Postmodern Theology

Postmodern Theology consists in a sharp-edged retrospective and reflection on the forty-year history of the most important movement in contemporary religious thought that is only now passing from the scene. The author, Dr. Carl Raschke, is generally credited with having sparked the movement, even if he did not always happen to be its leading spokesperson. Not only has a comprehensive survey of postmodern theology in all its different phases and complexity not been published prior to the appearance of this book, but it is even more remarkable for someone who both ""launched"" it and had a central role in shepherding it along to offer what may be termed a ""movement memoir."" Postmodern Theology surveys and summarizes the major figures and trends that have given currency to such familiar expressions as ""deconstruction,"" ""deconstructive theology,"" ""radical theology,"" ""a/theology,"" ""God is dead,"" and of course, ""postmodernism"" itself. Dr. Raschke also contextualizes the emergence of these catchy phrases from a frothy soup of new intellectual theories and philosophical innovations, which were international in scope but customized for both academic and popular religious writers--mainly in Britain and America--from the late 1960s onward. ""Widely recognized as an inaugural voice in postmodern theology, Carl A. Raschke offers herein a sophisticated, and decidedly personal, account of the contours of the movement. Recounting the influence, and assessing the arguments, of such thinkers as Altizer, Derrida, Levinas, and Caputo, this book is as compellingly biographical as it is substantively rigorous. Raschke is necessary reading for all who are curious not only about the history of postmodern theology, but also invested in shaping its future."" --J. Aaron Simmons, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Furman University ."" . . carefully charts the history of postmodernism's profound epistemological, metaphysical, and ethico-political influence on contemporary theology. The detailed expositions of philosophical and theological figures and movements relevant to the rise and dominance of poststructuralist methodologies beginning in the 1960s provides a much-needed critical context for today's 'post-post-modern' theological concerns."" --Victor E. Taylor, author of Religion after Postmodernism: Retheorizing Myth and Literature "" . . . an extremely readable introduction to 'Postmodern Theology.' Raschke critically, generously, and humorously presents the most important antecedents, developments, and consequences of this influential theological movement. It directly confronts thinkers like Caputo, Altizer, and Mark Taylor. Parallel to this Raschke offers a clear and in-depth introduction to Derrida and Deleuze's philosophies, which not only made postmodern theology possible, but have also shaped the course of contemporary theological and political discourse."" --Kurt Appel, Professor for Fundamental Theology, University of Vienna ."" . . a concise, scintillatingly incisive, and richly informative introduction to the genealogy, present status, and future prospects of what insiders prefer to call Radical Theology, but outsiders mistakenly call Postmodern Theology, by one of its early pioneers and most sustained and innovative proponents, written with the flair, wit, honesty, and scholarly shorthand Carl Raschke is so much appreciated for. The title is already a play on this irony. It is a pocket-sized, reliable compass well-suited for a journey which can easily go astray and end up in muddy waters of confusion and misapprehension. What the project of a Radical Theology is all about is explained in vivid clarity. So also in what sense it is postmodern and in what sense it is a critique of shallow postmodernism."" --WL van der Merwe, chair in Philosophy of Religion, Vrije Universiteit Carl Raschke is Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Denver. He is an internationally renowned philosopher and theolo