Theology, Psychoanalysis and Trauma

The subtitle of Pound's book could have been 'Lacan with Kierkegaard'.It stages an extraordinary dialogue between the two thinkers,demonstrating the Kierkegaardian resonances of the key Lacanianconcepts. From now on, we know that the Freudian notion of 'trauma',its sexual references notwithst anding, belongs to the domain of the divine.The book is a true event: after reading it, neither Kierkegaard nor Lacanwill remain the same in our theoretical imaginary. You can ignore thisbook... if you want to remain a happy idiot. - Slavoj ZizekMarcus Pound's first book is the most important sustained reflection onthe relation of Theology and Psychoanalysis to date. His approach isadmirably focussed, since it compares the ideas of the theological founderof complex motivational psychology - Søren Kierkegaard - with those ofthe most sophisticated secular psychoanalytical theorist -Jacques Lacan.In doing so Pound offers, in a short compass, both a psychologicaldeepening of theological orthodoxy and a theological critique ofpsychoanalysis as such. Future engagement with this area must begin withthis lucid, subtle and brilliant treatise. - John MilbankThe vitality of Christian theology today, its creativity, its imaginativeand scholarly engagement, are nowhere more evident than in this book.Pound's presentation of an interface between psychology and doctrine isas bold as it is original. Kierkegaard meets Lacan, trauma is related toliturgy and therapy to sacramentalism - all under the aegis of Aquinas!This is contemporary theology at its best - exploring new terrains andforging distinctive relations between onetime strangers. - Graham Ward