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Thank you. These reviews are very helpful.I've reviewed a couple of his books:
Letters to a Young Calvinist
Desiring the Kingdom
In summary: not impressed.
My own eyebrows were raised when a friend told me that, in the book he was reading (Who's Afraid of Postmodernism?), Smith was arguing that the postmodernism of Derrida and Foucault ought not to be considered at odds with Christianity. I only replied that I imagined that'd be a tough argument to make.
That's all very concerning. I worry that both of my friends who have read or are reading Smith will be negatively influenced.Yes, I read that book too. It's awful. Among other things, he "highly recommends" Brian McLaren. McLaren is a "bold explorer" in Smith's estimation. And when D.A. Carson critiques McLaren, it's an "epic adventure in missing the point." Whatever.
(Who's Afraid of Postmodernism?), Smith was arguing that the postmodernism of Derrida and Foucault ought not to be considered at odds with Christianity. I
Thank you. I appreciate this.I've read almost everything Smith has written. His earlier stuff is fantastic. His later stuff is sketchy. He tries to argue that those "postmodern" philosophers are more like Dooyweerdians. I don't think that's accurate. I'll post my reviews of all of his works.
He is very perceptive in that every culture has a liturgy. He's also pretty good on how habit forms.
https://tentsofshem.wordpress.com/2017/01/17/you-are-what-you-love-review/
https://tentsofshem.wordpress.com/2019/07/16/how-not-to-be-secular-smith/
https://tentsofshem.wordpress.com/2018/03/05/review-thinking-in-tongues/
https://cocceius.wordpress.com/2018/12/02/james-k-a-smith-speech-and-theology-review/
https://bayouhuguenot.wordpress.com/2014/08/05/jacques-derrida-live-theory-review/
https://tentsofshem.wordpress.com/2019/08/04/imagining-the-kingdom-smith/
https://tentsofshem.wordpress.com/2019/08/04/desiring-the-kingdom-smith/
I've read almost everything Smith has written. His earlier stuff is fantastic. His later stuff is sketchy. He tries to argue that those "postmodern" philosophers are more like Dooyweerdians. I don't think that's accurate. I'll post my reviews of all of his works. He is very perceptive in that every culture has a liturgy.
I had to read his "Desiring the Kingdom" at Westminster Seminary and although some things he wrote were true ("the scholar and the university can’t help but be religious; or, in other words, there is no such thing as the secular.") alarm bells to discern him went off all throughout. My notes on him are that he seems to be charismatic, emergent-ish, and formerly Radical Orthodoxy (postmodern philosophy). One wise pastor said Smith was sympathetic to Emergent Chruch, Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox and guys like N.T. Wright (New Perspectives of Paul heresy) and and Peter Leithart (Federal Vision heresy; "End of Protestantism" author). James K.A. Smith is on my "avoid this author because of bad theology" list.
I have to ask Jacob, dear brother, why the Dallas Willard icon? He is definitely on my "avoid this author because of bad theology" list. He is heavily influenced by and promotes Roman Catholic mystics and Arminian theology. Road to Rome, no?
Willard has a recommended reading page on his website listing specific titles by Thomas a Kempis, William Law, Frank Laubach, William Wilberforce, Richard Baxter, Charles Finney, Jan Johnson, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jeremy Taylor, Richard Foster, E. Stanley Jones, William Penn, Brother Lawrence, Francis de Sales, James Gilchrist Lawson, and others.
Interested in this as well.
I am reading his book, "You are what you love", right now as it is required reading for the "Personal Sanctification" class at RTS online.
Not sure what to make of the book yet, but it has certainty challenged me.