The book describes the fundamental tenets of Catholic Radicalism, defined as an understanding of Christianity from a perspective which dismisses the traditional supernatural image of God. The essentials of Catholic Radicalism are extracted from the works of Vito Mancuso, a lay Italian theologian, whose intention is to rebuild Christian theology starting from the natural and physical reality of this world. Mancuso insists that he is a Catholic theologian despite his conviction that God should be seen today in atheistic terms, which help us understand the world from a rational perspective. The use of reason in theology is compulsory for Mancuso in order for theology to make sense in the skeptical society of our times, which is characterized by a powerful lay consciousness.

The essentials of Catholic Radicalism are extracted from the works of Vito Mancuso, a lay Italian theologian, whose intention is to rebuild Christian theology starting from the natural and physical reality of this world. Mancuso insists that he is a Catholic theologian despite his conviction that God should be seen today in atheistic terms, which help us understand the world from a rational perspective. The use of reason in theology is compulsory for Mancuso in order for theology to make sense in the skeptical society of our times, which is characterized by a powerful lay consciousness.

Offers a vision of Christianity related not to ideology, but to lived reality. It speaks to the heart about matters of everyday life: marriages, families, love, money, greed, prayer, and conscience. Expresses well what so many Catholics are feeling today.

As someone who clocked more time in mosh pits and at pro–choice rallies than kneeling in a pew, Kaya Oakes was not necessarily the kind of Catholic girl the Vatican was after. But even while she immersed herself in the punk rock scene and proudly called herself an atheist, something kept pulling her back to the religion of her Irish roots. After running away from the Church for thirty years, Kaya decides to return. Her marriage is under stress, her job is no longer satisfying, and with multiple deaths in her family, a darkness looms large. In spite of her frustration with Catholic conservatism, nothing brings her peace like Mass. After years of searching to no avail for a better religious fit, she realizes that the only way to find harmony—in her faith and her personal life—is to confront the Church she'd left behind. Rebellious and hypercritical, Kaya relearns the catechisms and achieves the sacraments, all while trying to reconcile her liberal beliefs with contemporary Church philosophy. Along the way she meets a group of feisty feminist nuns, a "pray–and–bitch" circle, an all–too handsome Italian priest, and a motley crew of misfits doing their best to find their voices in an outdated institution. This is a story of transformation, not only of Kaya's from ex–Catholic to amateur theologian, but ultimately of the cultural and ethical pushes for change that are rocking the world's largest religion to its core.

Radical Orthodoxy? A Catholic Enquiry is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand 'Radical Orthodoxy', or be in critical dialogue with it. John Milbank, Catherine Pickstock and Graham Ward, the three principal exponents of Radical Orthodoxy, each enter into dialogue with theologians from the Catholic tradition - a tradition with whose sources and current researches Radical Orthodoxy claims to have much in common. The Introduction explores the issues and tensions involved in Radical Orthodoxy's dialogue with Catholic theology, and David Burrell offers an important evaluation of Radical Orthodoxy in the context of North America. In the first dialogue John Milbank presents one of the clearest expositions of the Radical Orthodoxy programme to date; Fergus Kerr's reply discusses this programme in the wider context of post-war Catholic debate. Catherine Pickstock explores the work of Aquinas to show how Radical Orthodoxy is appropriating the work of past theological giants, and in reply Laurence Hemming asks what questions remain in that process. Graham Ward, Oliver Davies and Lucy Gardner debate the challenges facing contemporary theology, both from the past and the postmodern present. James Hanvey's provocative conclusion opens the way to future debate. Challenging, yet accessibly written, this book represents an important milestone in the critical reception of Radical Orthodoxy. Shedding new light on contemporary issues and current theological enquiry, this book offers important insights to students of theology and those training for ministry, clergy and informed lay people, and everyone who wants to make sense of one of the most demanding yet important debates currently taking place.