Agamben and Theology

Colby Dickinson author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Published:28th Apr '11

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Agamben and Theology cover

Contains a view of the work of philosopher Giorgio Agamben in relation to his most basic theological premises and the discipline of theology. This book intends to illuminate such a connection by examining the theologically inflected terms that have come to dominate his work over time, including the messianic, the sacred, sovereignty, and glory.This book contains a view of the work of philosopher Giorgio Agamben in relation to his own most basic theological premises and the discipline of theology. Though the work of Italian theorist Giorgio Agamben has been increasing in popularity over the last several years in the English-speaking world, little work has been done directly on the theological legacy which actually dominates the overall force of his critical analyses, a topic which has intrigued his readers since the publication of his short book on Saint Paul's "Letter to the Romans". "Agamben and Theology" intends to illuminate such a connection by examining the theologically inflected terms that have come to dominate his work over time, including the messianic, the sacred, sovereignty, glory, creation, original sin, redemption, and revelation. "The Philosophy and Theology" series looks at major philosophers and explores their relevance to theological thought as well as the response of theology.

Agamben has long been deeply concerned with theological issues. This book is the first, and also much needed, overview of Agamben's relation to theology. Striking the perfect balance between exposition and analysis, it deserves to be widely read. -- Kenneth Surin, Professor of Literature and Professor of Religion and Critical Theory, and Chair of the Program in Literature, Duke University, USA.
This is a well-written, lucid and remarkably comprehensive introduction to a wide-ranging and intellectually challenging contemporary thinker. Exploring the extremities of what it is to be human, and a linguistic animal, Agamben's work pushes at the frontier where divine plenitude can becoming a terrifying absence that makes all our sovereignties and distinctions mere configurations of the will to power. In the gap between these possibilities and ambiguities, Agamben announces a messianic 'yes' to our bare existence. Dickinson's book clearly shows that all of Agamben's fundamental questions are theological in provenance and resonance. So anyone interested in the relationship between theology and contemporary continental thinking should read this...and ponder. -- Graham Ward, Professor in Contextual Theology and Ethics, University of Manchester, UK.

ISBN: 9780567622242

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

240 pages