After God

by Mark C. Taylor

Religion, Mark C. Taylor argues in After God, is more complicated than either its defenders or critics think and, indeed, is much more influential than any of us realize. Our world, Taylor maintains, is shaped by religion even when it is least obvious. Faith and value, he insists, are unavoidable and inextricably interrelated for believers and nonbelievers alike. The first comprehensive theology of culture since the pioneering work of Paul Tillich, After God redefines religion for our contemporary age. This volume is a radical reconceptualization of religion and Taylor’s most pathbreaking work yet, bringing together various strands of theological argument and cultural analysis four decades in the making.

Genres: Philosophy, Religion, Theology, Nonfiction, Psychology, Politics

416 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 2007

About the author

Mark C. Taylor, Ph.D. (Religious Studies, Harvard University, 1973; B.A., Wesleyan University, 1968), is a philosopher of religion who chaired the Department of Religion at Columbia University 2007–2015. Previously, he was Cluett Professor of Humanities at Williams College (Williamstown, Massachusetts), where he began his teaching career in 1973.

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meaty and thoroughly enjoyable, albeit not a casual read. I value Taylor's ability to integrate historical event and cultural import. He does us a good service in acknowledging that even clergy (whatever the religious persuasion) rarely think theologically and sets out a definition of "religion" as a schemata that is constantly teetering between stability and flux.

[Mark Villendrup · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unless you are studying religion, avoid this.

Unnecessarily complicated, feels like he is trying to boost the average word length by putting in overly complicated words (I understand them, but don’t see the need)

The worst part though are the constant references to all kinds of works/ideas that are assumed you have already read. You might if you are a religious scholar, but not so for the rest of us...

Did not end up finishing the book :-(

[Paula Melchor]

No para no para no para

[Wayne's · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is much to this book balancing immanence and transcendence.

[Zenon Mesić · Rating 1 out of 5]

Written in an extremely annoying and unnecessarily overcomplicated language, based on the first chapter. Will not finish the book.