After the Postsecular and the

Postmodern: New Essays in

Continental Philosophy of
Religion
Editors: Anthony Paul Smith and
Daniel Whistler

Date Of Publication: May 2010

ISBN-13: 978-1-4438-1987-9
ISBN: 1-4438-1987-5

Continental philosophy of religion

has been dominated for two
decades by “postsecular” and
“postmodern” thought. This volume
brings together a vanguard of
scholars to ask what comes after
the postsecular and the
postmodern—that is, what is
Continental philosophy of religion
now? Against the subjugation of
philosophy to theology, After the
Postsecular and the Postmodern:
New Essays in Continental
Philosophy of Religion argues that philosophy of religion must either liberate itself from
theological norms or mutate into a new practice of thinking in order to confront the challenges
religion presents for our time. The essays do not propose a new orthodoxy but set the stage for
new debates by reclaiming a practice of philosophy of religion that recovers and draws on the
insights of a distinctly modern tradition of Continental philosophy, confronts the challenge of
rethinking the secular in the light of the postsecular event, and calls for a move from strictly
critical to speculative thought in order to experiment with what philosophy can do. This
collection of essays is indispensable for anyone interested in the relationship between
philosophy and theology, political questions regarding religion and in what contemporary
speculative Continental philosophy has to add to philosophy of religion.

"A superb and groundbreaking collection featuring the brightest scholars in the continental
philosophy of religion. The book deals with a feast of topics, and will become indispensable the
moment it is published."
– Kenneth Surin, Professor of Literature and Professor of Religion and Critical Theory, Duke
University

"Every once in a while, a collection of essays comes along that does not merely contribute to a
field, but redraws its boundaries, repositions it in unforeseen ways. This is one such collection.
The burgeoning work of ‘continental philosophy of religion’ is both employed and interrogated to
startling effect. This is no tired and worn treadmill of ideas, but a disciplined armoury and an
unruly intervention. The editors and authors display a well-won confidence in philosophy at the
limit. They are not afraid to take on the sacred cows of orthodoxy or the modish assumptions of
the recent ‘turn to religion’ in continental thinking. Fascinating new insights into the modern
canon sit alongside adventurous forays into cutting edge speculative philosophy and non-
philosophy (the editors’ introduction is worth the admission price alone). Demanding,
provocative and groundbreaking, this is required reading for anyone who wants to know what
matters in philosophy of religion today."
– Steven Shakespeare, Lecturer in Philosophy, Liverpool Hope University and Co-Facilitator of
the Association for Continental Philosophy of Religion.

Price UK: £49.99

Price US: $74.99