The Association seeks to promote renewed critical thinking on religion, drawing upon the continental tradition of philosophy. This tradition draws much of its impetus from Kant's transcendental project of exploring what makes knowledge and faith possible. Kant inspired reflection upon the active, constructive role played by the subject of knowledge as well as the creative transgression of the limits of reason in articulating religious ideas.
The Association is facilitated by the philosophy team at Liverpool Hope University.
Aims and objectives
The Association promotes research and reflection on continental philosophy of religion by
- Holding seminars with invited speakers
- Organising occasional major international conferences
- Sponsoring colloquia on particular subjects
- Sharing information with other relevant networks and groups, particularly with regard to conferences, publications and sharing good practice in teaching continental philosophy of religion
- Encouraging research and publication
Book series
The Association has curated two book series:
Intensities: Contemporary Continental Philosophy of Religion was originally published by Ashgate, and now is available via Routledge. The series was co-edited by Steven Shakespeare and Patrice Haynes.
Reframing Continental Philosophy of Religion was published by Rowman and Littlefield and is now available via Bloomsbury. The series was co-edited by Steven Shakespeare and Duane Williams.
An additional collection of material drawn from or inspired by the Association’s 2009 ‘Towards a Philosophy of Life’ conference appeared as a special issue of the journal Angelaki, Volume 1, Issue 19, 2014. Entitled ‘Immanent Materialisms: Speculation and Critique’, the issue was edited by Charlie Blake and Patrice Haynes.
Staff publications
For publications and research interests of Liverpool Hope staff, see the profiles for
Robert Booth
Steven Shakespeare
Duane Williams
Previous facilitator:
Patrice Haynes
Conferences
The Association has organised a number of major international conferences:
2009 ‘Towards a Philosophy of Life’ (Keynotes: John Caputo, Don Cupitt, Pamela Sue Anderson, Philip Goodchild, John Milbank)
2012 ‘Thinking the Absolute: Philosophy, Speculation and the End of Religion’ (Keynotes: Ray Brassier, Levi Bryant, Scott Wilson)
2014 (jointly with The Mystical Theology Network) ‘Mystical Theology and Continental Philosophy: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives’ (Keynotes: Oliver Davies, Agata Bielik-Robson, Joseph Milne)
2015 ‘Political Theology: The Liberation of the Postsecular?’ (Keynotes: Saba Mahmood, Catherine Keller, Katherine Sarah Moody)
2021 (jointly with The Mystical Theology Network ‘Thinking About Nothing: Negation, Philosophy and the Mystical’ (Keynotes: Melissa Raphael, George Pattison, Kate Kirkpatrick, Rik Van-Nieuwenhove).
2024 ‘Nature, Thinking’ (Keynotes: Simon James, Jason Wirth, Patricia Vieira)
Other events
The Association has organised or supported a number of other symposia, panels and seminars, including ‘Art Disarming Philosophy’ at Liverpool Tate gallery in 2018. This was the last speaking engagement in the UK for major French philosopher François Laruelle and led to the publication Art Disarming Philosophy: Non-philosophy and Aesthetics (Rowman and Littlefield, 2021).
Work with us
We welcome ideas for joint projects and other collaborative ventures. Please go to the Contact Us tab to get in touch.
To contact us, write to Steven Shakespeare: shakess@hope.ac.uk
Or you can write us at:
The Association for Continental Philosophy of Religion
c/o Prof Steven Shakespeare School of Humanities
Liverpool Hope University
Hope Park
Liverpool
L16 9JD
United Kingdom
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