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James K. A. Smith
Smith on Rebel Wisdom in 2019
Born	James Kenneth Alexander Smith (1970-10-09) October 9, 1970 (age 55) Embro, Ontario, Canada
Academic background
Alma mater	Emmaus Bible College Institute for Christian Studies Villanova University
Thesis	How to Avoid Not Speaking [1]  (1999)
Doctoral advisor	John D. Caputo
Other advisor	James Olthuis
Influences	Augustine of Hippo John Calvin Abraham Kuyper John Milbank [2] Oliver O'Donovan [3] Catherine Pickstock [2] Alvin Plantinga [4] [5] Calvin Seerveld Charles Taylor [5]

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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] [ independent 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 ][ independent 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 ]}

Given his training in continental philosophy and in the theology of the Reformed and Pentecostal traditions, his intellectual interests are a natural fit.^{[ editorializing ][ why? ]} Smith's research topics range from the continental philosophy of religion to urban altruism to the relationship between science and theology.^{[ citation needed ]}

Bibliography

• Smith, James KA (2000) The Fall of Interpretation: Philosophical Foundations for a Creational Hermeneutic. ISBN   978-0-83081574-6
• –––(2002) Speech and Theology: Language and the Logic of Incarnation. ISBN   978-0-41527695-5
• (2004) 101 Key Terms in Philosophy and Their Importance for Theology, with Kelly James Clark & Richard Lints. ISBN   978-0-66422524-7
• (2004) Introducing Radical Orthodoxy: Mapping a Post-secular Theology, foreword by John Milbank. ISBN   978-0-80102735-2
• Jean-Luc Marion (2004) The Crossing of the Visible, translator.
• (2004) The Hermeneutics of Charity: Interpretation, Selfhood, and Postmodern Faith (festschrift for James Olthuis), editor with Henry Isaac Venema. ISBN   978-1-58743113-5
• (2005) Jacques Derrida: Live Theory. ISBN   978-0-82646280-0
• (2005) Radical Orthodoxy and the Reformed Tradition: Creation, Covenant, and Participation, editor with James Olthuis. ISBN   978-0-80102756-7
• (2006) Hermeneutics at the Crossroads, editor with Bruce Ellis Benson & Kevin J. Vanhoozer. ISBN   978-0-25334746-6
• (2006) Who's Afraid of Postmodernism? Taking Derrida, Lyotard, and Foucault to Church, The Church and Postmodern Culture series. ISBN   978-0-80102918-9
• (2008) After Modernity? Secularity, Globalization, and the Reenchantment of the World, editor. ISBN   9781602580688
• (2009) The Devil Reads Derrida: and Other Essays on the University, the Church, Politics, and the Arts. ISBN   9780802864079
• (2009) Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation, Cultural Liturgies series vol. 1. ISBN   9780801035777
• (2010) Thinking in Tongues: Pentecostal Contributions to Christian Philosophy. ISBN   9780802861849
• (2010) Science and the Spirit: A Pentecostal Engagement with the Sciences, editor with Amos Yong. ISBN   9780253355164
• (2010) Letters to a Young Calvinist: An Invitation to the Reformed Tradition. ISBN   9781587432941
• (2011) Teaching and Christian Practices: Reshaping Faith and Learning, editor with David I. Smith. ISBN   9780802866851
• (2012) The Fall of Interpretation: Philosophical Foundations for a Creational Hermeneutic, second edition. ISBN   9780801039720
• (2013) Imagining the Kingdom: How Worship Works, Cultural Liturgies series vol. 2. ISBN   9780801035784
• (2013) Discipleship in the Present Tense: Reflections on Faith and Culture. ISBN   1937555089
• (2014) Who's Afraid of Relativism? Community, Contingency, and Creaturehood, The Church and Postmodern Culture series. ISBN   978-0-80103973-7
• (2014) How (Not) to Be Secular: Reading Charles Taylor. ISBN   0-80286761-8
• (2016) You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit. ISBN   978-1-58743380-1
• (2017) Awaiting the King: Reforming Public Theology, Cultural Liturgies series vol. 3. ISBN   0-80103579-1
• (2019) On the Road with Saint Augustine: A Real-World Spirituality for Restless Hearts. ISBN   978-1-58743389-4
• (2022) How to Inhabit Time: Understanding the Past, Facing the Future, Living Faithfully Now. ISBN 1-58743523-3

See also

• Cardus
• List of thinkers influenced by deconstruction
• Philosophy in Canada
• List of University of Waterloo people

References

External links

• 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.