Gilles Deleuze and the Atheist Machine by F. LeRon Shults

Description

Gilles Deleuze and the Atheist Machine by F. LeRon Shults explores the philosophical and theological implications of Gilles Deleuze’s work, particularly in relation to atheism and the critique of religious belief. Shults examines how Deleuze’s thought functions as an “atheist machine”—a conceptual framework that deconstructs traditional theistic structures and reconfigures notions of reality, desire, and transcendence in non-religious terms. The book delves into Deleuze’s engagement with Spinoza, Nietzsche, and Bergson, highlighting how his concepts of immanence, becoming, and assemblages challenge theological presuppositions and open new ways of thinking about existence beyond religious dogma. Shults also connects Deleuze’s philosophy to contemporary debates in atheism, postmodernism, and secularism, arguing that Deleuze provides a powerful critique of metaphysics while offering alternative modes of thinking about ethics, politics, and subjectivity. By positioning Deleuze’s work within broader discussions on materialism, affect theory, and post-theism, Gilles Deleuze and the Atheist Machine presents a thought-provoking analysis for scholars of philosophy, theology, and critical theory, as well as those interested in the intersection of continental philosophy and secular thought.