Vattimo and Theology (Philosophy & Theology) [Paperback]

Thomas G. Guarino (Author)

Book Description

Series: Philosophy & Theology | Publication Date: November 1, 2009

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'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 )

'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 )

'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.'

(, )

 '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

(, )

'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

(, )

'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

(, Theological Book Review )

'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.'

(, )

Reviewed in Bijdragen, International Journal in Philosophy and Theology 71 (1)

About the Author

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

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: T&T Clark Int'l (November 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0567032337
• ISBN-13: 978-0567032331
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,197,427 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What Does Turin Have to Do With Jerusalem?, November 23, 2009

By 

Anthodisiac (Cathedral Woods) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vattimo and Theology (Philosophy & Theology) (Paperback)

It seems that if you want to look enlightened these days you have to declare that you are either 1) an atheist, or 2) spiritual but not religious. If you fall into the atheist camp then your most ballyhooed polemicists are Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, or anyone else with a Ph.D. in science (or English literature) who not only knows that there is no God, but who can also prove it in a classroom, in an essay, or in five minutes on the O'Reilly Factor.

If, however, you're not quite ready to chuck the whole concept of God, but you can't stand anyone else telling you what to do or what to believe (i.e., religion), then you are unwittingly an heir to the philosophy of the subject of this book, and that would be, Mr. Gianni Vattimo. Never heard of him? Well, neither had I prior to reading this. But his "secular preaching" is ubiquitous among the post-Christian elites of the Western world. He's like the thinking man's Deepak Chopra, Oprah Winfrey, and William Young, author of The Shack (see my review of The Shack).

Putting sarcasm aside, and to the point, Vattimo maintains that only two valid concepts remain from Christianity. The first is the notion of "kenosis," or self-emptying. The second is that of "caritas," or charity, or more commonly put, love. In the Christian model of God's self-emptying, in His becoming a man in the person of Jesus Christ, we have the ultimate example of Him letting go of all the attributes normally ascribed to Him, for example, omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, and even, for Vattimo, the very essence of his Being. Therefore, if God has neutered himself of His strongest traits, so too must we as humans let go of all those things we strongly hold about ourselves, and even those things that we claim to "know," to include all scientific and theological truths. Furthermore, he goes on to explain that our ability to know such truths, even if they did exist, is so skewed by our socio-temporal embeddedness, that we cannot make those claims with any certainty. The bottom line is, there is no valid theology of "this" or "that," of God, or Jesus, or the Church. We cannot possibly make those claims and therefore we shouldn't.

The only other "truth" of traditional Christian theology he affirms is the notion of love. But the "love" that Vattimo speaks of is not the kind of love written about in 1 John 5:3 "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous," because as he has already argued, God's commandments, such as they are defined by the Church, expired in the aftermath of the ultimate "kenosis," the Incarnation. Love, properly understood and practiced, is totally accepting, non-judgmental, and free of moral specificity and obligation. Judging, harm to others, or infringements of another's personal rights are the only impediments to valid "caritas" for Gianni Vattimo.

As you can see, these beliefs sound very appealing and freeing and are gaining currency in Western culture. That is why Catholic theologian, Thomas Guarino, engages Vattimo head-on in his latest volume. But rather than angrily dismissing him, or branding him a heretic, Guarino looks for common ground, he seeks to create theological and philosophical inroads as a means of dialogue with those estranged from organized religion. While Guarino is clear about the incompatibility of this thought with certain aspects of orthodox Christianity, like St. Paul to the Athenians, he graciously avows to them, "In fact, the unknown God you revere is the one I proclaim to you." (Acts 17:23) This work is timely and necessary. Bravo Tom!