PHGA 6806 Postmodern Philosophy of Religion (aka “Phenomenology of Religion” and “Continental Philosophy of Religion”)
Professor Merold Westphal
Spring 2008
Wednesday, 11:00 AM–1:00 PM

Continental philosophy of religion has emerged as a lively species of philosophical reflection about matters religious, quite distinct in themes and styles from the mainline analytic traditions. No small part of this phenomenon has emerged in context often loosely designated ‘postmodern’, in spite of the fact that what is usually called postmodern philosophy is mostly secular and often overtly atheistic. Just as Kierkegaard and Nietzsche are the founding fathers of existentialism, so they can be seen as the nineteenth century founding fathers of a postmodernism that for the most part is allergic to both foundations and fathers ☺. Along with Heidegger, they will be important background for this course, left for students to fill in on their own. Same goes for Husserl. For much of the most interesting work in this area is, in one way or another, self-consciously phenomenological. Hence the three possible names for this course. At a very basic level the materials we will read are reflections on the nature of faith and reason, especially when the latter is defined in postmodern and phenomenological ways.

Required texts:

Derrida, Acts of Religion, Routledge
Derrida, The Gift of Death, Chicago
Marion, Being Given, Chicago
Janicaud, et al., Phenomenology and the “Theological Turn,” Fordham
Lacoste, Experience and the Absolute, Fordham

Recommended texts:

Chrétien, The Unforgettable and the Unhoped For, Fordham
Breton, The Word and the Cross, Fordham
Badiou, Saint Paul, Stanford
ŽiŽek, On Belief, Routledge
Benson and Wirzba, The Phenomenology of Prayer, Fordham
Caputo, The Prayers and Tears of Jacques Derrida, Indiana
Westphal, Overcoming Onto-theology, Fordham

N.B. ASSIGNMENT FOR FIRST CLASS: Acts of Religion, 40-101