A postmodernist's shaky attempt to craft a theology in the twilight of the gods. Cupitt (Philosophy and Theology/Cambridge Univ.) claims that the very foundations of contemporary religion have been threatened by a ``collapse of meaning'' that encompasses our current global culture. Rather than mourn this loss of traditional religious belief, Cupitt revels in the new opportunities of a postmodern religion unfettered by inconvenient categories such as sin and superstition. He first provides a thumbnail sketch of the philosophical legacy of the ``old religions,'' drawing on thinkers such as Nietzsche, Kant, and Hegel. His cogent, artful explanations of complicated philosophical concepts are clearly the strength of the book. After these nubile expositions, however, Cupitt's own ideas for a postmodern religion fall flat. He proposes that three themes from traditional religion can be salvaged. The first principle, which Cupitt calls the ``Eye of God,'' states that we should still act as though we believe in God, despite God's nonexistence, because this makes for a more mediated consciousness. The ``Blissful Void'' legacy, drawn from a trendy appropriation of Buddhist meditation that weaves through the book, claims that we should eradicate the self through meditation and a disappearance into the Cool Sublime. Finally, ``Solar Ethics'' requires that we should simply emanate our rays into the world, since in our postmodern culture ``we ourselves are the only makers of meaning and value.'' Ultimately, now that God is dead, Cupitt believes that we will worship God more purely, since human beings always seem to have more regard for the dead than for the living. Religion will become art, a ``poetical theology'' that will rejuvenate our culture. Cupitt too easily dismisses the resurgence of conservative religions as a ``fad,'' ignoring the evidence that, in America at least, the ``old religions'' still seem to be meeting people's needs. It would seem that rumors of God's death have been greatly exaggerated.
Pub Date: May 7, 1997
ISBN: 0-465-04514-6
Page Count: 160
Publisher: Basic Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1997
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
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