Marilynne Robinson's Worldly Gospel: A Philosophical Account of her Christian Vision

by Ryan S. Kemp, Emma Mason (Editor), Jordan Rodgers, Mark Knight (Editor)

Overview

In her five novels and many essays, Marilynne Robinson develops a distinctive Christian vision animated by a powerfully affirmative and sacramental attitude toward the physical world and everyday human life.

An in-depth philosophical exploration of her work – from Gilead to her extensive non-fiction writing – Marilynne Robinson's Worldly Gospel reads the author's theology as articulating a compelling response to the claim that Christianity is an otherworldly religion whose adherents seek through it to escape the misfortunes of this life. Ryan Kemp and Jordan Rodgers argue that Robinson's work challenges the modern atheistic tradition dating back to Friedrich Nietzsche to present a unique form of contemporary faith that seeks to affirm the world rather than deny its claims.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781350318397
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	07/25/2024
Series:	New Directions in Religion and Literature
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	5.43(w) x 8.50(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Ryan S. Kemp is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Wheaton College, USA. He is the author of The Routledge Guidebook to Kierkegaard and Either/Or (2019).

Jordan M. Rodgers is Moreau Post-Doctoral Fellow in the McGowan Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility at King's College, Wiles-Barre, USA.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 – Introduction
Chapter 2 – The Life-Denial Critique of Christianity: Feuerbach & Nietzsche
Chapter 3 – Housekeeping: Lessons in Life-Denial
Chapter 4 – Gilead: More Beauty Than Our Eyes Can Bear
Chapter 5 – O Sinner, Come Home
Chapter 6 – Jack: A Glorious Presence
Chapter 7 – Lila: More Life Than We Can Bear
Chapter 8 – Conclusion: Our Fantastic Condition

Works Cited
Index

Editorial Reviews

Both engaging and illuminating, this book adds richness and reality to the most spiritually challenging philosophical questions of our times. It gives life to the possibility that the old quarrel between philosophy and poetry may be, after all, a quarrel between lovers.” —Vida Yao, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Rice University, USA

From the Publisher