Notes for a Postmodern View of Christianity. A reading of Martin Koci's Christianity after Christendom: Heretical Perspectives in Philosophical Theology

Abstract

Martin Koci is perhaps one of the most recent exponents of what has been called the "theological turn" of contemporary phenomenology. Koci presents a reading from a theology that resorts to phenomenology to try to give an account of a Christianity after Christendom. Although the reference to Kierkegaard is inescapable, Koci alludes, above all, to the implications of the experience of Christianity in a postmodern era. Or, more specifically: a post-Christian era. To carry out his task, the Czech theologian establishes a dialogue with one of his most relevant compatriots of the last century: Jan Patočka. In his most recent text, Christianity after Christendom: Heretical Perspectives in Philosophical Theology, Koci expands his dialogue with Patočka by bringing into the conversation a series of philosophers, all known for their heterodox or "heretical" positions in relation to Christianity. Among these are Jean-Luc Nancy, Gianni Vattimo, John D. Caputo, and Richard Kearney. Together with each of these authors, Koci takes on the challenge of asking "the obvious question, but which has largely been neglected: what comes after the end of Christianity?"