Book SynopsisIn Kant''s Rational Theology, Allen W. Wood explores Kant''s views on the concept of God and on the attempt to demonstrate God''s existence. We cannot have a full or balanced understanding of Kant''s thought on religious subjects, he writes, as long as we fail to take account of his reflections, often exceedingly abstract, obscure, and subtle, concerning the rational origin, content, and status of our concept of a supreme being.The importance of this aspect of Kantian thought, according to Wood, lies in its originality, in its historical influence, and in the insights it affords into the tradition of rational theology in medieval and modern philosophy. He believes that it also provides a means of understanding Kant''s work as a whole and of achieving a proper appreciation of the contents of Kant''s moral faith.The author focuses on Kant''s chapter on the ideal or pure reason from the Critique of Pure Reason and also discusses other Kantian writings (especially the LTrade ReviewThis splendid little book has two main sections. The first traces the origins of Kant's account of God, the ens realissimum, in the first Critique, and analyzes the very obscure introductory passage which precedes Kant's criticism of the three proofs of God's existence. The second examine that criticism in detail. Wood's prose is simple and concise, and he perfectly combines sound historical exegesis with discussion of the general philosophical issues involved. * Mind *Wood's scholarship possesses both historical insight (helping him to situate Kant in the tradition of Descartes, Leibniz, and Wolff) and analytic subtlety (enriching his discussion of such issues as modality and predication). The result is a book that is both an original contribution to Kant studies and an inquiry into the possibility of theology as a 'rational' enterprise. * Journal of the American Academy of Religion *

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Book SynopsisIn this timely and provocative book, Nancey Murphy sets out to dispel skepticism regarding Christian belief. She argues for the rationality of Christian belief by showing that theological reasoning is similar to scientific reasoning as described by contemporary philosophy of science.Trade Review"A highly original book." -- Ian Barbour, author of Myths, Models, and Paradigms"Theology in the Age of Scientific Reasoning will be much respected and widely cited." -- Frederick Ferré, University of Georgia

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Book SynopsisOne of the most important Anglo-American philosophers of our time here joins the current philosophical debate about the nature of truth. William P. Alston formulates and defends a realist conception of truth, which he calls alethic realism (from aletheia, Greek for truth). This idea holds that the truth value of a statement (belief or proposition) depends on whether what the statement is about is as the statement says it is. Michael Dummett and Hilary Putnam are two of the prominent and widely influential contemporary philosophers whose anti-realist ideas Alston attacks.Trade ReviewMuch in this book deserves agreement and applause; it is argued with care, subtlety, and good sense. * The Journal of Philosophy *Alston's book makes a distinguished contribution to thought about truth, both in its positive proposal and in its sustained criticism of epistemic conceptions.... His book is mandatory reading for anyone with even a slight interest in truth. * The Philosophical Review *From the standpoint of both general readers and professionals in the field this may be one of the best philosophical books to come along in some time.... The depth, the scope, and the clarity of Alston's analysis is matched only by that of the great philosophers with whom he contends. Highest recommendation for all collections. * Choice *This excellent, ludidly written study contains many valuable insights. * Erkenntnis *

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Book SynopsisThe Nature of God explores a perennial problem in the philosophy of religion. Drawing upon developments in philosophy, most notably those in philosophical logic, Edward R. Wierenga examines the traditional divine attributes of omnipotence...Trade ReviewThere is a fascinating and ongoing debate among analytic philosophers concerning the attributes of God and the relationship between God and the world. The discussion uses the tools of contemporary logic... to clarify and, hopefully, settle these issues. Wierenga's book is a substantial contribution to that debate.... It provides an overview of the twists and turns of contemporary discussion. * Journal of the American Academy of Religion *

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Book SynopsisAt the beginning of this volume, Erasmus leaves Louvain to live in Basel. Weary from the many controversies reflected in the letters of the previous volumes, he is also anxious to see the annotations to his third edition of the New Testament through Johann Froben’s press. Above all he fears that pressure from the imperial court in the Netherlands will force him to take a public stand against Luther. Erasmus completes a large number of works in the span of this volume, including the Paraphrases on Matthew and John, two new expanded editions of the Colloquies, an edition of De conscribendis epistolis, two apologiae against his Spanish detractors, and editions of Arnobius Junior and Hilary of Poitiers. But the predominant theme of the volume remains ‘the sorry business of Luther.’ The harder Erasmus persists in trying to adhere to a reasonable course between Catholic and reforming zealots, the more he finds himself ‘a

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Book SynopsisA companion to Philosophical and Theological Papers 1958-1964 (Volume 6 in the Collected Works of Bernard Lonergan series), this anthology contains Lonergan''s lectures on philosophy and theology given during the later period of his life, 1965-1980. These papers document his development in the discipline during the years leading up to the publication of Method in Theology, and beyond to 1980 when he was more engaged in his writings and seminars on macroeconomics. Philosophical and Theological Papers 1965-1980 is divided into five sections, forming units on the basis of dates. The three central sections are each a set of lectures respectively given at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Gonzaga University in Spokane, and Trinity College (University of Toronto). Although there is some repetition amongst the lecture sets and in relation to other more familiar works, this repetition displays occasional new turns of phrase that the careful reader will n

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Book SynopsisOffers an integration of the four biblical Gospels into a single account of the life of Jesus. This title explains that the author's goal is a solution to 'the problem of life', not an answer to theological or historical questions. It focuses on the words and teachings of Jesus, what the author regarded as the Church's distortions.Trade Review"Are you acquainted with Tolstoy's The Gospel in Brief? At its time, this book virtually kept me alive... If you are not acquainted with it, then you cannot imagine what an effect it can have upon a person." Ludwig Wittgenstein, in a letter to Ludwig von Ficker.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A minor classic ... The essay has all the celebrated clarity and incisiveness of Hume, and it provides us, in a short and readable form, with the substance of the beliefs about the origins of religion which dominated the first attempts of later and more scientific writers to account for the rise and development of religion." Philosophy "A philosophical classic that caused considerable stir in its time. It is good to have a new editions of this brief work completely edited for the use of modern students." Peabody Journal of Education "Hume's view of religion was one-side and his anthropology out of date, but his blows were shrewd. In the historical development of modern theology his challenge has a point of departure; and even today, as the editor says, unless we have an answer to him our faith is unreal." The Times Literary Supplement

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Book SynopsisA new and manageable edition of Locke has been badly needed. Professor Ramsey''s judicious editing of these important texts fills the need and greatly enhances the value of the texts for the modern reader. Included are The Reasonablesness of Christianity, A Discourse on Miracles, A Further Note on Miracles, and some passages from A Third letter concerning Toleration. Each work is prefaced by an introduction,giving the background of its writing and indicating its contemporary significance.

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Book SynopsisThe 13 essays in this volume-touching on ethics and philosophical questions concerning politics, language, and religion-investigate the possibility that the word "God" can be understood now, at the end of the 20th century, in a meaningful way. Nine of the essays appear in English for the first time.Trade Review"This relatively small volume of essays offers an ideal introduction to the gist of his profound and stimulating thought and illustrates how Levinas deals with life and death issues."—The European LegacyTable of ContentsPreface Forward Part I. A Rupture of Immanence: 1. Ideology and idealism 2. From consciousness to wakefulness: starting from Husserl 3. On death in the thought of Ernst Bloch 4. From the carefree deficiency to the new meaning: Part II. The Idea of God: 5. God and philosophy 6. Questions and answers 7. Hermeneutics and beyond 8. The thinking of being and the question of the other 9. Transcendence and evil Part III. The Meaning of Being: 10. Dialogue: Self-consciousness and proximity of the neighbor 11. Notes on meaning 12. The bad conscience and the inexorable 13. Manner of speaking Notes.

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Book SynopsisThe latter part of the twentieth century saw an explosion of new media that effected profound changes in human categories of communication. At the same time, a return to religion occurred on a global scale. The twenty-five contributors to this volumewho include such influential thinkers as Jacques Derrida, Jean-Luc Nancy, Talal Asad, and James Siegelconfront the conceptual, analytical, and empirical difficulties involved in addressing the complex relationship between religion and media.The book''s introductory section offers a prolegomenon to the multiple problems raised by an interdisciplinary approach to these multifaceted phenomena. The essays in the following part provide exemplary approaches to the historical and systematic background to the study of religion and media, ranging from the biblical prohibition of images and its modern counterparts, through theological discussion of imagery in Ignatius and Luther, to recent investigations into icons and images that think in Trade Review"I cannot overestimate the importance of this book, which will become mandatory reading for all courses in media studies, histories of religion, anthropologies of modernity, cosmopolitics, the global order, and new forms of sociality. Reading it has been a source of rare intellectual satisfaction and aesthetic pleasure."—Rosalind Carmel Morris, Columbia University"The collection of essays Religion and Media is an important contribution to a variety of disciplines, including but not limited to philosophy, media studies, sociology, religious studies, anthropology and literary theory. It is huge in scope, theoretically ambitious and is sure to become a stardard work in courses and seminars in media studies, literary theory and comparative religion where the status of the religious is at issue. . . . The volume itself offers a panorama of the most recent developments in the emergent nexus of religious studies, media studies, philosophy and sociology."—MEDIENwissenschaft"For those who see that research on religion and media is more than merely the intersection of two variables, the work in this book, particularly in the opening chapters, will be quite helpful. . . . In all, the text is a clear contribution to scholarship in a number of fields, and many of the chapters will prove useful in providing theoretical connections and language for more exmpirical study."—Journal of Media and Religion"At the end of the day, Religion and Media offers so much of interdisciplinary value that the collection far exceeds the sum of its chapters. These in turn illuminate the horizons of the volume as a whole. In fact, I can't recall ever having underlined an anthology so densely. At the very least the chapters are "good to think" and at best they activate the spirit of critical inquiry abiding at the heart of all the best conversations across disciplinary and philosohical differences."—Anthropological Quarterly"Hent de Vries and Samuel Weber's superb collection Religion and Media is one of the most important collections this year in the more amorphous field of religion and culture. De Vries and Weber have gathered together some of the most significant names in critical and cultural theory over the last thirty years or so...to consider the relationship between its two titular terms."—The Year's Work in Critical and Cultural Theory

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Book SynopsisA part of the return to religion now evident in European philosophy, this book represents the culmination of the career of a leading phenomenological thinker whose earlier works trace a trajectory from Marx through a genealogy of psychoanalysis that interprets Descartes's I think, I am as I feel myself thinking, I am.In this book, Henry does not ask whether Christianity is true or false. Rather, what is in question here is what Christianity considers as truth, what kind of truth it offers to people, what it endeavors to communicate to them, not as a theoretical and indifferent truth, but as the essential truth that by some mysterious affinity is suitable for them, to the point that it alone is capable of ensuring them salvation. In the process, Henry inevitably argues against the concept of truth that dominates modern thought and determines, in its multiple implications, the world in which we live.Henry argues that Christ undoes the truth of the world, that He is an acTrade Review"Henry's philosophy of Christianity at some moments resonates with identifiable Christian claims and at others is radically revisionist if not subversive of Christian thought, all the while joining, if not propelling, the phenomenological turn toward theology."—Journal of Religion"Henrys unique and fascinating approach to phenomenological theory... deserves careful and attentive reading."—Histoire sociale"Defiant, moving, and vastly challenging, this book contains intellectual drama of the highest order. . . The magnificence and great strangeness of the book, a sweeping blast at the modern history of Western civilization leveled from the perspective of the lost world of a Christian critique of representation, will jolt English-language readers."—Douglas Collins, University of Washington

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Book SynopsisIn the wake of the Dreyfus affair and the Shoah, many French intellectuals have maintained rich and complex relationships with Judaism, beyond as well as within the religious dimension. Whether they approach it via history, philosophy, biblical studies or sociology, or following a personal itinerary, many contemporary intellectuals are deeply involved in Jewish culture.Interviewed at length by Elisabeth Weber, this volume presents the meditations of seven well-known French thinkers on the special relations of their own intellectual pursuit to Judaism. As memory or as the place of circumfession (in Jacques Derrida''s words), as the symbol of the unrepresentable (Jean-François Lyotard) or as the witness, according to Emmanuel Levinas, to a biblical humanity, Judaism is continually engaged in renewing and displacing contemporary thought.The volume includes interviews with: Pierre Vidal-Naquet, Jacques Derrida, Rita Thalmann, Emmanuel Levinas, Léon Poliakov, Jean-François Trade Review"These interviews will challenge readers to examine their Jewish identity while taking a fresh look at history."—AJL Newsletter"...this is a remarkable interview, conducted by one of Derrida's most conscientious and demanding readers."—The Year's Work in Critical and Cultural Theory

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Book SynopsisThis book explores the movement from a world of sacraments to the "sacramental," in which the impulses once met by sacred ritual are displaced onto wider cultural forms, a poetics that becomes the province of mystery.Trade Review"Schwartz offers us a rich feast of ideas and enables us to participate in a vital conversation; I have thoroughly enjoyed consuming what she has to say, and I urge others to take the opportunity to do likewise." -- Mark Knight * Christianity and Literature *"Unfailingly readable, clear and precise, Sacramental Poetics is one of the most important studies of our critical moment, allowing us to move beyond readings of early modern ritual and theatre as merely the emptied-out forms of an earlier age. Schwartz's book is an excavation of 'Cultural Memory' that not only recovers a lingering sense of loss, but also an imaginative reconfiguration in an effort to find a just and meaningful world." -- Joseph Sterrett * Cardiff University, Early Modern Literary Studies *"Sacramental Poetics is a significant contribution not only to sacramental theology, liturgical history and literary studies . . . but also stands as a fine example of interdisciplinary scholarship." -- Barnnon Hancock * Reviews in Religion and Theology *"Schwartz's compelling and brilliant demonstration will certainly deeply modify our appreciation of mysticism in Modernity, in literature as well as in philosophy—and even in theology." -- Jean-Luc Marion, University of Paris * Sorbonne and University of Chicago *"This important study is as much a manifesto as a literary and cultural study on the transubstantiation of transubstantiation in the face of the secular imperative that haunts us. It not only provides a rich analysis of individual texts, it also shows a way to establish a new communion and a new community." -- Michael Lieb * University of Illinois *"Written without technical jargon, this study will be an important resource not only for the students of Shakespeare, Milton, Donne, and George Herbert, but also for those interested in philosophy, theology, political theory, and the modern cultural heritage of the West." -- CHOICE"Many others have studied this movement from ritual to the arts, from the sacrament to the sacramental, but rarely with the literary sensitivity shown here." -- The Times Literary SupplementTable of ContentsContents Preface Acknowledgments Part I. Poesia Mystica 1. Sacramental Poetics 2. Mystical and Political Bodies Part II. Justitia Mystica 3. Shakespeare's Tragic Mass: Craving Justice 4. Milton's Cosmic Body: Doing Justice Part III. Amor Mysticus 5. Herbert's Praise: Communion in Conversation 6. Donne in Love: Communion of the Flesh Afterword Notes Index

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Book SynopsisOccidental Eschatology is a study of apocalypticism and its effects on Western philosophy. One of the great Jewish intellectuals of the twentieth century, Taubes published only this one book during his life, and here the English translation finally becomes available.Trade Review"Taubes's 1947 dissertation Occidental Eschatology—wonderfully translated and introduced by David Ratmoko . . . demonstrate[s] the relevance of intellectual history and continental philosophy to the contemporary understanding of our theo-politicized world. In addition, [it] show[s] why only a Jew, or more—a German-speaking Jew—could stand at the most horrible crossroad of modern civilization shortly after the end of World War II, and teach ancient knowledge and erudition as a way to move forward beyond any simplistic solution or closure, be it nationalism, religious identity, or any social role."—Nitzan Lebovic, H-Judaic"Occidental Eschatology is not strictly an essay in the history of ideas, even if it advances daring hypotheses about the origins and development of 19th century philosophical thought. Its focus is interpretative more than historical or philological; it is more a contribution towards a new philosophy of history than a reconstruction of the past."—Michael Maidan, Philosophy in Review

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Book SynopsisExplores the notions of primary versus secondary religions, of 'counter-religions', and of book religions versus cultic religions. This title deals with the entry of ethics into religion's very core. It presents a lesson in the fluidity of cultural identity and beliefs.Trade Review"In The Price of Monotheism, Assmann answers his critics and thoroughly treats topics only alluded to in Moses the Egyptian, setting new intellectual standards for the study of religions of the ancient world and their contemporary sequels. His book should launch a sorely needed reflection on our relationship to our own religious, cultural, and spiritual inheritance." —Guy Stroumsa, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem"The author makes a tightly reasoned argument.... Recommended."—L. A. Sinclair, Choice

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Book SynopsisRejecting the distinction Levinas asserted between Judaism and philosophy, this book reads his philosophical works, Totality and Infinity and Otherwise than Being through the prism of Judaic texts and ideas.Trade Review"Fagenblat provides a fresh and thoughtful approach to understanding the relationship between philosophy and Judaism, that is, to understanding Levinas's phenomenology as midrash"—Michael Sohn, Studies in Religion/Sciences Religieuses"In his elegant book, A Covenant of Creatures: Levinas's Philosophy of Judaism, Michael Fagenblat negotiates the two bodies of Levinas's writings and argues that instead of viewing the phenomenological readings in opposition to the Jewish readings, we should instead see the phenomenology as offering not simply a philosophy of Judaism, but a phenomenology of Judaism."—Claire Katz, Shofar"Michael Fagenblat's A Covenant of Creatures is a bold and powerful book . . . I am seduced by Fagenblat's textual interpretations of Jewish texts, through a Levinassian lens."—Annette Aronowicz, Association for Jewish Studies"Fagenblat's highly interesting study of Levinas converges with a current trend in philosophy to pay more attention to philosophy's Jewish heritage . . . Fagenblat's interpretation of Levinas is a very good reading."—Rico Sneller, Ars Disputandi"As for Fagenblat, by any relevant criterion—depth, clarity, originality, or scholarly integrity—this book is first rate."—Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews"Fagenblat's clear and mostly Levinasian-rhetoric-free writing helps to make the book teachable. . . Fagenblat achieves a great deal in this text. Pairing Levinas with Maimonides provides a teachable and engaging discussion."—Randy Friedman, H-Net"This is a rich and sophisticated study of one of the most vital and influential thinkers of the twentieth century. Exploring Levinas's philosophy of Judaism from his philosophical rather than his confessional writings, Michael Fagenblat provides a fresh model that breaks down simplistic distinctions and opens the in-between space wherein the claim of the individual is held accountable through the response to the other and the challenge of the other is redeemed by the demand of the individual."—Elliot R. Wolfson, New York University"According to the famous Talmudic story in which a heathen challenges Hillel to reveal the whole of Torah while standing on one foot, the sage not only declares its essence to lie in the ethics of neighbor-love, relegating the rest to the status of 'mere' commentary; he enjoins his interlocutor to study that very textual supplement. Michael Fagenblat has made an utterly compelling case that a similar injunction is at work in Levinas's conception of ethical responsibility in the face of the Other. It, too, implies that this strange creature—the neighbor—can only be revealed exegetically, in the working through of the hermeneutic dimension of the urgent phenomenological 'givenness' of the Other. In this beautifully written and conceptually rigorous page-turner, Fagenblat teaches us to resist the impasses of prior readings of Levinas, which remain stuck within the sterile opposition of phenomenology and theology, Athens and Jerusalem, thinking and reading, mind and tradition. Fagenblat allows us, finally, to grasp the genre proper to Levinasian thought: phenomenology as midrash."—Eric Santner, University of Chicago

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Book SynopsisIn this book, Agamben investigates monasticism from its beginnings up through the Franciscan movement in an attempt to find a new form-of-life that escapes from the logic of Western politics as put forth in his Homo Sacer series.Trade Review"The range of primary sources Agamben relies on to make his argument . . . is impressively vast. As his readers have come to expect, Agamben demonstrates an uncanny ability to discover enduring significance in obscure corners of the Western tradition while doing justice to their proper historicity." -- Brian Hamilton * Modern Theology *"The Highest Poverty is Agamben's attempt to define what he calls a 'form-of-life,' a mode of living where life and law enter into a zone of indistinction so that one is not able to discern between living according to the law and applying the law to a pre-existing life . . . The first thing that became quite clear in reading this book is the depth of knowledge and understanding Agamben has of monastic history as well as medieval philosophy and theology. He knows the literature, the languages, and the nuances needed for any depth of understanding . . . This book was not written for the spiritual or theological nourishment of monastics and friars. It was written as a piece of political philosophy concerned about the current all-consuming nature of law and what that does to life. Nevertheless, there is a great deal that monastics and friars can learn from the work of Agamben. He shows us a picture of ourselves from a vantage point that we seldom see. There is more to our form-of-life than immediately meets the eye." -- Eugene Hensell * American Benedictine Review *"At a time when current anthropological debate has turned toward ontology, this book challenges us to return anew to questions of habits and habitus. The Highest Poverty offers a productive . . . lens through which to examine modernity, its antecedents, and its reimagined futures in the global South. Especially salient for anthropologists is the book's attention to theories of practice and a common life not wholly defined by the logics of capital and formal institutions." -- Kerry Chance * Anthropology Southern Africa *"[I]t deepens the insights of Agamben's earlier work and extends them into the theological realm. . . . Recommended." -- A. W. Klink * Choice *"Agamben's work remains a thought-provoking and tightly written tract, and a number of trenchant observations can be found therein. For scholars of monasticism, The Highest Poverty will present old texts in productive new lights, and for scholars of philosophy and other disciplines, it will suggest new methods and tools that can be transposed into different fields of study." -- Joshua Campbell * Journal of Medieval Monastic Studies *"Like much of Agamben's writing, The Highest Poverty mixes historical, philosophical, and philological discourse with impressive skill. Agamben's book provokes insight through juxtaposition, analogy, and acts of theoretical imagination." -- Brian Britt * Journal of Religion *

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Book SynopsisThis is the first book to read Paul's Letter to the Romans as a sustained essay in (radical) political philosophy.Trade Review"Jennings presents a bold and important commentary on Paul's letter to the Romans. It emerges at a time when philosophical discussions of biblical texts have become both remarkably common and remarkably significant bearers of pressing contemporary intellectual problems. This book is timely, provocative, and original." -- Ward Blanton * University of Kent *

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Book SynopsisThis is the first book to read Paul's Letter to the Romans as a sustained essay in (radical) political philosophy.Trade Review"Jennings presents a bold and important commentary on Paul's letter to the Romans. It emerges at a time when philosophical discussions of biblical texts have become both remarkably common and remarkably significant bearers of pressing contemporary intellectual problems. This book is timely, provocative, and original." -- Ward Blanton * University of Kent *

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Book SynopsisInvestigates the transformation of Cappadocia into a Christian society. Through vivid accounts of Cappadocians as preachers, theologians and historians, this work highlights the disruptive social and cultural consequences of the formation of orthodoxies in theology, history, language, and personal identity in the ancient world.Table of ContentsPreface Introduction ORTHODOXY AND HERESY 1. "The Evil in Our Bosom": Eunomius as a Cappadocian Father CONVERSION 2. "Even Though Roman Laws Judge Differently": Christianity and Local Traditions 3. Remembering the Future: Christian Narratives of Conversion 4. "Everything in Ruins": Ancient Legends and Foundation Myths 5. The Founder of the Cappadocians PREACHERS AND AUDIENCES 6. Listening to the Audience: The Six Days of Creation 7. Small Details: The Cult of the Forty Martyrs THE LIFE TO COME 8. "I Saw a Parrot": Philostorgius at Constantinople 9. A Blank Sheet of Paper: The Apocryphal Basil 10. "Trail of Sorrows": The Autobiographies of Gregory of Nazianzus Epilogue: A Different Late Antiquity Abbreviations Notes Editions and Translations 1. The Cappadocian Fathers 2. Ancient Authors and Texts Bibliography

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Book SynopsisAlthough Karl Marx and Soren Kierkegaard are both major figures in nineteenth-century Western thought, they are rarely considered in the same conversation. Marx is the great radical economic theorist, the prophet of communist revolution who famously claimed religion was the opiate of the masses. Kierkegaard is the renowned defender of Christian piety, a forerunner of existentialism, and a critic of mass politics who challenged us to become the single individual. But by drawing out important themes bequeathed them by their shared predecessor G. W. F. Hegel, Jamie Aroosi shows how they were engaged in parallel projects of making sense of the modern, dialectical self, as it realizes itself through a process of social, economic, political, and religious emancipation. In The Dialectical Self, Aroosi illustrates that what is traditionally viewed as opposition is actually a complementary one-sidedness, born of the fact that Marx and Kierkegaard differently imagined the impediments to the seTrade Review"Jamie Aroosi's new book is an original and refreshing contribution to the study of Søren Kierkegaard and KarlMarx . . . Carefully argued-and skillfully written-it provides a much-needed boost to contemporary scholarship, showing how and why we must read Kierkegaard and Marx as part of the modern quest for democracy and self-determination." * Perspectives on Politics *"Jamie Aroosi has a nuanced appreciation for the complexities of the reception of Kierkegaard and Marx in the twentieth century. In a new, refreshing, and useful comparison, The Dialectical Self shows how these two thinkers have much more in common than one might immediately imagine. It deserves our careful attention." * Jon Stewart, Slovak Academy of Sciences *Table of ContentsIntroduction. The Dialectical Self PART I. BONDAGE Chapter 1. Selfhood Chapter 2. Deception PART II. EMANCIPATION Chapter 3. Communication Chapter 4. Law Chapter 5. Faith PART III. FREEDOM Chapter 6. Subjectivity Chapter 7. History Chapter 8. Democracy PART IV. PRAXIS Chapter 9. Religion Chapter 10. Politics Conclusion. Love and Revolution Notes Index Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisThis is an introduction to the philosophy of the 13th century Franciscan John Duns Scotus. The text brings together key insights of Scotus's theory of cognition, metaphysics and ethics in a comprehensive and unified manner.

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Book SynopsisOffers a translation from the Commentary. This book is useful for students of Thomas' moral philosophy, moral theology, and philosophical theology. It includes texts from Aquinas' first (Parisian) Commentary as well as from his second (Roman) attempt at a commentary.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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