Comments on: Interview with Scott Smith, Part I

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 19:55:00 +0000

I have responded here.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 19:54:00 +0000

I have responded here.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 18:53:00 +0000

I'm glad that clarified well.
I will look for that email.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 16:48:00 +0000

Bill, that was a great clarification–thanks! It's good to hear that people think his characterization of postmodern Christianity is accurate. Smith is a gracious and careful person, and I think that gives him a lot of credibility.
And I think you might be misunderstanding what Tim was after–I think this is exactly the kind of dialogue we both look for. You two will have to work that out via email.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 16:19:00 +0000

I wanted to make sure I was answering correctly this time, Amy so I read more thoroughly. I believe that the author has articulated as well as any I have read the distinction between academic and street postmodernism. I believe he has very graciously evaluated the positives of McLaren and Tony Jones.
Further, I agree with the sentiment that postmodernism will not withstand, though our reasons for it appear to differ. I don't find the argument that postmodernity is self refuting to be persuasive at all, and he alludes that he is leading into that argument. For people who already believe that little can be proved concretely, telling them that their position can not prove itself is of little consequence, and no persuasive benefit that I can see.
My belief about the eventual diminishing of at least some of postmodern Christianity is based on my sense that there is an unfounded exuberance regarding the liberating and purifying opportunities postmodernism offers. This exuberance is like youth finding an opportunity to throw off the yolk of their parents and differentiate themselves, find what is real and authentic for themselves over and against what they did not perceive to be for their parents. The deconstructive ethos is not sustainable, nor do I believe it is healthy. I believe these things will pass. Pragmatically, the deconstruction of hierarchical leadership, and in some ways leadership as a whole, will be unproductive.
So, I agree with the authors assessment in this interview. I bought this book when you all gave it your award, but I haven't read it yet. I will certainly try to before I write my next paper.
Though Tim would rather I talk about issues than my own feelings or perspectives, for the sake of your understanding Amy as an ongoing dialogue partner, I would like to share where I stand vis-a-vis this topic. I am somewhat disillusioned with emerging, emergent, and postmodern Christianity. I am still willing to seek that which is beneficial within it. I appreciate the exercise that my dialogue with it provided me. I am more interested, though, in incorporating anything I find beneficial from it into my Evangelical and Reformed roots than becoming a post-evangelical, post-reformed, or postmodern Christian.
I may write more about this eventually, but I want to process and clarify my thoughts further, particularly before I write them into the permanent record of the internet.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 20:22:00 +0000

Bill, you agree that he has painted an accurate picture of the postmodern Christian's view of truth, or you agree that this is the way we ought to view things?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 20:18:00 +0000

I just want to remind everyone--or let you know, if you missed it--that this book won The A-Team Blog Book of the Year Award for 2005.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 19:57:00 +0000

I'm sorry if that was confusing. Examining more carefully, I see I agree with everything Scott Smith said. I read too quickly the first time to catch that you were interviewing him.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 19:53:00 +0000

It may surprise you to see me write this Roger given our disagreements in the past, but in my cursory reading of your post, I believe I agree with everything you've written here.