Is “Emerging” Postmodern? [1]
- Posted by scott on March 19th, 2007 filed in epistemology, postmodern, emerging, caputo
I recently read John Caputo’s Philosophy and Theology, part of Abingdon’s “Horizons in Theology” series. The book is an extended meditation upon the mutual dependence of philosophy and theology upon one another, especially in the context of postmodern theory. Caputo traces a brief history of Western secular and religious thought from Classical Antiquity through the low and high Middle Ages, into the early modern period and the Enlightenment, settling in a foggy postmodernity that has arrived or will do so shortly.
Yet not all is clear. Many in the emerging camp – academics, practitioners, and sometimes both – are quick to label “emerging/Emergent” a Postmodern phenomenon. But what sort of postmodernity is this – assuming it is “Postmodern” at all? Few have spilt ink to explain what qualifies emerging as such. I’m not convinced.
Many of Caputo’s ideas and approaches resemble those I’ve read/heard/observed in emerging circles. They include:
1) “Both-And” reasoning rather than harsh dichotomies.
2) Friendly engagement of secular scholarship and philosophy rather than hostility and suspicion (14).
3) Gleeful, emotive prose over bland exegesis (71).
4) Narrative interpretation instead of systematic analysis.
5) Ideological mashups.
6) A negative view of “consumerism” (69).
7) Embrace of multiple religious and intellectual traditions across time and space (ancient/modern and east/west).
8) A frustration with hubris and wariness of “nothing but” claims regarding history (49).
9) A “journey” approach to thought and practice built upon a dynamic “tension” rather than focusing upon a particular “destination” (60).
10) Embracing commonality while celebrating diversity.
11) Integration of hypertext and rich media environments into thought/practice.
12) A “porous…relationship” between faith and reason (59).
If you’ve read this little book, I’d love to hear your thoughts. I’ll be sharing some of mine shortly.
One Response to “Is “Emerging” Postmodern? [1]”
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Is “Emerging” Postmodern? [1]
- Posted by scott on March 19th, 2007 filed in epistemology, postmodern, emerging, caputo
I recently read John Caputo’s Philosophy and Theology, part of Abingdon’s “Horizons in Theology” series. The book is an extended meditation upon the mutual dependence of philosophy and theology upon one another, especially in the context of postmodern theory. Caputo traces a brief history of Western secular and religious thought from Classical Antiquity through the low and high Middle Ages, into the early modern period and the Enlightenment, settling in a foggy postmodernity that has arrived or will do so shortly.
Yet not all is clear. Many in the emerging camp – academics, practitioners, and sometimes both – are quick to label “emerging/Emergent” a Postmodern phenomenon. But what sort of postmodernity is this – assuming it is “Postmodern” at all? Few have spilt ink to explain what qualifies emerging as such. I’m not convinced.
Many of Caputo’s ideas and approaches resemble those I’ve read/heard/observed in emerging circles. They include:
1) “Both-And” reasoning rather than harsh dichotomies.
2) Friendly engagement of secular scholarship and philosophy rather than hostility and suspicion (14).
3) Gleeful, emotive prose over bland exegesis (71).
4) Narrative interpretation instead of systematic analysis.
5) Ideological mashups.
6) A negative view of “consumerism” (69).
7) Embrace of multiple religious and intellectual traditions across time and space (ancient/modern and east/west).
8) A frustration with hubris and wariness of “nothing but” claims regarding history (49).
9) A “journey” approach to thought and practice built upon a dynamic “tension” rather than focusing upon a particular “destination” (60).
10) Embracing commonality while celebrating diversity.
11) Integration of hypertext and rich media environments into thought/practice.
12) A “porous…relationship” between faith and reason (59).
If you’ve read this little book, I’d love to hear your thoughts. I’ll be sharing some of mine shortly.
One Response to “Is “Emerging” Postmodern? [1]”
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Conversatio » Is Emerging Postmodern? [3] Says:
March 19th, 2007 at 3:19 pm[…] I’m comfortable with this assessment. Emerging thought and practice marks an identifiable step beyond rationalist Enlightenment epistemology and practice (or lack thereof). The movement also bears many “post-modernish” features as well (lowercase, hyphenated; see “Is Emerging Postmodern? [1]” for a brief list). […]
March 19th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
[…] I’m comfortable with this assessment. Emerging thought and practice marks an identifiable step beyond rationalist Enlightenment epistemology and practice (or lack thereof). The movement also bears many “post-modernish” features as well (lowercase, hyphenated; see “Is Emerging Postmodern? [1]” for a brief list). […]