On Religion

Thanks to Karen Armstrong ("The Case for God") for referring to John Caputo's notion that God is rather more like an event or experience than a being, e.g., Creator, Judge, Savior, etc. My husband, who also read this book, found that the Star Wars metaphor was illuminating. Caputo's writing is surprisingly clear and accessible considering the Mystery which is - ultimately - his subject. This short book offers constructive dimension to people of faith; it was stimulating, too.

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.

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 tosomething 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.

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.