John D. Caputo explores the very roots of religious thinking in this thought-provoking book. Compelling questions come up along the way: ‘What do I love when I love my God?’ and ‘What can Star Wars tell us about the contemporary use of religion?’ (are we always trying to find a way of saying ‘God be with you’?) Why is religion for many a source of moral guidance in a postmodern, nihilistic age? Is it possible to have ‘religion without religion’?
Drawing on contemporary images of religion, such as Robert Duvall’s film The Apostle, Caputo also provides some fascinating and imaginative insights into religious fundamentalism.It’s conventional wisdom not to bring up religion in casual conversation. The subject tends to polarize people into believers and skeptics. While one camp adduces little more than personal experience in support of their claims, the other is unwilling to admit much beyond the revelations of science. Neither is a satisfactory alternative for Caputo, who infuses his meditations in On Religion with ambiguity, uncertainty, and hopefulness. Caputo’s book is not the fodder of tired collegiate debates. That is, it is neither a pro forma defense of religious belief nor a proof that God is not possible. It is a slender volume that is full of insights and an occasional touch of the profound.

Listen: “Religion is for lovers, for men and women of passion, for real people who believe in something, who hope like mad in something, who believe in something, who love something with a love that surpasses understanding.” It’s no wonder Caputo has carved out a niche for himself as one of the most sincere and thoughtful writers in today’s continental philosophy. Among elitist thinkers who seem to pride themselves on jargon and labyrinthine writing, Caputo is a refreshing complement, refusing to believe that intellectual substance is at odds with clarity. His predilection for ethics and religion is manifest in his half dozen or so books on the subjects. On Religion, part of the Thinking in Action series, does justice to his depth. –Eric de Place