The Rebellious No: Variations on a Secular Theology of Language (Perspectives in Continental Philosophy) - Hardcover

Vahanian, Noëlle

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0823256952 ISBN 13: 9780823256952

Publisher: Fordham University Press, 2014

Synopsis

This book aims to renew theological thinking by extending and radicalizing an iconoclastic and existentialist mode of thought. It proposes a theology whose point of departure assumes and accepts the critiques of religion launched by Nietzsche, Freud, Marx, and Feuerbach but nevertheless takes theological desire seriously as a rebellious force working within, but against, an anthropomorphic, phallogocentric worldview.

As a theology of language, it does not claim any privileged access to some transcendent divine essence or ground of Being. On the contrary, for Noelle Vahanian theology is a strictly secular discourse, like any other discourse, but aware of its limitations and wary of great promises―its own included. Its faith is that this secular theological desire can be a force against the constitutive indifference of thought, and it is a meditative act of rebellion. Aphoristic instead of argumentative, this book offers an original and constructive engagement with such seminal issues as indifference, belief, madness, and love.

About this title

Review:

The Rebellious No is an important and original contribution to contemporary theological thinking. Vahanian’s secular theology of language is intense, meditative and brilliant, and culminates in a profound vision of how rebellion and love are inseparable from each other. Author: ―Clayton Crockett Source: University of Central Arkansas

“Noëlle Vahanian’s writing style is pithy, playful, allusive, and often entertaining.” Author: ―James H. Olthuis Source: Institute for Christian Studies

God and Being are both words without referents. What is, then, the difference between them ? God is only a version of Being (Heidegger). God is "otherwise than Being" (Levinas). God survives the death of its Being (Vahanian).
Such is the profound paradox of "secular theology". A fascinating achievement.

Author: ―Catherine Malabou Source: author of The New Wounded: From Neurosis to Brain Damage

“The sincerity within Vahanian’s style speaks as clearly to the reader as does the style of her meditations on the difficulties of sincerity.” Author: ―Joshua Ramey Source: Haverford College

Book Description:

This book aims for nothing short than a renewal of theological thinking by extending and radicalizing an iconoclastic and existentialist mode of thought. Meditative and aphoristic instead of argumentative, this book offers an original and constructive engagement with seminal issues such as indifference, belief, madness, and love.

About this edition

• Publisher: Fordham University Press
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 0823256952
• ISBN 13: 9780823256952
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 176