James Kenneth Alexander Smith (born 1970) is a Canadian-American[4]philosopher who is currently Professor of Philosophy at Calvin University, holding the Gary & Henrietta Byker Chair in Applied Reformed Theology & Worldview. He is the current editor-in-chief of the literary journal Image.[6]
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Smith's scholarly work is undertaken at the interface between philosophy, theology, ethics, aesthetics, science, and politics.[citation needed] It draws from continental philosophy and is informed by a long Augustinian tradition of theological cultural critique, from Augustine of Hippo and John Calvin to Jonathan Edwards and Abraham Kuyper.[citation needed] As of this date,[when?] his stated interest is in bringing critical thought to bear on the practices of the church and the church's witness to culture, culminating in the need to interpret and understand what he has called "cultural liturgies".[This quote needs a citation][11][third-party source needed]
As a former[when?] proponent of radical orthodoxy, Smith's claim is that it is actually theology or, more specifically, the story told by the church that is capable of modernism.[citation needed] His popular-level work aims to educate evangelicals regarding postmodernism and radical orthodoxy.[citation needed] Though he is critical of the emergent church movement, he is at the same time sympathetic to much that could be described as part of that movement.[12][page needed][third-party source needed] A primary concern in his work is to expose certain [which?] postmodern philosophical claims (and certain [which?] ecclesial attempts to work with them) as not actually postmodern enough, pointing out instead that they too have accepted the agenda set by the enlightenment.[citation needed] This is seen in his warnings that the emergent tendency away from historic ecclesial tradition is a grave mistake, and that putting down roots, committing to a community for the long haul, and engaging the deep discourses within historic Christian orthodoxy are in fact the truly post- or counter-modern practices for the church today.[citation needed]
(2004) Introducing Radical Orthodoxy: Mapping a Post-secular Theology, foreword by John Milbank. ISBN 9780801027352
(2004) translation of The Crossing of the Visible, by Jean-Luc Marion.
(2004) The Hermeneutics of Charity: Interpretation, Selfhood, and Postmodern Faith (festschrift for James Olthuis), editor with Henry Isaac Venema. ISBN 9781587431135
(2005) Jacques Derrida: Live Theory. ISBN 9780826462800
(2005) Radical Orthodoxy and the Reformed Tradition: Creation, Covenant, and Participation, editor with James Olthuis. ISBN 9780801027567
^Smith, James K. A. (1999). How to Avoid Not Speaking: On the Phenomenological Possibility of Theology (PhD thesis). Villanova, Pennsylvania: Villanova University. OCLC 42523029.
^ abSmith, James K. A. (December 17, 2015). "Christmas, 2015: Dr. James K.A. Smith". The Anglican Planet. Interviewed by Careless, Sue. Archived from the original on February 12, 2018. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
^Leeman, Jonathan (January 5, 2018). "Doing Political Theology, Waiting for King Jesus". The Gospel Coalition. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
^ abGilger, Patrick (October 18, 2018). "James K. A. Smith's Theological Journey". America. New York. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
^ abMarty, Martin E. (November 12, 2018). "James K.A. Smith's 'Cultural Liturgies'". Sightings. Chicago: University of Chicago. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
^"Smith, James K. A., 1970- - LC Linked Data Service: Authorities and Vocabularies | Library of Congress, from LC Linked Data Service: Authorities and Vocabularies (Library of Congress)".
^ abSmith, James K. A. (2005). Jacques Derrida: Live Theory. London: Continuum. p. xiii. ISBN 978-0-8264-6280-0.
^Hankey, Wayne J.; Hedley, Douglas, eds. (2005). "Introduction". Deconstructing Radical Orthodoxy: Postmodern Theology, Rhetoric and Truth(PDF). Aldershot, England: Ashgate. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
^Smith, James, K.A. "Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation". January Series at Calvin College. Calvin College. Retrieved April 17, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)[dead link]
^Smith, James. K. A. (2006). Who's Afraid of Postmodernism: Taking Derrida, Lyotard, and Foucault to Church (2nd ed.). Baker Academic. ISBN 978-0801029189.[page needed]
External linksedit
Official website
Christianity Today: What's So Radical About Orthodoxy? Review of Introducing Radical Orthodoxy: Mapping a Post-secular Theology, by Ashley Woodiwiss
Evangelicals Now: Introducing Radical Orthodoxy Response to a review of Introducing Radical Orthodoxy: Mapping a Post-secular Theology, by Paul Helm
Review/Summary of "Limited Inc/arnation" (PDF) Summary and review of Smith's essay in Hermeneutics at the Crossroads.