Introducing Radical Orthodoxy: Mapping A Post-secular Theology

Rating:
Summary: Radical Orthodoxy Rendered Intelligible
Review: I had the opportunity three years ago to read through John Milbank's Theology and Social Theory with a theology professor and a group of dedicated, intelligent seminarians. Without those resources, I would never have entered into the world of Radical Orthodoxy (RO). Now, for those who don't have the opportunity to study with Dr. Norris at Emmanuel School of Religion, James Smith has provided an entrance that is just as helpful (even if it lacks the entertainment value of a Norris class).

Smith, a theologian and philosopher claimed by the Reformed tradition, does a superb job locating RO's project, critique moves, and conceptual refinements among the trends of contemporary academic theology, taking care to include its relationships with oft-ignored intellectual movements such as fundamentalism and the emergent church. He notes the political, philosophical, metaphysical, and ecclesiological swerves that Ward and company make and gives ample attention to several critiques of the movement and to the content of their objections.

Most interesting is Smith's willingness to bring his own Reformed tradition, especially in the person of Dooyeweerd (sp?), into contact with RO and to let each correct the other. He thus presents an excellent model of what help theological traditions might offer one another.

The book itself had no major weaknesses that I could discern but invites much more work that would engage RO from other theological traditions. I can only hope that some Pentecostals and Episcopalians and Evangelicals take up Smith's challenge.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful introduction to a perplexing topic
Review: Over the last few years there have been many questions and conversations about Radical Orthodoxy. For many, it is a way of thinking that is as confusing as it is insightful. James K. A. Smith shows the promise of Radical Orthodoxy in this very accessible introduction.

Smith aims to summarize what the "theological sensibility" (most of the authors don't want to be considered a movement or school of thought) known as Radical Orthodoxy has been about. He also intends to point out deficiencies in "RO" and suggest avenues for future research. He does all of this from a Reformed point of view, one that is missing in much of RO's work. The book is divided into two parts. The first seeks to place RO within the greater theological and philosophical discussion. It does so by discussing other ways of thinking, outlining RO's main contentions, and giving a brief account of the history of philosophy as RO reads it. The second section more clearly articulates RO's contentions and points the way to future improvements. Chapters deal with politics, epistemology, ontology, and ecclesiology. Smith makes it clear that he finds RO's soteriology and understanding of sin particularly in need of repair.

If you are a student struggling with RO, this book is definately for you. If you are theologian interested in RO, this book will help summarize RO and give a brief critique. If you are involved in RO and want to see it move in different directions, this book is a useful part of the conversation. I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Splendid Introduction to an Important Topic
Review: This book is an excellent gift to the church and the academy. Radical Orthodoxy is a theological movement that has become somewhat in vouge in recent years in Britain and some parts of the U.S.'s theological institutions. There is a multi-volume book series being done by Radical Orthodoxy, published by Routledge which has done some very interesting volumes thus far. There is much important work being done in the Radical Orthodoxy movement on theological approaches to politics, economics, philosophy, epistemology, etc. One of the debilitating problems whith Radical Orthodoxy, however is that it has in large part been shrouded in idiosyncratic, abstract and austere terminology that makes it largely inaccesible to anyone except professional theologians and philosophers.

Smith's excellent introduction to Radical Orthodoxy addresses this problem perfectly. Smith takes the idiosyncratic and abstract langauge that plauges the writings, particularly of John Milbank, and makes Radical Orthodoxy accesible to the layperson as well as the academic.

Smith analyzes the key features of Radical Orthodoxy, namely it's poltics, metaphysics and epistemology. In addition, Smith examines the way that Radical Orthodxy narrates the history of philosophy and the concept of the secular.

There are many things to commend this work, not least of which is the way that Smith allows the Reformed Tradition (Kuyper and Dooyweerd) to interact with Radical Orthodoxy in which both are mutually corrective to one another. Another excellent feature of this work is the way in which Smith is critical of certain problematic and bizzare features of Radical Orthodoxy, such as Milbank and Pittstock's wildly inaccurate readings of Plato and Aquinas. Perhaps most importantly, Smith is explicitly concerned with showing how certain themes in Radical Orthodoxy should impact church life and practice, which is a topic only a few of the contributors to Radical Orthodoxy have ever addressed (none of which are the British and Anglican members thereof). These areas of correction, are I think much needed if Radical Orthodoxy is going to be more than a passing fad.


There are, I think some ways that this book and Radical Orthodoxy in general could be improved. One key way would be for it to move in a more self-consciously Trintiarian direction, which to date it has not done, at least in a sustained manner. Another would be to draw on other figures in the tradition such as the Cappadocians and Irenaeus. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, there remains the need for Radical Orthodoxy to bring the biblical narrative into it's project as a defining feature of it's theology, which to date has not happened in any significant way. If Radical Orthodoxy is to be truly radical or orthodox, these are moves that I think must be made.

In sum, Smith has offered us an excellent critical introduction to an important trend in contemporary theology. For that we are all in his dept. I can only hope that Smith's work and the criticisms of other theologians will help to direct Radical Orthdoxy in a new direction that it truly radical and truly orthodox and has a mind for engaging the church's life in real and sustained manner. Highly recommened.