On Religion (Thinking in Action) (Paperback)

~ John Caputo (Author) "Any book entitled On Religion must begin by breaking the bad news to the reader that its subject matter does not exist..." (more)
Key Phrases: Star Wars, New Testament, Kingdom of God (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

It's conventional wisdom not to bring up religion in casual conversation. The subject tends to polarize people into believers and skeptics. While one camp adduces little more than personal experience in support of their claims, the other is unwilling to admit much beyond the revelations of science. Neither is a satisfactory alternative for Caputo, who infuses his meditations in On Religion with ambiguity, uncertainty, and hopefulness. Caputo's book is not the fodder of tired collegiate debates. That is, it is neither a pro forma defense of religious belief nor a proof that God is not possible. It is a slender volume that is full of insights and an occasional touch of the profound.

Listen: "Religion is for lovers, for men and women of passion, for real people who believe in something, who hope like mad in something, who believe in something, who love something with a love that surpasses understanding." It's no wonder Caputo has carved out a niche for himself as one of the most sincere and thoughtful writers in today's continental philosophy. Among elitist thinkers who seem to pride themselves on jargon and labyrinthine writing, Caputo is a refreshing complement, refusing to believe that intellectual substance is at odds with clarity. His predilection for ethics and religion is manifest in his half dozen or so books on the subjects. On Religion, part of the Thinking in Action series, does justice to his depth. --Eric de Place

From Library Journal

Caputo (Radical Hermeneutics; philosophy, Villanova Univ.) claims that religion is not for the faint of heart. The radical instability of a life filled with faith and hope is transformational in the extreme, he cautions: "If safe is what you want, forget religion and find yourself a conservative investment counselor." Caputo writes with the immediacy and conviction of one who can fully understand his topic only by immersing himself in it. Intellectual without being overly academic, he considers ideas such as what it means to have a loving God, what is "religion without religion," and how the postmodern returns to religion by positing a "reality" beyond the real. When he writes that claims to religious truth are only interpretation at best and that humility should lead the way, one cheers his vigor and relishes his insights into the paradoxical, ambiguous nature of religion and religious belief. Recommended. Sandra Collins, Duquesne Univ. Lib., Pittsburgh
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 147 pages
• Publisher: Routledge (May 23, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 041523333X
• ISBN-13: 978-0415233330
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #244,648 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book demonstrates thinking in action, January 14, 2003

By	P J Rollins (Ireland) - See all my reviews

Brilliant. Well written, informative, passionate. It is refreshing to see a philosopher who writes with the fervour of Kierkegaard, someone who is in the academic world not because they wish to further their own name but because they are driven by the questions that ought to keep us all up at night. This book is brilliantly paced and achieves the almost impossible task of making Derrida understandable. In the spirit of C.S. Lewis, John Caputo offers us a first-rate body of thought in a way that is well written and understandable to those outside the academic ivory tower. In the introduction to this book, Caputo makes the convincing claim that when it comes to religion there is no absolute beginning, however if you are looking for an introduction to religion from a continental philosophical viewpoint then this is a close to an absolute beginning as you are likely to get.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Doing the impossible, December 1, 2003

By A Customer

I've just finished reading On Religion and thought I'd make use of cyberspace to say how much I enjoyed it. I continue to be part of a formal religion (Christian/Anglican) but constantly wonder why; frustrated and angered by blinkered thinking and knowing that I do not believe-as-fact most (any?) of the 'doctrine'. And yet, and yet.....I know it gives shape to
something which is somehow fundamental to existence. My normal reaction to this chronic uncertainty is anxiety, so I found Caputo's idea that the very impossibility of knowing is something to be passionate about a really inspiring one. Worrying about the love of God makes it impossible to do the love of God.

And it was very good to read a book on religion which flew along, was full of passion and made me laugh.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What a fun read!, December 3, 2003

By	Sophie Rolland (Vancouver, BC) - See all my reviews

We've just read this book for a theology class and it was a joy to read. The author writes beautifully in a conversational style that is very easy to understand. It is refreshing to read theology that ignites a passion for life and a passion for God. The content of the book might not be completely new but the delivery presents the material in a very palatable form. There are points in the book that I actually laughed out loud and I think that its the first time I've ever done that with a book on religion. Nonetheless, you will find enough content to make you think without spoon-feeding you any answers. There is definitely lots of salt in the book and I would highly recommend it for anyone searching for meaning in their lives.