Theology of Desire · Critical Research · The Portal
Theology of Desire
Critical theological research project based on and inspired by Lacan’s Graph of Desire.
Theology of Desire is hosted by Philosophy Portal.
Progress of the Noetic Subject
Lacan’s Graph of Desire is a famously difficult grapheme of subjectivity. Theology of Desire aims to explore how this graph can help us track the progress of the noetic subject or thinking soul through the terrain of religion and religious faith in our time on the level of desire. Desiring subjectivity is the basis for both the Christian passion and the psychoanalytic clinic, and we believe that the intersection of both religious faith and unconscious subjectivity, has inspired rich theoretical development that requires more active and critical attention.
Interdisciplinary Theology
Theology of Desire is led by Cleo Kearns, a philosopher and literary critic whose work arises from and engages Christian, Vedantic, and Shamanic practices. Her theoretical work operates at the interface of continental philosophy and monotheistic religion under the rubric of The Spirit of Philosophy and the God of Abraham. Kearns will be joined by LaVonne Chantal, a philosopher and theorist informed by negative psychoanalysis and the theory of intersubjective destitution, as well as Daniel Coughlan, who practices in breath work in both the Saivite and Christian lineages. Together they will form and inform the core theory-praxis of the critical theological research project.
Theoretical Figures and Subjective Inspirations
Theology of Desire is inspired by both a tradition of continental philosophy and psychoanalysis, as well as living thinkers and practitioners who are extending and embodying this tradition in the present.
A non-exhaustive list of these thinkers and practitioners include:
G.W.F Hegel
Sigmund Freud
Jacques Lacan
Simone Weil
Jean-Luc Nancy
Slavoj Zizek
Terence Blake
Richard Boothby
Gillian Rose
Luce Irigaray
Catherine Pickstock
O.G. Rose
Michael Downs
Bryce Nance
Edie Hitchcock
Cadell Last
A Year Long Exploration in 2027
In registering for Theology of Desire you will gain access to a year-long eight session process with two semesters in the Spring and Fall. Members of The Portal get access to this critical research project as part of membership, but you can also access the project by becoming a paid subscriber to Cleo Kearns substack (linked below).
Past Lecturers
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Cleo Kearns
Philosopher and literary critic
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LaVonne Chantal
Theorist informed by negative psychoanalysis
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Daniel Coughlan
Christian breath work practicioner
Two ways to join the lectures
Members of The Portal get access to all Theology of Desire material, but you can also register independently as a stand-alone offer, giving you access to 8 live sessions in 2027, plus indefinite access to the recordings.
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Purchase as a stand-alone project
Price : paid tier on Cleo Kearns substack
Access : Theology of Desire alone
Other circles / courses : -
Couple's deal : -
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Become a Portal member
Price : €50 / month or €500 / year
Access : Theology of Desire + the whole Portal’s content
Other circles / courses : Access to every live event hosted at The Portal (up to 7 per month) and their recordings
The complete Member Courses from 2024, 2025 and 2026 (live)
Philosophy of the Unconscious
What Is Sex?
Deleuze and Analysis
Marxist Politics for Undead Millennials (live)
Zizek Lecture Series (live)
Sex and Society (live)
School of Thinking
New courses and recordings are added continuously.
Couple's deal : 2-for-1 available on request