John D. Caputo, The Prayers and Tears of Jacques Derrida. Religion Without Religion

Abstract

Caputo's book is riveting ... A singular achievement of stylistic brio and impeccable scholarship, it breaks new ground in making a powerful case for treating Derrida as homo religiosis ... There can be no mistaking the importance of Caputo's work." 'Edith Wyschogrod No one interested in Derrida, in Caputo, or in the larger question of postmodernism and religion can afford to ignore this pathbreaking study. Taking full advantage of the most recent and least discussed writings of Derrida, it offers a careful and comprehensive account of the religious dimension of Derrida's thought." 'Merold Westphal. Introduction: A passion for the impossible -- A map for the perplexed -- I. The apophatic. God is not differance. Dreaming the impossible dream: Derrida and Levinas on the impossible. Affirmation at the limits: how not to speak. Save the name, wholly other: toward a general apophatics. Edifying divertissement No. 1. Bedeviling faith -- II. The apocalyptic. Viens! Messianic time: Derrida and Blanchot. An apocalypse sans apocalypse to Jacques of El Biar. The secret. Edifying divertissement No. 2. From Elea to Elohim: the God of the same, the God of the other -- III. The messianic. Of Marx and the Messiah. Messianic passion and the religion of Saint Jacques.