Abstract

Gianni Vattimo, the Italian Postmodern philosopher, has an understanding of the ‘Death of God’ that has drawncomparisons with the ‘death of God’ theological movement from the 1960s, particularly the work of Thomas J.J. Altizer on the subject. The influence of Nietzsche on both authors and their use of the Christian term ‘kenosis’ invite such a comparison. However, this article draws all the pointsof comparison between the two authors on this subject together before showing how and in what ways Vattimodiffers from Altizer’s thoughts on the death of God. I will argue that Altizer’s reliance on Hegelian thoughtmarks him out as different to Vattimo, particularly due to the latter’s Heideggerian influence. I will then showwhy it is wrong to think, as some commentators have done, that Vattimo is also a Hegelian