Theology for Pilgrims » (1st Edition)

Nicholas Lash's new collection of essays exposes the crisis in our thinking about God which is at the root of our misunderstandings and mistakes about science and politics, ethics and economics, life and death. Opening with a devastating critique of Richard Dawkins, he goes on to discuss the 'impossibility of atheism', disentangle faith and reason, retrieve the legacy of the second Vatican Council, and - amongst many other delights - offer sparkling insights into Diderot and Joseph Conrad.

Theology for Pilgrims exhibits Nicholas Lash's characteristic exuberance, combativeness and wit, and shows again his unrivalled ability to make the reader 'come to see the point about Jesus'.

Introduction Fergus Kerr Kerr, Fergus

Pt. 1 Thinking of God Without Losing Our Way 1

1 Where Does The God Delusion Come From? 3

2 The Impossibility of Atheism 19

3 Amongst Strangers and Friends: Thinking of God in our Current Confusion 36

4 Recovering Contingency 52

5 Renewed, Dissolved, Remembered: MacKinnon and Metaphysics 68

Pt. 2 Road-signs: Theology and Other Things We Say 83

6 'Visio Unica et Ordinata Scientiae'? 85

7 'An Immense Darkness' and the Tasks of Theology 98

8 Reason, Fools and Rameau's Nephew 123

9 Where Does Holy Teaching Leave Philosophy? Questions on Milbank's Aquinas 137

Pt. 3 Road-works: Theology and Other Things We Do 151

10 Conversation in Context 153

11 Sebastiano in Pallara: A Pilgrim's Tale 167

12 Fear of the Dark 179

13 Travellers' Fare 194

14 The Subversiveness of Catholicity 209

Pt. 4 The Struggle for the Council 225

15 Vatican II: Of Happy Memory - and Hope? 227

16 What Happened at Vatican II? 240

17 On Re-reading Vatican II 249

18 In the Spirit of Vatican II? 253

Index 285