Christianity and the Errors of our Time: Simone Weil on Atheism and Idolatry

Publication Type

Book Chapter

Year of Publication

2010

Author

Von der Ruhr, Mario

Editor

Rozelle-Stone, A. Rebecca (Adrian Rebecca) Stone, Lucian

Book

The Relevance of the Radical: Simone Weil 100 Years Later

Pages

53-75

Publisher

Continuum

Place Published

New York

Language

English

Chapter

4

Keywords

atheism
belief
Christianity
Wittgenstein, Ludwig
Nielsen, Kai
colonialism
idolatry

Annotation

Von der Ruhr begins with an overview of the atheistic thought of the Canadian philosopher Kai Neilson. He then moves on to reflect on the similarities in religious thought between Ludwig Wittgenstein and Simone Weil. As suggested by the title he examines Weil’s distinction between idolatrous and purifying atheism, condemning the former and arguing the latter rather than opposing some Christian believers, may in fact be closer to them in belief. Von der Ruhr ends the essay with a brief critique of Weil's position.

Notes

A slightly changed version of this article was published in Philosophy and Religion. Ed. Anthony O'Hear. Vol. 68. Royal Institute of Philosophy Supplement. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2011. 203-26