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International
colloquium deliberates concept of transcendence
Eileen M. Rafferty ‘06
 “Is
the Post-Modern age also an age of post-transcendence? Does transcendence,
too, need to be transcended?” These concepts were among the many addressed
by the fourth international colloquium of philosophers and theologians during
“Religion and Postmodernism: Transcendence and Beyond” from
Sept. 18 - 20.
“The conference is an attempt to bring together major philosophers
and theologians who are currently active to talk about the religious situation
of world,” stated John Caputo, the David R. Cook Chair of Philosophy
and chair of the philosophy department.
Throughout the colloquium, a broad range of perspectives were addressed.
Lead speaker Jean-Luc Marion from the University of Paris, whose speech
was read in his absence, concentrated on his notion of how the transcendence
of God is beyond being. James Mackey from Edinburgh University and Trinity
College, Dublin, connected the theories of creation and evolution, whereas
David Wood from Vanderbilt University delivered a speech on the transcendence
of nature. Catherine Keller from Drew University and Sallie McFague from
Vancouver School of Theology both spoke on feminist interpretations of transcendence,
while Fergus Kerr, O.P. from Edinburgh University and Blackfriars, Oxford,
discussed the importance of Protestant theories.
Each lecture was followed by an audience discussion. In attendance were
philosophy and theology professors and graduate students-- many of whom
came from Europe.
“This is a sign of the return of religion among intellectuals,”
asserted John Caputo. “It’s a post-secular age with a new acquired
significance.”
Held biennially, this is the fourth colloquium at the University. The first
one addressed the concept of “the gift,” the second focused
on the idea of forgiveness, and the third concentrated on Augustine’s
Confessions. The speeches from each conference are compiled into a book
and published by Indiana University Press.
The event was sponsored by the Josephine Connelly Chair of Theology and
the David R. Cook Chair of Philosophy.
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