Is it fair to say that this passage is indicative of the numerous references to religious and theological issues in Lacan’s oeuvre? On the one hand, he severely criticises religion and defends the greatness of modern atheism. On the other, his references to theological issues and schemes are so crucial in the construction of his theory that one is inclined to consider it an instance of ‘a-theology’, and, as such, still theology.
What does Lacan state about religion? And what do these reflections on religion say about his theory and contemporary critical theory in general? Taking the two questions as a guide, the conference explores how Lacanian theory deals with the current revival (or persistence) of religion and with religious fundamentalism. Lacan’s difficulties in replying to the current ‘triumph of religion’ might shed light on the incapacity of contemporary critical thought in general to deal with that issue.