Jenseits des Christentums.

by Gianni Vattimo

What has been the fate of Christianity since Nietzsche's famous announcement of the "death of God"? What is the possibility of religion, specifically Christianity, thriving in our postmodern era? In this provocative new book, Gianni Vattimo, leading Italian philosopher, politician, and framer of the European constitution, addresses these critical questions.

When Vattimo was asked by a former teacher if he still believed in God, his reply was, "Well, I believe that I believe." This paradoxical declaration of faith serves as the foundation for a brilliant exposition on Christianity in the new millennium -- an age characterized by a deep uncertainty of opinion -- and a personal account of how Vattimo himself recovered his faith through Nietzsche and Heidegger. He first argues that secularization is in fact the fulfillment of the central Christian message, and prepares us for a new mode of Christianity. He then explains that Nietzsche's thesis concerns only the "moral god" and leaves room for the emergence of "new gods." Third, Vattimo claims that the postmodern condition of fragmentation, anti-Eurocentrism, and postcolonialism can be usefully understood in light of Joachim of Fiore's thesis concerning the "Spiritual Age" of history. Finally, Vattimo argues for the idea of "weak thought." Because philosophy in the postmetaphysical age can only acknowledge that "all is interpretation," that the "real" is always relative and not the hard and fast "truth" we once thought it to be, contemporary thought must recognize itself and its claims as "weak" as opposed to "strong" foundationalist claims of the metaphysical past. Vattimo concludes that these factors make it possible for religion and God to become a serious topic for philosophy again, and that philosophy should now formally engage religion.

Genres: Philosophy, Religion, Theology

Hardcover

First published July 15, 2002

About the author

Gianteresio Vattimo, also known as Gianni Vattimo (born January 4, 1936) is an internationally recognized Italian author, philosopher, and politician. Many of his works have been translated into English.

His philosophy can be characterized as postmodern with his emphasis on "pensiero debole" (weak thought). This requires that the foundational certainties of modernity with its emphasis on objective truth founded in a rational unitary subject be relinquished for a more multi-faceted conception closer to that of the arts.

Reviews

[Daniel Redel · Rating 2 out of 5]

(a) The rebirth of Christian faith is closely tied to Nietzsche’s “Death of God” (b) and European secularization emerges as a direct consequence of core Christian ideas. These two theses are among the most interesting topics Vattimo explores in this book, presenting them through a distinctly postmodern lens.

However, while the ideas are compelling, I found his line of thought difficult to follow at times, and he often took many pages to express what could have been said in fewer words.

I’ll continue exploring postmodern theology and philosophy, but I might try another author next.

[Андрій Сабініч · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly a holistic commentary on Nietzsche/Heidegger than a standalone philosophical work.

[Santiago Aparicio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesante reflexión del autor sobre la adaptación del cristianismo. Cuestión distinta es que ese camino acabe con el propio cristianismo.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

To grasp the understanding of modern religion and christianity in particular with a postmodern philosophy in mind. The detailed words and complex philosophical and religious ideas discussed in this book will test most comprehension and well rounded theologians and philosophers. It was a positive spin on everything related to christianity in a modern world. I am still quite a bit incompetant when it comes to the idea of the death of god concept and the rebirth of christianity directly related to that death. Good resource, well written, difficult subject.

[Bartholomew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vattimo looks at the challenge to traditional (Aristotelian) metaphysics and where we find ourselves now no
longer able to believe in ‘being’ as an objective reality. The God of metaphysics and morality
has died, and yet we see a resurgence of religion and the sacred...what is going on? A return to a kind of fundamentalism, or is secularism actually a helpful tool for Christianity (Catholicism) today?

[Michael Harrel]

Recommended by Sam

[graceofgod · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings.