Titel
Agnosticism and eschatological hope: Allard Pierson and hope beyond the moment of not-knowing
Abstract
Hope beyond certainty is a significant element in contemporary theological discourse after the death of God. This relation between hope and uncertainty is not new. In the nineteenth century, a growing number of intellectuals started to call themselves agnostic, but did not always end up in scepticism and nihilism. On the contrary, new ways to search for meaning and fulfilment in life beyond the traditional answers of institutional religions (i.e. the church) were explored. The Dutch intellectual Allard Pierson (1831–1896) is a good case in point. From a contemporary postsecular perspective and radical theology, this article argues that Pierson’s agnosticism should not be seen as an attitude of indifference, but as opening up the possibility for an eschatological hope beyond certainty. First, the (im)possibility of hope is discussed by debating the views of David Newheiser, Richard Kearney, and John D. Caputo. Second, the article analyses Pierson’s view by focusing upon hermeneutics instead of epistemology, an openness to transcendence, and imagination. The article thereby contributes to the understanding of nineteenth-century religious and secularisation developments as well as to contemporary theological debates on the (im)possibility of faith and hope after the death of God.
Stichwort
Allard Piersonagnosticismhopethe postsecularradical theology
Objekt-Typ
Sprache
Englisch [eng]
Persistent identifier
https://phaidra.univie.ac.at/o:2031929
Erschienen in
Titel
International Journal of Philosophy and Theology
Band
84
Ausgabe
2
ISSN
2169-2327
Erscheinungsdatum
2023
Seitenanfang
99
Seitenende
113
Verlag
Informa UK Limited
Erscheinungsdatum
2023
Zugänglichkeit
Rechteangabe
© 2023 The Author(s)

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