Cloud of the Impossible: Negative Theology and Planetary Entanglement (Insurrections: Critical Studies in Religion, Politics, and Culture)

The experience of the impossible churns up in our epoch whenever a collective dream turns to trauma: politically, sexually, economically, and with a certain ultimacy, ecologically. Out of an ancient theological lineage, the figure of the cloud comes to convey possibility in the face of the impossible. An old mystical nonknowing of God now hosts a current knowledge of uncertainty, of indeterminate and interdependent outcomes, possibly catastrophic. Yet the connectivity and collectivity of social movements, of the fragile, unlikely webs of an alternative notion of existence, keep materializing—a haunting hope, densely entangled, suggesting a more convivial, relational world. Catherine Keller brings process, feminist, and ecopolitical theologies into transdisciplinary conversation with continental philosophy, the quantum entanglements of a “participatory universe,” and the writings of Nicholas of Cusa, Walt Whitman, A. N. Whitehead, Gilles Deleuze, and Judith Butler, to develop a “theopoetics of nonseparable difference.” Global movements, personal embroilments, religious diversity, the inextricable relations of humans and nonhumans—these phenomena, in their unsettling togetherness, are exceeding our capacity to know and manage. By staging a series of encounters between the nonseparable and the nonknowable, Keller shows what can be born from our cloudiest entanglement. REL051000,RELIGION / Philosophy,PHI022000,PHILOSOPHY / Religious The Experience Of The Impossible Churns Up In Our Epoch Whenever A Collective Dream Turns To Trauma: Politically, Sexually, Economically, And With A Certain Ultimacy, Ecologically. Out Of An Ancient Theological Lineage, The Figure Of The Cloud Comes To Convey Possibility In The Face Of The Impossible. An Old Mystical Nonknowing Of God Now Hosts A Current Knowledge Of Uncertainty, Of Indeterminate And Interdependent Outcomes, Possibly Catastrophic. Yet The Connectivity And Collectivity Of Social Movements, Of The Fragile, Unlikely Webs Of An Alternative Notion Of Existence, Keep Materializing--a Haunting Hope, Densely Entangled, Suggesting A More Convivial, Relational World. Catherine Keller Brings Process, Feminist, And Ecopolitical Theologies Into Transdisciplinary Conversation With Continental Philosophy, The Quantum Entanglements Of A Participatory Universe, And The Writings Of Nicholas Of Cusa, Walt Whitman, A. N. Whitehead, Gilles Deleuze, And Judith Butlerto Develop A Theopoetics Of Nonseparable Difference. Global Movements, Personal Embroilments, Religious Diversity, The Inextricable Relations Of Humans And Nonhumans--these Phenomena, In Their Unsettling Togetherness, Are Exceeding Our Capacity To Know And Manage. By Staging A Series Of Encounters Between The Nonseparable And The Nonknowable, Keller Shows What Can Be Born From Our Cloudiest Entanglement. (publisher). Complications -- Explications -- Implications. Catherine Keller. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. What generates the cloud of the impossible is what becomes possible in the very face of what appears to be impossible, whether it be radical democracy or the reversal of climate change. The experience of the impossible peaked at the end of the last centurypolitically, sexually, economically, and ecologically. The dream of progress became the trauma of reality, and confidence in better outcomes waned. Yet the connectivity and collectivity of social movements, of the fragile, unlikely webs of an alternative notion of existence, keep materializinga haunting hope, dense in relationships, suggesting a more convivial, relational world. Catherine Keller brings process, feminist, and ecological theologies into conversation with continental philosophy, the quantum entanglements of a participatory universe, and the writings of Walt Whitman, Alfred North Whitehead, and Judith Butler to develop a theopoetics for all relations. Global movements, personal embroilments, and the inextricable relationship of humans and nonhumansthese phenomena, in their unsettling togetherness, are exceeding our capacities to know, grasp, and manage. By staging a series of encounters between the relational and the apophatic, the inseparable and the nonknowable, Keller shows what can be born from negative entanglement. -from (http://cup.columbia.edu/book/978-0-231-17114-4/cloud-of-the-impossible) Columbia University Press What generates the cloud of the impossible is what becomes possible in the very face of what appears to be impossible, whether it be radical democracy or the reversal of climate change. The experience of the impossible peaked at the end of the last century#x97;politically, sexually, economically, and ecologically. The dream of progress became the trauma of reality, and confidence in better outcomes waned. Yet the connectivity and collectivity of social movements, of the fragile, unlikely webs of an alternative notion of existence, keep materializing#x97;a haunting hope, dense in relationships, suggest A progressive reading of the history of the unknown that projects a hopeful future.