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James K. A. Smith | |
|---|---|
 Smith on Rebel Wisdom in 2019 | |
| Born | James Kenneth Alexander Smith (1970-10-09)October 9, 1970 (age 55) |
| Academic background | |
| Alma mater | |
| Thesis | How to Avoid Not Speaking[1] (1999) |
| Doctoral advisor | John D. Caputo |
| Other advisor | James Olthuis |
| Influences | |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Philosophy |
| School or tradition | |
| Institutions | |
| Main interests | |
| Website | jameskasmith |
James Kenneth Alexander Smith (born October 9, 1970) is a Canadian-American[4]philosopher who is currently Professor of Philosophy atCalvin University, holding the Gary & Henrietta Byker Chair in Applied Reformed Theology & Worldview. He is the current editor-in-chief of the literary journalImage.[6]
Smith was born on October 9, 1970,[7] inEmbro,Ontario.[8] He completed his undergraduate studies at theUniversity of Waterloo andEmmaus Bible College. He earned aMaster of Philosophy degree inphilosophical theology in 1995 at theInstitute for Christian Studies[8] where he studied underJames Olthuis.[9] He went on to receive aDoctor of Philosophy degree in 1999 fromVillanova University[8] where he was advised byJohn D. Caputo.[9][10] After teaching for a short time atLoyola Marymount University, Smith accepted his current position atCalvin University.
He currently resides inGrand Rapids,Michigan, and is a senior fellow at theTrinity Forum.
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Smith's scholarly work is undertaken at the interface between philosophy, theology, ethics, aesthetics, science, and politics.[citation needed] It draws fromcontinental philosophy and is informed by a long Augustinian tradition of theological cultural critique, fromAugustine of Hippo andJohn Calvin toJonathan Edwards andAbraham Kuyper.[citation needed] As of this date,[when?] 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".[This quote needs a citation][11][independent source needed]
As a former[when?] proponent ofradical orthodoxy, Smith's claim is that it is actuallytheology or, more specifically, the story told by the church that is capable of modernism.[citation needed] His popular-level work aims to educate evangelicals regarding postmodernism and radical orthodoxy.[citation needed] Though he is critical of theemergent church movement, he is at the same time sympathetic to much that could be described as part of that movement.[12][page needed][independent source needed] A primary concern in his work is to expose certain[which?] postmodern philosophical claims (and certain[which?] ecclesial attempts to work with them) as not actually postmodern enough, pointing out instead that they too have accepted the agenda set by the enlightenment.[citation needed] This is seen in his warnings that the emergent tendency away from historic ecclesial tradition is a grave mistake, and that putting down roots, committing to a community for the long haul, and engaging the deep discourses within historic Christian orthodoxy are in fact the truly post- or counter-modern practices for the church today.[citation needed]
Given his training incontinental philosophy and in the theology of theReformed andPentecostal traditions, his intellectual interests are a natural fit.[editorializing][why?] Smith's research topics range from the continental philosophy of religion to urbanaltruism to therelationship between science and theology.[citation needed]
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