Gazing Through a Prism Darkly

"Putt's Gazing Through a Prism Darkly shines a beam of light on the rich work of Merold Westphal. The book illuminates Westphal's brilliant ability to cross the boundaries between liberal and conservative theology, analytical and continental philosophy, and Catholic and Protestant ecclesiology. Indeed Westphal's thought merits such a multidimensional anthology. It is long overdue. " -- -Sharon L. Baker Messiah College "Westphal occupies a unique and important position in the contemporary debates about God and religion." -- -Brian Treanor Loyola Marymount University "A unique contribution to knowledge in this field." -- -Christina Gschwandtner University of Scranton "Merold Westphal's life-work spans Hegel's views on love and community and Kierkegaard's critique of these, Nietzsche's revaluing of values and Levinas' valorization of a primal ethical obligation to the other so deep it verges on the religious. Westphal is one of the most wide-ranging and insightful minds at work in philosophy of religion over the last quarter century. Keith Putt's introduction and final interview frame essays from an outstanding assembly of contemporary scholars, accomplished in their own right, marshaled here to critically trace Westphal's emergence as a continental philosopher of religion and theology of the very first order." -- -Edward F. Mooney Syracuse University "Useful, not only for those focusing on Westphal's own work, but also for those who are looking for new and exciting scholarship in the thinking of Kierkegaard, Levinas, Derrida, Hegel, and Marion." -- -Mark Gedney Gordon College "As a volume of collected essays on Merold Westphal written by his longtime colleagues and interlocutors, this book is long overdue. Westphal has been one of the most significant voices in the development of continental philosophy of religion, and this volume successfully introduces the reader to both his range as a thinker and his consistent point of view that has articulated a distinctly postsecular philosophical theology. The editor's concluding conversation with Westphal is as insightful and broad in its scope as readers of Westphal have come to expect. Not only a great treasure trove of contemporary philosophical and theological elaboration, this book is also a great work of love." -- -Jeff Robbins Lebanon Valley College