Divine Discourse: Philosophical Reflections on the Claim that God Speaks [Paperback]

Nicholas Wolterstorff (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 27, 1995 | ISBN-10: 0521475570 | ISBN-13: 978-0521475570

The canonical texts and traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam claim that God speaks, but philosophers usually mistakenly treat such speech as revelation. Wolterstorff argues that contemporary speech-action theory offers a fascinating approach to the claim. He develops an innovative theory of interpretation along the way opposing the current near-consensus of Ricoeur and Derrida that there is something wrong-headed about interpreting a text to find out what its author said.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...Wolterstorff makes an important contribution to biblical hermeneutics. His work should cause all concerned readers to ponder the implications of this challenging theory." Christianity and Literature

"...the most extensive and penetrating philosophical discussion of the idea of divine speaking ever undertaken." The Princeton Seminary Bulletin

"...this rich book gives substance to the ancient Jewish conviction that God has not left us to ourselves but "speaks to us on our way," and that. accordingly, our special calling is to listen to that speech in order to hear the threats and promises, the commands and blessings, the exhortations and assertions, that God is addressing to human beings." First Things

"Wolterstorff provides the first philosophically informed look at the nature of divine communication, removing it from general theories of revelation and placing it right into the midst of common language debates of speech-act theory of J.L. Austin. This innovative position is then applied against the record of theological discourse and biblical hermeneutics....Recommended." The Reader's Review

"A careful reading of this book will provide acquaintance with the style and method characteristic of the best in contemporary anglophone philosophy of religion....[A] splendid book, a model of clear and careful argument on a very important topic in philosophical theology." Paul J. Griffiths, Anglican Theological Review

"This book, based on the Wilde Lectures at Oxford in 1993, is probably the most extensive and penetrating philosophical discussion of the idea of divine speaking ever undertaken." The Princeton Seminary Bulletin

"The subtitle of this book captures its aims very well....I recommend it...to philosophers of religion, theologians, and Biblical scholars." International Philosophical Quarterly

"...the sheer breadth of material covered, the incisiveness of Wolterstorff's analyses, and the lucidity of his prose makes this book deserving of a wider audience tha, perhaps, Wolterstorff himself may have intended." Andrew V. Jeffery

"...Wolterstorff has done in Divine Discourse what all good Christian philosophers do: He has allowed believers both inside and outside the academy to think more precisely about a topic of unspeakable existential importance-namely, what we possibly can mean when we say, with the Maggid of Mezritch, 'this is the word of the Lord.' Andrew Chignell, Books & Culture

Book Description

The canonical texts and traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam claim that God speaks, but philosophers usually mistakenly treat such speech as revelation. This study develops an innovative means of interpreting the claim based on contemporary speech-action theory.

Product Details

• Paperback: 340 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (October 27, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521475570
• ISBN-13: 978-0521475570
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #936,201 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A thoughtful mix of philosophy and devotion, January 15, 2001

By 

Glen Pettigrove (Riverside, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Divine Discourse: Philosophical Reflections on the Claim that God Speaks (Paperback)

Divine Discourse is a philosophical and theological treat. It offers a philosophical exploration of the devotional reading of scripture. In so doing, it unveils the conceptual, epistemic and interpretive obstacles that one faces if one believes that God spoke and perhaps continues to speak through sacred texts. Like most of Professor Wolterstorff's books, it is a first word rather than a final word on a thought provoking topic. It begins a conversation and encourages further discussion. In Divine Discourse, Wolterstorff takes up three important philosophical topics, viz., divine revelation, philosophy of language and hermeneutics. The opening argument of the book is that the Bible should be understood under the rubric of divine speech, rather than divine revelation. This argument is followed by an analysis of divine speech in light of the speech-act theory of John Austin and John Searle. Such an analysis attaches significant weight to the role of the speaker or author in fixing the meaning of a speech-act or text. Since this is not an uncontroversial position in contemporary philosophical discussions of interpretation, Wolterstorff devotes a couple of chapters to answering criticisms from two of his more important critics, Paul Ricouer and Jacques Derrida. The remainder of the book takes up a variety of interesting hermeneutic and theological issues that arise from the fact that the Bible is both a divine and a human product. I would recommend this book on the strength of the opening discussion of Augustine's conversion experience alone. For anyone interested in the philosophical and theological issues surrounding the nature and interpretation of the Bible, this book is worth a careful read. For anyone interested in the impact of philosophy of language on hermeneutics, Divine Discourse provides important food for thought. And for anyone who is weary of the traditional disciplinary lines separating theology from philosophy, hermeneutics from the philosophy of language, or Anglo-American from contemporary European philosophy, this book will provide a welcome and refreshing change.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A seminal work of philosophical theology, May 9, 2007

By 

Nathanael Smith (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Divine Discourse: Philosophical Reflections on the Claim that God Speaks (Paperback)

Wolterstorff delivers a carefully argued defense of the claim that God speaks today. This book would be an interesting read for those who might doubt whether God does indeed actively interact with humans today. However, the seeker might be frustrated by the fact that the argument is based upon the assumption that God does indeed exist. Overall, the precise argumentation and the unusual subject make this book a real gem.