Derrida and Religion

Over the course of the last decade, the writings of Derrida have come to exercise considerable influence among scholars of religious studies, theology, and biblical studies. Just as Derrida altered much of the landscape in literary studies and philosophy in the 1960s through the 1980s, it is now the religious map that is being reconfigured. The key concepts that have emerged from Derrida's texts - such as the gift, apocalypse, hospitality, messianism, sacrifice, and the secret - have wrought changes in the way that scholars approach biblical texts, comparative religious studies, and religious violence, for instance, as well as the way they understand basic religious themes such as myth, creation, forgiveness, one-ness, and multiplicity. "Derrida and Religion: Other Testaments "represents the most comprehensive attempt to date to explore, adapt, and test Derrida's contributions and influence on the study of theology, biblical studies, and the philosophy of religion. With over twenty original essays from highly-respected scholars such as John Caputo, Daniel Boyarin, Edith Wyschogrod, Tim Beal, and Gil Anidjar, "Derrida and Religion "will quickly become the 'locus classicus' for those interested in the increasingly vibrant work on religion and deconstruction and postmodernism. A substantial introduction by the editors, Yvonne Sherwood and Kevin Hart, provides an accessible overview of the issues and themes central to the discussion of religion and deconstruction that will be as useful for students as it is insightful for scholars. The volume also includes a lengthy interview with Derrida conducted by the editors joined by John Caputo.