This book is an attempt to adapt some of Peirce’s ideas, particularly his theory of semiotic, for the purpose of re-thinking certain issues in contemporary philosophical theology and the philosophy of religion. It begins with an historical sketch that links Peirce’s thought to that of earlier figures, certain contemporaries, and later thinkers and developments. Drawing on Peirce’s thought, the book then develops a semiotic conception of persons/selves and of community. It analyzes in some detail the role that acts of attention play in shaping human inferences and perception, while also explori ... More

This book is an attempt to adapt some of Peirce’s ideas, particularly his theory of semiotic, for the purpose of re-thinking certain issues in contemporary philosophical theology and the philosophy of religion. It begins with an historical sketch that links Peirce’s thought to that of earlier figures, certain contemporaries, and later thinkers and developments. Drawing on Peirce’s thought, the book then develops a semiotic conception of persons/selves and of community. It analyzes in some detail the role that acts of attention play in shaping human inferences and perception, while also exploring the relationship between attention, volition, and love. Its central Peircean presuppositions are that all human experience takes the form of semiosis and that the universe is “pefused” with signs. Theology is portrayed here in its manifestations as inquiry, therapy, and praxis. The book dramatically closes the gap between what would typically be recognized as the nature and purpose of a philosophical theology and a theology of the spiritual life. It draws on both Peirce’s logic of vagueness and his logic of relations to make sense out of how we talk about the nature and reality of God, and also about the relationship between different religious communities. Theosemiotic is portrayed here as a form of religious naturalism, broadly conceived. The book also argues that there is a natural affinity between a theosemiotic inspired by Peirce’s pragmatism and liberation theology.