Difficult Atheism

Watkin takes readers on a fascinating journey into contemporary post-theological philosophy. He shows with admirable clarity how each writer articulates a new position beyond the innate problems of parasitism and asceticism. He sharpens focus on post-theological integration, whether in the form of Badiou's axiomatic atheism, Nancy's deconstructive antheology, or Meillassoux's argument that philosophy believes in God because God does not exist. As Watkin proves quite brilliantly, atheism is not as easy as it seems. Summing up: Recommended. --C. B. Kerr, Vassar College "Choice " Watkin accomplishes a daunting task in this book, managing to summarize and explain some of the most complicated, complicating works we have from these thinkers while at the same time issuing forth his own provocative thesis, thus finding points of commonality in unlikely places. He has raised the bar on post-theological philosophy, demanding more than a mere emptying of God's place, more than a weak imitation of religion, but rather a full-throated and unapologetic philosophy that provides us with all God used to, without the cost. --Christina Smerick, Greenville College "Derrida Today " The book is filled with subtle and complex commentaries to which no review can do justice. Difficult Atheism represents a sophisticated contribution to the debates that have arisen in the wake of the 'theological turn', and it merits careful study by anyone interested in these issues. --John D. Caputo, Syracuse University and Villanova University "Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews "

Christopher Watkin is Senior Lecturer in the Department of French at Monash University.

Introduction: Atheisms Today; 1. The God of Metaphysics; 2. The God of the Poets; 3. Difficult Atheism; 4. Beyond A/theism? Quentin Meillassoux; 5. The Politics of the Post-Theological I: Justifying the Political; 6. The Politics of the Post-Theological II: Justice; General Conclusion: How to Follow an 'Atheism'That Never Was; Bibliography; Index.