Heidegger's atheism

Book Description

When Martin Heidegger declared that all philosophy is inherently atheistic, he opened a profound inquiry that continues to challenge both philosophical and theological thinking. Laurence Paul Hemming guides readers through this complex terrain, exploring how one of the twentieth century's most influential philosophers understood the relationship between human thought and the divine.

This comprehensive examination reveals how Heidegger developed his concept of methodological atheism through careful engagement with major thinkers including Aristotle, Aquinas, and Nietzsche. At the heart of this investigation lies a fundamental question that drove much of Heidegger's work: How did God become embedded within philosophical discourse?

Hemming traces the evolution of Heidegger's thinking, from his early masterwork Being and Time through his later philosophical transformation known as the Kehre or "turn." The book illuminates how Heidegger's understanding of das Ereignis, the primordial event of being, connects to both his atheistic methodology and his interpretation of Nietzsche's proclamation of God's death.

Beyond pure philosophical analysis, this work examines Heidegger's significant influence on prominent theologians including Bultmann, Rahner, and Ott, while also addressing his controversial political associations. Hemming concludes by exploring how Heidegger's critique of metaphysics might open new pathways for dialogue between theological and philosophical inquiry.

For readers seeking to understand how fundamental questions about existence, meaning, and transcendence intersect with rigorous philosophical thinking, this study offers essential insights into one of modernity's most challenging intellectual legacies.