Title: Iconoclastic theology :
Authors: Shults, F. LeRon.
Date: 2014
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press,
Physical description: viii, 225 p. : ill. ; 25 cm.
Language: English
LC classification: B
Abstract: This is a new reading of Deleuze's whole corpus in light of his treatment of religion and theological themes. French philosopher Gilles Deleuze was vehemently opposed to the idea of the transcendental, yet still found value in religion - in its ability to 'secrete atheism'. F. LeRon Shults explores Deleuze's fascination with theological themes throughout his entire corpus. He brings Deleuzian concepts into dialogue with insights derived from the bio-cultural sciences of religion in order to increase the flow of a productive atheism. This is the first exposition of Deleuze's radical critique of religion, demonstrating the crucial role this creative destruction plays throughout his philosophical corpus. It provocatively describes this aspect of Deleuze's work as 'theology', following his own (paradoxical, humorous, diabolical) description of that discipline as 'the science of non-existing entities'. It brings Deleuze studies into dialogue with the bio-cultural sciences of religion, which are transforming the current debates about the value of atheism in the academy and the public sphere.
Contents: 1. Hammering theology: The science of non-existing entities -- Anti-Oedipus, Anti-Christ -- Anthropomorphic promiscuity and sociographic prudery -- Sacerdotal and Iconoclastic trajectories -- The secrets of theism -- 2. Breaking theological icons: The inversion of Platonism -- Christ as the image of God -- Anthropomorphic prudery and sociographic promiscuity -- Kant and the genitality of experience -- Spinoza and the vertigo of immanence -- Nietzsche and the rising of the Simulacra -- Overturning religious figures -- 3. Loosening theological chains: The dogmatic image of thought -- Christ as the logos of God -- The first shackle: Analogy of judgment -- The second shackle: Identity in the concept -- The third shackle: Opposition of predicates -- The fourth shackle: resemblance in perception -- The liberation of thinking -- 4. Releasing theological events: Paradox and becoming -- Christ as the incarnation of God -- The aleatory point -- The line of the Aion -- The metaphysical surface -- Sexuality and pious intentions -- The liberation of acting -- 5. Assembling theological machines: Desiring-machines -- Christ as the judgment of God -- Theology and the territorial machine -- Theology and the despotic machine -- Theology and the capitalist machine -- Theology and the war machine -- The liberation of feeling -- 6. Secreting atheism: The production of atheism -- The gospel according to Deleuze -- The forces of theology -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index.
Subject headings (LCSH): Christianity and atheism.; Deleuze, Gilles, 1925-1995.; Religion--Philosophy.