Synopsis
This thought-provoking book explores the very roots of religious thinking. Draws on contemporary images of religion as well as providing fascinating 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.