James K. A. Smith

James K. A. Smith
Smith on Rebel Wisdom in 2019
Born
James Kenneth Alexander Smith

(1970-10-09) October 9, 1970
Embro, Ontario, Canada
Academic background
Alma mater
ThesisHow to Avoid Not Speaking[1] (1999)
John D. Caputo
Other advisor
James Olthuis
Influences
Academic work
DisciplinePhilosophy
School or tradition
Institutions
Main interests
Websitejameskasmith.com Edit this at Wikidata

James Kenneth Alexander Smith (born October 9, 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 a former editor-in-chief of the literary journal Image.[6]

Early life and education

Smith was born on October 9, 1970,[7] in Embro, Ontario.[8] He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Waterloo and Emmaus Bible College. He earned a Master of Philosophy degree in philosophical theology in 1995 at the Institute for Christian Studies[8] where he studied under James Olthuis.[9] He went on to receive a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1999 from Villanova University[8] where he was advised by John D. Caputo.[9][10] After teaching for a short time at Loyola Marymount University, Smith accepted his current position at Calvin University.

He currently resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is a senior fellow at the Trinity Forum.

Work

Smith's published work addresses topics including philosophy, theology, ethics, aesthetics, science, and politics.His work has been described as drawing on continental philosophy and the Augustinian tradition of theological cultural critique, including the writings of Augustine of Hippo,John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards and Abraham Kuyper. As of this date, 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".[11]

Smith has argued that theology—or, more specifically, the narrative of the church—is capable of responding to modernism. His popular writings discuss postmodernism and radical orthodoxy for an evangelical readership. 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] Smith argues that some philosophical and ecclesial approaches described as postmodern continue to reflect assumptions associated with the Enlightenment. Smith has argued that moving away from historic ecclesial tradition is a mistake and has advocated long-term commitment to Christian communities and engagement with historic Christian orthodoxy as post- or counter-modern practices.

His research interests reflect his background in continental philosophy and the theology of the Reformed and Pentecostal traditions. Smith's research topics range from the continental philosophy of religion to urban altruism to the relationship between science and theology.

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

References

  1. ↑ Smith, James K. A. (1999). How to Avoid Not Speaking: On the Phenomenological Possibility of Theology (PhD thesis). Villanova, Pennsylvania: Villanova University. OCLC 42523029.
  2. 1 2 Smith, 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.
  3. ↑ Leeman, Jonathan (January 5, 2018). "Doing Political Theology, Waiting for King Jesus". The Gospel Coalition. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  4. 1 2 Gilger, Patrick (October 18, 2018). "James K. A. Smith's Theological Journey". America. New York. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  5. 1 2 Marty, Martin E. (November 12, 2018). "James K.A. Smith's 'Cultural Liturgies'". Sightings. Chicago: University of Chicago. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  6. ↑ "My Former Life As an Editor - Substack".
  7. ↑ "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)".
  8. 1 2 3 "James K.A. Smith". Contemporary Authors Online. Detroit: Gale. 2007. Retrieved June 10, 2013.
  9. 1 2 Smith, James K. A. (2005). Jacques Derrida: Live Theory. London: Continuum. p. xiii. ISBN 978-0-8264-6280-0.
  10. ↑ Hankey, Wayne J.; Hedley, Douglas, eds. (2005). "Introduction". Deconstructing Radical Orthodoxy: Postmodern Theology, Rhetoric and Truth (PDF). Aldershot, England: Ashgate. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 11, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  11. ↑ Smith, James, K.A. "Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation". January Series at Calvin College. Calvin College. Archived from the original on January 21, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ↑ Smith, James. K. A. (2006). Who's Afraid of Postmodernism: Taking Derrida, Lyotard, and Foucault to Church (2nd ed.). Baker Academic. ISBN 978-0801029189.
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