The Hermeneutics of Charity: Interpretation, Selfhood, and Postmodern Faith [Hardcover]

James K. A. Smith (Editor), Henry Isaac Venema (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1587431130 | ISBN-13: 978-1587431135 | Publication Date: October 1, 2004

The Hermeneutics of Charity, edited by James K.A. Smith and Henry Isaac Venema, examines the constructive ways Christianity and postmodern thought intersect. Addressing a range of topics--including "the hermeneutics of suspicion," selfhood, and the gift of community--this collection of essays engages the work of classical and contemporary philosophers. A final section of the book presents a tribute to James Olthuis, in whose honor the essays were collected. Contributors include Merold Westphal, the well-known professor of philosophy at Fordham University, and Brian Walsh and J. Richard Middleton, coauthors of Truth Is Stranger Than It Used to Be.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Brazos Press (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587431130
• ISBN-13: 978-1587431135
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,561,680 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

James K.A. Smith teaches philosophy and theology at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI, having previously taught at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He has been a visiting professor at Fuller Seminary, Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando and Regent College in Vancouver, BC. Originally trained in philosophical theology and contemporary French philosophy, Smith's work is focused on cultural criticism informed by the Christian theological tradition. His more popular writing has also appeared in magazines such as the Christian Century, Christianity Today, First Things, Harvard Divinity Bulletin, and others.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Faith and Postmodernism?, October 6, 2004

By 

JP "JP" (Toronto, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hermeneutics of Charity: Interpretation, Selfhood, and Postmodern Faith (Hardcover)

While many Christians assume that "postmodernism" (a rather dubious term) and "faith" are completely at odds, in this volume, a fetschrift in honour of Dr. James H. Olthuis, students and colleagues of Dr. Olthuis engage in a fruitful debate with postmodern thinkers such as Derrida, Irigaray, Kristeva, Levinas, and Lyotard. The contributors conclude that the gap between postmodernism and faith is not as large as many assume. In fact, according to Olthuis et. al., there is a correlative relationship between postmodernism and faith. While the contributors do not endorse a "wholesale" adoption of postmodernism, they suggest that postmodernism does, in fact, offer many important insights about faith and indentity.

This book serves as an excellent example of a serious and sympathetic (critical) dialogue between faith and postmodernism. A definte must-read for anyone interested in a Christian response to postmodernism.