Synopsis

John D. Caputo explores the very roots of religious thinking in this thought-provoking book. Compelling questions come up along the way: 'What do I love when I love my God?' and 'What can Star Wars tell us about the contemporary use of religion?' (are we always trying to find a way of saying 'God be with you'?) Why is religion for many a source of moral guidance in a postmodern, nihilistic age? Is it possible to have 'religion without religion'?
Drawing on contemporary images of religion, such as Robert Duvall's film The Apostle, Caputo also provides some fascinating and imaginative insights into religious fundamentalism.

Library Journal

Caputo (Radical Hermeneutics; philosophy, Villanova Univ.) claims that religion is not for the faint of heart. The radical instability of a life filled with faith and hope is transformational in the extreme, he cautions: "If safe is what you want, forget religion and find yourself a conservative investment counselor." Caputo writes with the immediacy and conviction of one who can fully understand his topic only by immersing himself in it. Intellectual without being overly academic, he considers ideas such as what it means to have a loving God, what is "religion without religion," and how the postmodern returns to religion by positing a "reality" beyond the real. When he writes that claims to religious truth are only interpretation at best and that humility should lead the way, one cheers his vigor and relishes his insights into the paradoxical, ambiguous nature of religion and religious belief. Recommended. Sandra Collins, Duquesne Univ. Lib., Pittsburgh Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.