Finding a Place for the Idea of God: 
Volume I: A Set of Essays
Exploring the Possibility of a Theological Dimension
In Our Phenomenological Investigations of the Life-World 

(2001-2003)

Noël Tointon

This set of essays
 is dedicated to my friends…

Francesco, Luciana, Bill, Robert, Lindsay, Marc, Vera, Phil, Mary,
And Brian…

Who, on numerous occasions, 
have patiently listened 
to a number of those papers 
contained in this volume 
or have allowed me 
to try out various ideas. 
Without their criticism 
this work would not have the reached 
the current form 
it has finally arrived in
for which I am most grateful 
although all faults
I alone must take responsibility for.

Finding a Place for the Idea of God: 
Volume I: A Set of Essays
Exploring the Possibility of a Theological Dimension
In Our Phenomenological Investigations of the Life-World (2001-2003)

Index

Preface (December, 2003)

Part I - Is there a Phenomenological Way of Doing Theology? 
(Paper read at Continental Philosophy Group, Jan, 2001) 

Part II - Is there a Hermeneutical Way of Doing Theology? 
(Paper read at Continental Philosophy Group, May, 2001) 

Part III - Is there an Existential Way of Doing Theology? 
(Paper presented at Continental Philosophy Group, September, 2001) 

Part IV - Process Philosophy - From Physics to Theology?? (Dec, 2001) 
(Paper presented at Continental Philosophy Group, July, 2002) 

Part V - Does Theological Difference Make Any Difference?? (May,2002) 

Part VI - What Relevance Does Positive Theological Difference Possess?? 
       (June, 2002) 
Part VII - On Love of the Divine - Subjective and/or Objective Genitive(s)?? 
          (Aug, 2002) 
Abridged Version of Papers IV-VII and an Introduction to Paper VIII (Aug, 2002)

Brief Working Paper: Overview of Papers IV-VII and Introduction to Paper VIII
Plus Appendix titled: A Simplified Skeletal Version of Our Argument for 
         Theological Existence (June, 2003) 
(Paper presented at Continental Philosophy Group, September, 2003)

Part VIII - On Continuing and Extending the 'Divine Conversation' ?? (Sep., 2003) 

Part IX - A Possible Ontology of the Divine - How Does the Divine Manifest 
       	 Themselves?? (Oct., 2003)  
Part X - Overview or Oversight - On the 'Death' of God?? (Dec. 2003)

Postscript: On the 'Death' of the Metaphysical Idea of God, and, The Necessary 
         Theologicalization of the Life-World?? (December, 2003)
Appendix: Working Paper on Theological Difference (2001-3)
Preface

	Let me briefly look at, and try to work out, what might have motivated me to write this set of essays (at the same time as I was writing my series on Beyond Therapy: Miscellaneous Topics in Psychology and Psychiatry). Essentially, it is my interpreted belief that this volume is written in the 'space' between "quietly having a religious crisis of faith" and "attempting to not so quietly overcome the same". As a philosopher I have tried consistently to systematize and harmonize my thinking on the understanding that such an endeavour should be able to better help one in their passage through this world-of-life even though it will remain a pursuit with no absolute conclusion. Perhaps a more sensible person might consider this life-world to be a world of mystery and wonder and only confront its complexities when they have to. Or, merely evade such responsibility by slipping into those religious customs and other subterfuges of ‘thinking’ convenient to hand that might obviate the pain or stress that is involved in such an almighty task….

	I have always been theologically inclined. I believe a large fraction of people are naturally inclined towards such a disposition whereas I also recognize that a large number of people also have no intuitive sympathies in this direction at all. Around the age of thirteen I became, non-exclusively, a Buddhist after reading a number of Buddhist texts which I have been doing ever since; recently, reading some of them in their original Sanskrit. Exposure to a wide range of Eastern thought, both Buddhist and non-Buddhist, also developed my equal predilection for the philosophical. In the pursuit of the latter I then took to a parallel reading of Western philosophical thought - a process assisted by a number of years doing philosophy at university, spreading my specialization of interests equally between this discipline of philosophy and that of a ‘phenomenology of religion’ as such a broad spectrum ‘religious studies’ was referred to in my first university.

	Later, in my university studies, I was to take up a still continuing interest in phenomenology as a method for further researching those same subjects and topics that continually seemed to consume my interest. This lead to a passion for hermeneutics as well on the grounds that phenomenology needs a 'text' and a 'text' need a 'process of interpretation'! 

	After years of reflection on various themes I found I was able to form, for me, a deeper cross-referencing synthesis between my Western-Philosophical interests and my Buddhist-Eastern ways of seeing things. On the other hand, a synthesis between my theological predilections and my now paralleled Western and Eastern philosophical reflections seemed to be at an impasse. With much doubt I began to question the viability of my own theological reflections, and, the fundamental viability of this entire topic itself was called into question. Then, one day, while examining the Buddhist ‘theological’ tradition of the Tathagatagarbha, I realized that the notion of ‘divinity’ is just as viable (or non-viable) as our treatment (or mistreatment) of the notion of ‘personal identity’ if one were to regard them equally as empty (sunya/sunyata), i.e., as absent of substantial metaphysical entities, etc. Since then I have approached my theological reflections along those same line. Still, I felt I needed to call into question all that theology seemed to stand for along with my questioning as to what 'evidence' we have for the continuation of personal identity after death. Surely a denial of such 'survival', I felt, would be the first and final nail in the coffin of such a discipline? So, I set out to critically explore the viability of this idea of the Divine and this set of essays is the textual deposition of such an investigative process….

	In this task I have adopted phenomenological principles in the light of my work on the phenomenon of the hermeneutic circle. On many occasions this topic of the theological has been an umbrella under whose shade I have found the excuse to research a number of my favorite themes, often simultaneously and in parallel with my work in my Beyond Therapy such as, the nature of metaphor, texts, psychosis, deception, the constitution of personal identity, authenticity, etc. In this wandering backwards and forwards I have found a great pleasure, and, in the light of the same, I am hoping my reader will find something of value and delight in these complex ramblings and will not be too bogged down in the level of detail indulged in re-formulating those questions that have continually re-focused and deepened the nature of this research. Important points will no doubt be repeated and re-explained from a number of angles, continually refined, etc. Should my reader meet any currently ‘impenetrable’ obstacles on the way my advice is, simply, to just “move on”…

	I have been very fortunate in a being able to read and discuss in great detail a number of passages in these essays in various presentations to our regular meetings of the Continental Philosophical Group. My friends there have been very patient and supportive and I owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude for helping me to test and strengthen my various ideas as presented in these papers and elsewhere.

	Hoping my reader will find something of interest and value in the complex meanderings of these ten essays….

							      Noël Tointon, Sydney, 27.12.03.