Desire for Purity and Inevitable Contamination: Derrida and Prayer

The aim of this paper is to understand the reasons underlying Derrida’s interest in phenomenon prayer. article traces different directions taken by topic over forty-year long reflection philosopher. I start off highlighting dichotomic structure around which Derrida lays out his entire analysis prayer, describing it, general terms, as an opposition between determination and indetermination: on one side, multiple concrete manifestations prayer; other, possibility a pure address other not marked metaphysics. proceed examining qualities what calls “pure prayer”, or “prayer itself”, direct contrast with praising issue concerning autonomy specificity indeterminate act addressing especially into consideration. fundamental question remains whether prayer truly conceivable, its contamination inevitable necessary for actual religion, theology, itself.