Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Credo Credit Crisis: Speculations on Faith and Money (Critical Perspectives on Theory, Culture and Politics)

Money facilitates the rites and rituals we perform in everyday life. More than a mere medium of exchange or a measure of value, it is the primary means by which we manifest a faith unique to our secular age. But what happens when individual belief (credo, 'I' believe) and the systems into which it is bound (credit, 'it' believes) enter into crisis? Where did the sacredness of money come from, and does it have a future? Why do we talk about debt and repayment in overtly moral terms? How should a theological critique of capitalism proceed today? With the effects of the 2008 economic crises continuing to be felt across the world, this volume brings together some of the most important contemporary voices in philosophy, literature, theology, and critical and cultural theory together in one volume to assert the need to interrogate and broaden the terms of the theological critique of capitalism. Review Credo Credit Crisis is an important intervention in the wake of the 2008 global recession. We desperately need a better understanding of the deep connections between money and faith, or religion and political economy. The editors have assembled an excellent group of contributors to tackle this urgent topic -- highly recommended!--Clayton Crockett, Professor of Philosophy and Religion, University of Central Arkansas, USA Mining this rich semantic seam, these essays offer profound insights into the fiduciary logics that drive - and sometimes disrupt - the movements of money and markets. The authors bring the humanities' best traditions of speculative thought into contact with speculative times past, present, and future, reimagining political economy through bold experiments in politico-economic theology.--Paul Crosthwaite, Senior Lecturer in English Literature, University of Edinburgh Credo Credit Crisis provides a timely reminder that concepts such as debt, credit, interest, speculation and money are never just strictly economic phenomenon but abound in metaphysical subtleties and theological niceties. This brilliant volume shows how the dimension of religion is indispensable to understand as well to overcome our current economic crisis.--Ole Bjerg, Associate Professor at Copenhagen Business School About the Author Arthur Bradley is Professor of Comparative Literature at Lancaster University Simon Critchley is Hans Jonas Professor at the New School for Social Research Richard Dienst teaches theory in the Department of English at Rutgers University (New Brunswick). Philip Goodchild is Professor of Religion and Philosophy at the University of Nottingham Nicky Marsh is Professor of English Studies at the University of Southampton Tom McCarthy is a novelist whose work has been translated into more than twenty languages. In 2013 he was awarded the inaugural Windham-Campbell Prize for Fiction by Yale University. Laurent Milesi is Tenured Professor of English Literature and Critical Theory at Shanghai Jiao Tong University Christopher John Müller is an Honorary Research Associate of the Centre for Critical and Cultural Theory, Cardiff University, and a Senior Associate Teacher at the Department of English, University of Bristol. Benjamin Noys is Professor of Critical Theory at the University of Chichester Mareile Pfannebecker is a Research Associate in Renaissance Literature and Critical Theory at the University of Strathclyde. Hollis Phelps is an assistant professor of religion at the University of Mount Olive Josh Robinson teaches contemporary poetry and literary and critical theory in the Cardiff University School of English, Communication and Philosophy Peter Sedgwick is Reader in Philosophy at Cardiff University Aidan Tynan is Lecturer in English literature at Cardiff University Joseph Vogl is Professor of German Literature, Cultural and Media Studies at the Humboldt University in Berlin and Permanent Visiting Professor at Princeton University Ian Wiblin is a photographer and filmmaker interested in th