On Postmodern Epistemology: A Rejoinder to Hackett
J. Aaron Simmons Department of Philosophy Furman University aaron.simmons@furman.edu I would like to begin this short rejoinder to Ed Hackett’s critique of my notion of postmodern kataphaticism by thanking him for his time and energy in responding to my short essay. What follows is not at all intended to be conclusive, but simply one more move in a conversation that I... Read More
Postmodern Kataphaticism?
J. Aaron Simmons Department of Philosophy Furman University Email: aaron.simmons@furman.edu Let me begin by simply offering the following thesis: The genuinely important negative theological trajectory in much of postmodern/continental/deconstructive philosophy of religion has led to its own problematic dogmatism. Specifically, in the crucial attempt to overcome onto-theology,... Read More
Sanctified: Fashion, Fame & the Everlasting
Above the new brand materials for Saint Laurent During Summer 2012, a subtle shift was made to France’s most significant fashion label. Just a few years after the designer’s passing, Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) has been renamed Saint Laurent. Born with the last name Mathieu-Saint-Laurent, Yves Saint Laurent was fashion’s golden child, but refining his name to Saint Laurent... Read More
“Inverting” the Apocalypse – Žižek, Gunjević, and Other Ways of Living Through the End Times
Lately I’ve been reading God in Pain: Inversions of Apocalypse (Seven Stories Press, 2012), not so much a dialogue but an series of interlinear monologues between Continental philosophy’s enfant terrible Slavoy Žižek and Croatian radical orthodox theologian Boris Gunjević . The title is slightly misleading, if only because without knowing what... Read More
The Relevance of Philosophy of Religion to Religious Studies: Of Gaps and Gratitude
By: J. Aaron Simmons (Department of Philosophy, Furman University), www.furman.edu/philosophy/simmons In 1996, William J. Wainwright edited a book entitled God, Philosophy, and Academic Culture: A Discussion between Scholars in the AAR and the APA. That book features contributions from some of the most influential philosophers of religion and theologians in recent history: Nicholas... Read More
The Necessity of Another
From the very first time I was introduced to the work of Jean-Luc Marion, I was captivated with his account of the passive self and saturated phenomenon. Being principally concerned with the human propensity for self-righteousness, Marion’s philosophy provided me with a way to think the Christian experience while steering clear of some of the naughtier habits... Read More
Agamben and the revival of a global political theology – from an economy of resentment to an economy of glory
“Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected,” proclaimed Jonathan Edwards. It probably seems quite strange to open what can be described as a brief meditation on political theology and the global crisis with a quote from Edwards, the “new light” of Colonial America’s First Great Awakening, but that is my task here. With the ongoing... Read More
Altar to an Unknown God: In response to Alain de Botton
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. Acts 17:23 Candida Höfer, Musée du Louvre Paris IX 2005 Candida Höfer’s photography of monumental spaces is one of my favorite examples of cultural decadence.... Read More
RESOURCE: Jamie Smith on A/Theism
A/Theism is an interesting move within the conversation about postmodern theology and the church. An effort by some to overcome onto-theological concerns, you can find it in the writings of the emerging church leader Peter Rollins and in the academic work of John D. Caputo — to name only a couple of thinkers familiar to readers of this blog. Our own series editor, James K.... Read More
Divine Reciprocity and Epistemic Openness in Clark Pinnock’s Theology
Written By John Sanders (Professor of Religious Studies at Hendrix College) – sandersj@hendrix.edu *** This paper was given at a session honoring the work of Clark Pinnock at the American Academy of Religion in San Francisco, November 18, 2011. Canadian theologian Clark Pinnock was once a renowned defender of the doctrine of meticulous providence (where... Read More
