Theopoetics of the Word ― A New Beginning of Word and World

Theopoetics of the Word weaves together Christian theology, continental philosophy and cultural studies to present a new theology of language and technology for the 21st century. It is the final work of the famed death-of-God theologian Gabriel Vahanian completed only weeks before his death in 2012. It radicalizes his pioneering, iconoclastic work in contemporary religious thought by addressing issues of identity, Christology, secularity and the legacy of the Protestant West. The book continues Vahanian's longtime engagement with the thought of Paul Tillich and Jacques Ellul, and opens new pathways for thought in the work of Elisabeth Roudinesco and Francois Laurelle.
Vahanian's is a prophetic and timely voice who has forged reputation as one of the most original and poetic religious thinkers of our time, who tells us here, 'You can only forget what you need to be reminded of. Read what follows in this book. And forget it.'

One of the original death of God theologians, Gabriel Vahanian established his international reputation as a theologian of culture with such early books as The Death of God: The Culture of Our Post-Christian Era, Wait Without Idols, and No Other God. More recent works include Anonymous God: An Essay on Not Dreading Words, Tillich and the New Religious Paradigm, and Praise of the Secular. Vahanian had long tenures at the University of Syracuse, USA, and the University of Strasbourg, France. He was a founding member of the American Academy of Religion. This last posthumous work was completed shortly before his death in 2012.

Noelle Vahanian is Associate Professor of Religion and Philosophy, Lebanon Valley College, USA.

Mike Grimshaw is Associate Professor in Sociology, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Canterbury, New Zealand.