James K. A. Smith

Between Predication And Silence: Augustine On How (Not) To Speak Of God

Throughout his corpus (both theological and pastoral), Augustine grapples with the challenge of how (not) to speak of that which exceeds and resists conceptualization. The one who would speak of God is confronted, it seems, by a double-bind: either one reduces Gods transcendence to the immanence of language and concepts, or one remains silent. Even to call God ‘inexpressible’, he remarks in De doctrina christiana, is to predicate something of God and thus make some claim to comprehension. ‘This battle of words’, he continues, ‘should be avoided by keeping silent’ (DC 1.6.6). Augustine thus seems to privilege and apophatic strategy. But this is not his last word on the matter. Indeed upon the heels of this passage he carefully notes: ‘And yet, while nothing really worthy of God can be said about him, he has accepted the homage of human voices, and has wished us to rejoice in praising [laude] him with our words.’ My goal in this essay is to consider Augustines laudatory strategy of ‘praise’ as a non-objectifying discourse concerning transcendence which navigates the straits between kataphatic theological positivism and apophatic silence. This will be taken up against the horizon of contemporary discussions of transcendence and phenomenology, particularly in the work of Jacques Derrida and Jean-Luc Marion.

The Spirit, Religions, and the World as Sacrament: A Response to Amos Yong’s Pneumatological Assist

This article responds to Amos Yong’s critique of the author’s Introducing Radical Orthodoxy by focusing on two themes: (1) his analysis of the tension between my creational, participatory or sacramental ontology and my more antithetical assertions regarding the Church as a unique polis ; and (2) the question of apologetics, dialogue, and interreligious engagements. In response, I develop an intensity account of participation that applies to both ontology and theology of culture.

A Response to Critics

The author responds to critics of Awaiting the King, addressing especially questions about Augustinian liberalism and the church’s complicity in, and responsibility for, disordered liturgies, raising fundamental questions about the relationship between church and world.

Book Review: Postmodern Christianity: Doing Theology in the Contemporary WorldPostmodern Christianity: Doing Theology in the Contemporary World, byRiggsJohn W.Trinity Press International, Harrisburg, 2003. 192 pp.

VANDER BROEK HAS WRITTEN a helpful study that relates problematic issues of contemporary social existence (especially in North America) to Pauls first letter to the Christians at Corinth. Parallel problems in both the current twenty-first century world and the ancient first-century Corinthian context are the bases for the study. The seven chapters deal with Christian leaders, ethics, women and men, Christian freedom, class differences, spiritual gifts, and the resurrection. The key concern in the study is Christian community and how that may be restored today. The pattern of the chapters runs from (1) recognition of problem to (2) analysis of Pauls writings to (3) reflections on the current situation in relation to Pauls teachings. The work moves from the current context of life to the ancient situation in Corinth to garner insights on how Pauls dealings with obstacles to community life in Corinth may still be relevant for Christians. The study is informed by the findings of pertinent sociological studies on the breakdown in community in twenty-first century life. In turn, Vander Broek notes that the Corinthians experienced remarkably similar problems to those plaguing Christian community life today. Through study and application of the texts of Pauls letter, Vander Broek offers observations, recommendations, and solutions for present church life. The work is not a commentary per se, but it provides commentary on Pauls letter in an informed, readable fashion. Moreover, while attending to sociological issues and angles of interpretation, Vander Broek also shows an awareness of and concern for treating theological matters. By making the connection between the original situations that Paul faced and the contemporary scene with its crisis in community, Vander Broek shows repeatedly how careful attention to biblical materials pays rich dividends for church life in our time. The work is clearly written, even artistic at times in its organization and manner of expression. It will serve pastors and interested groups of adults well and may find a place in seminary classrooms in exegetical courses where there is a concern to relate Pauls first-century epistle to twenty-first-century church life and ministry.

19.00. ISBN 1-56338-364-0.

In pursuing the question of incarnation, it must be noted from the beginning that what is at stake is Platonism. More specifically, my concern will be the relationship of Christian theology to Platonism. In this paper, I contest contemporary readings which suggest that Socrates offers an “incarnational” paradigm and construe Derrida as a “Platonist” more traditionally understood. Instead, I will argue that latent in Derrida’s earlier accounts of language, particularly in Speech and Phenomena, one finds an incarnational account of language which is precisely the basis for his critique of Platonic metaphysics.

A Principle of Incarnation in Derrida’s (Theologische?) Jugendschriften: Towards a Confessional Theology

One of the observations of a recent Angus Reid Poll concerned the remarkable growth of fundamentalism, reflecting a global trend toward conservative renewal. For us, the question that presents itself is how a homogeneous movement can flourish in a rapidly pluralizing context? With the help of the Dostoevskys Grand Inquisitor, we suggest that faith in the orienting voice of an authority structure is misplaced. We propose a consciousness that, not without suspicion, embraces the disorienting anomie of the Postmodern critique, a reorienting vision that anticipates new alternatives.