The Prayers and Tears of Jacques Derrida

The Prayers and Tears of Jacques Derrida: Religion without Religion by John D. Caputo is a philosophical exploration of Derrida's complex relationship with religion. Caputo delves into Derrida’s ideas of deconstruction, focusing on how they intersect with themes of faith, prayer, and responsibility. Rather than presenting a traditional religious perspective, Caputo interprets Derrida as calling for a “religion without religion”—a form of spirituality marked by openness, longing, and ethical vulnerability. The book presents Derrida not as a destroyer of faith, but as a thinker who deeply grapples with its impossible demands and haunting promises.