AA 2013 Volume 45 Issue 4

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Embodied religion’s radicalisation of immanence and the consequent question of transcendence
(University of the Free State, 2013) Verhoef, Anné
Transcendence has lost its metaphysical moorings and the tendency in postmodernity is the sublimation of transcendence within a conceptual framework of immanence. In other words, transcendence, in a postmetaphysical world, is fully and absolutely actualised or embodied. The consequent question arises: Is there still a need for the concept of transcendence and how should this transcendence be understood in the religious context, in particular? This question is explored by first analysing transcendence within the science-religion discourse. Secondly, Sally McFague’s theology is discussed as an example of a theology of radical immanence, and lastly Gilles Deleuze’s concept of radical immanence is explored. I argue that an understanding of embodied religion in a radical immanent way raises some intrusive questions concerning both the concept of transcendence and religion. A reinterpretation of transcendence might, however, make it possible to understand embodied religion not only in radical immanent terms.