Routledge Foucault and Religion: Spiritual corporality and political spirituality

Foucault and Religion is the first major study of Michel Foucault in relation and response to Religion. Jeremy Carrette offers us a challenging new look at Foucault's work and addresses a religious dimension that has previously been neglected. We see that prior to Foucault's infamous unpublished volume in the 'History of Sexuality', on the theme of Christianity, there is a complex religious sub-text which anticipates this final unseen work.Jeremy Carrette argues that Foucault offers a twofold critique of Christianity by bringing the body and sexuality into religious practice and exploring a political spirituality of the self. He shows us that Foucault's creation of a body theology through the death of God, reveals how religious beliefs reflect the sexual body, questions the notion of a mystical archaeology and exposes the political technology of confession.Anyone interested in understanding Foucault's thought in a new light will find this book a truly fascinating read. Review 'For those within religious studies and theology departments, Carette has contributed a painstaking review of Foucault's corpus, directing scholars to key movements and ideas. For those new to an interest in religion, Carette provides a corrective framework for how to relate Foucault to religion.' - Journal of the American Academy of Religion'Carette presents a flesh-and-blood Foudcault and a surprisingly affirmative account of religion after Foucault. For this he deserves our admiration.' - Matt Thompson, Theology'The author demonstrates a sophisticated knowledge of the material, frequently noting Foucault's limitations, inconsistencies, and underdeveloped thoughts ... his clear writing style makes this text approachable for anyone in the humanities or social sciences.' - Elizabeth King Keenan, Religious Studies Review'In his very problematising of religion, Foucault becomes a religious thinker. Carrette ably picks up on this and provides space for continued critiques of religion from Foucauldian standpoints.' - S. Brent Plate, LIterature and Theology