Vattimo and Theology

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Description

Gianni Vattimo, who has long been a prominent postmodern European philosopher, has recently taken a more significant interest in religion. His claim is that postmodern philosophy, with its incisive critique of rationalist, objectifying ways of thinking, can help religion once again find a voice in a largely disinterested Europe and an often fundamentalist America. To accomplish this, Vattimo contends, religion must attend to certain contemporary philosophical themes that, he argues, are ultimately consistent with biblical intentions. To this end, Vattimo employs his theoretical insights on themes such as: the nature of modernity/postmodernity, the important of "weak" as opposed to "strong" thought, the dissolution of metaphysics; and the end of the authoritarian, moralistic God.

Reviews

'Guarino's book is an excellent guide...a readable introduction to Vattimo and will also be thought-provoking for those already acquainted with the Italian's work.' -- onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Reviewed in Bijdragen, International Journal in Philosophy and Theology 71 (1)
Guarino offers a fair and balanced theological evaluation of Vattimo. -- Louvain Studies 34
[The book] offers in its first two chapters a very accurate and accessible account of Vattimo's thought and discusses key themes, such as his understanding of modernity and its end, truth, Being, interpretation, history, and the kenotic dimension of Christianity. Anyone merely looking for a short, yet concise introduction to Vattimo's thought will clearly benefit from reading Guarino's book.'The Thomist
'Tom Guarino's VATTIMO AND THEOLOGY proves the possibility that Vattimo's Nietzschean nihilism can and does enter into a fruitful dialogue with contemporary theology and thereby makes an important and timely contribution to a multivalent culture of tolerance. It works effectively as an introduction to the key themes and concepts from Vattimo's post-metaphysical weak thought and distinctly postmodern faith, and also provides a constructive and critical dialogue that calls to question what Guarino ultimately concludes is the axiomatic nature of Vattimo's thinking.' -- Jeff Robbins, Department of Religion & Philosophy, Lebanon Valley College, USA.
By analyzing Vattimo, Tom Guarino has put together a sweeping survey of the postmodern conditions of religious thought. Vattimo is a quintessentially European thinker, restlessly seeking more stable ground for philosophy, and Guarino just as relentlessly follows him to the metaphysical dead ends of reason without faith. Vattimo's conviction that intellectual frameworks for making sense of the world are diminishing in power is both a warning and an opportunity for theology. Guarino marks the hazards on the trail that leads beyond secularism. Highly recommended.' - Stephen H. Webb, Wabash College, USA -- Stephen H. Webb
This book truly reads the "signs of the times.". Guarino masterfully introduces the Torinese's oeuvre and skilfully assays his subtle sublimations. He illuminates Vattimo's eschewal of postmodern apophatic play and decision to present "weak thought" as a forcibly diluted twist on Christian charity. Guarino dissects this genial misprision while still recognizing the sterling coinage of Hegel, Nietzsche, Heidegger, and Joachim da Fiore. Guarino remains a generous interpreter throughout. In the end the reader is offered not only a compelling rebuke of weak thought's pretension to emancipate reason but also good reasons to admire the Augustinian cor inquietum buried within Vattimo's fascinating provocations. All in all, an impressive achievement.' - Peter Casarella, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, DePaul University, Chicago, IL, USA -- Peter Casarella
'Guarino's book functions as a clear an dengaging introduction to the thought of Vattimo, one of the most important philosophers of our era. In the first two chapters Guarino outlines key principles of Vatitimo's philosophy, before evaluating his thought in relation to the concerns and methods of theology in chapters four and five.' - Matthew Edward Harris, University of Bristol & Queen Elizabeth's Hospital, Bristol -- Matthew Edward Harris * Theological Book Review *

Author Bio

Thomas G. Guarino is Professor of Systematic Theology at the School of Theology, Seton hall University, New Jersey