Reddit mentions of Who's Afraid of Postmodernism?: Taking Derrida, Lyotard, and Foucault to Church (The Church and Postmodern Culture)

Post-structuralism seems to slip into post-modernism a lot. If postmodernism works for you, Stanley Grenz has a nice book introducing the themes and thought [as does James K. A. Smith] (http://www.amazon.com/Whos-Afraid-Postmodernism-Foucault-Postmodern/dp/080102918X/).

For more in depth treatment, you'll probably have to choose particular thinkers and find discussion on them rather than deal with the more broad "post-structuralism" in general.

>I'm not sure I believe in God. Rather, my belief in God changes daily. Some days I identify as an atheist, some days a theist, many days a firm agnostic, and most of the time the question just isn't interesting to me. Simply put, I want to believe. Or I believe that one day I'll believe again.>

I often feel like this (and yay X-files!). I've never gone so far as to admit atheism, but I am an occasional agnostic. A lot of times the question interests me, but my inability to deal with it leads to apathy. I love the community aspect of Christianity, though, and even if I were able to allow myself to let go completely of the belief in God, I would have a hard time giving up the community.

Have you ever read Who's Afraid of Postmodernism?

Interesting. I recently read and enjoyed Who's Afraid of Postmodernism?: Taking Derrida, Lyotard, and Foucault to Church (The Church and Postmodern Culture) by James K. A. Smith, I think it was recommended by liturgical_libertine. Anyway, James pushed for Radical Orthodoxy which involves uniting under the Catholic faith for reasons similar to his post here.

I enjoy his reconciliation of doubt and faith and although I think its pertinent now, its not unique to postmodernism. Jefferson's razor was active in "cutting a scandalizing God down to the size of our believing," as the article says.

Maybe its just my lens, but I don't think only Catholics use suspicion as part of a life of sanctification. A.W. Tozer comes to mind,

> "Teach us to know that we cannot know, for the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Let faith support us where reason fails, and we shall think because we believe, not in order that we may believe."

/u/Demon_Nietzsche made a good point about the various interests which comprise this community. That being said, a lot of ideas here are founded on philosophy (especially continental philosophy and critical theory) and radical politics (Marxism, etcetera).

This thread from /r/askphilosophy might interest you. Here are some recommendations I gave:

> In the vein of religious existentialists, the big ones that I can think of are Søren Kierkegaard, Karl Jaspers, Martin Buber, Gabriel Marcel, Paul Tillich, and Nikolai Berdyaev. The Russians Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoevsky might also be thrown into that list.

> Postmodern philosophy, in general, can get quite complex, and very quickly, too. Here are some books I would recommend if you haven't done too much background reading:

• James K.A. Smith – Who's Afraid of Postmodernism: Taking Derrida, Lyotard, and Foucault to Church
  
• James K.A. Smith – Who's Afraid of Relativism: Community, Contingency, and Creaturehood
  
• John Caputo – What Would Jesus Deconstruct?
  
• Peter C. Blum (former professor and dear friend) – For a Church to Come: Experiments in Postmodern Theology and Anabaptist Thought

Thomas V. Morris has written some interesting stuff. I particularly enjoyed his book on Blaise Pascal. Making Sense of it All: Pascal and the Meaning of Life.

Also, James K.A. Smith has done some really interesting work on christianity and postmodernism. You should check him out.

Books

Reading the Bible Again for the First Time by Marcus Borg. This is a good place to start learning a Christian approach to the Bible that doesn't assume inerrancy.

Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright. Wright offers a hopeful eschatology that stands in stark contrast to the "Left Behind"/dispensationalist eschatology that the evangelical church has widely embraced.

Jesus Wants to Save Christians by Rob Bell and Don Golden. Bell and Golden tell the large story of the Bible and reveal the social vision and mission of the God of the oppressed.

Proclaiming the Scandal of the Cross by Mark Baker. Baker offers a collection of essays written by different pastors and theologians on the subject of the atonement. This would be a great place to start understanding the atonement outside of penal satisfaction theory.

The Prodigal God by Tim Keller. This is the best thing I've ever read on the Prodigal Son/Parable of the Two Sons. He is Reformed though.

Whose Afraid of Postmodernism? by James K.A. Smith. This is a good introduction to postmodernism for church people (one that doesn't caricature and demonize Derrida, Lyotard, and Foucault) .

Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus by Ann Spangler. A great crash course in the Jewishness of Jesus.

Podcasts

I regularly listen to the podcast from Mars Hill in Grand Rapids, Michigan featuring pastors Shane Hipps and Rob Bell (I know he's infamous in evangelical circles, but give him a chance and decide for yourself if he's a heretic).

I love the Mennonites. I get my regular Mennonite fix from Trinity Mennonite Church. Their sermon podcast can be found here.

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The OpenYale introductions to the Old and New Testament are phenomenal. If you want a look at how some of the best scholarship approaches the text, check them out.