Strangers, Gods and Monsters: Interpreting Otherness
In this brilliant book Richard Kearney sets his sights on the hyperbolic inflation of otherness. The refusal to acknowledge 'oneself-as-another,' as Ricoeur puts it, generates visions of otherness that call for a critical hermeneutics. Like Baudrillard, Benjamin, and Zizek before him, Kearney has a finely tuned ear for the often hysterical workings of the media and popular culture, and in this respect his chapter reflecting on 9/11 is exemplary. He argues convincingly for the need for judgment when we 'welcome strangers, respect gods, and acknowledge monsters'. In this endeavor, Kearney is the ideal companion, and he proves again to be one of the liveliest philosophical minds in America.–David Wood, Vanderbilt UniversityStrangers, Gods, and Monstersalong with the other two volumes in the trilogy, stands as an important contribution to the fields of religious theory and Continental philosophy.  Moreover, Kearney's trilogy offers a thorough and insightful analysis of major issues and debates across disciplinary fields.–Victor E. Taylor, York College of Pennsylvania,Journal of the American Academy of Religion