God Owes Us Nothing

A Brief Remark on Pascal's Religion and on the Spirit of Jansenism

Kolakowski Leszek

"God Owes Us Nothing" reflects on the centuries-long debate in Christianity: how do we reconcile the existence of evil in the world with the goodness of an omnipotent God, and how does God's omnipotence relate to people's responsibility for their own salvation or damnation. Leszek Kolakowski approaches this paradox as both an exercise in theology and in revisionist Christian history based on philosophical analysis. Kolakowski's unorthodox interpretation of the history of modern Christianity provokes renewed discussion about the historical, intellectual, and cultural omnipotence of neo-Augustinianism.

About the Author

Leszek Kolakowski (1927-2009) was the author of many books, among them "God Owes Us Nothing", "The Presence of Myth", "Tales from the Kingdom of Lailonia and The Key to Heaven", and "Modernity on Endless Trial", all published by the University of Chicago Press.

Reviews

"Several books a year wrestle with that hoary conundrum, but few so dazzlingly as the Polish philosopher's latest" – Carlin Romano, Washington Post Book World

"Kolakowski's fascinating book and its debatable thesis raise intriguing historical and theological questions well worth pursuing" – Stephen J. Duffy, Theological Studies

"Kolakowski's elegant meditation is a masterpiece of cultural and religious criticism" – Henry Carrigan, Cleveland Plain Dealer

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