What Is Postmodern Biblical Criticism?

by Andrew K. Adam

Postmodernism is not simply one perspective but a basketful of related critical assumptions. A.K. M Adam prepares readers for wrestling with deconstruction, ideological criticism, postmodern feminism, "transgressive" postmodernism, and other postmodern approaches to biblical interpretation. He offers plain-language explanations and illustrative examples and shows how students might undertake their own postmodern biblical interpretation.

82 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1995

Reviews

[Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be a great introduction to the topic. Having no experience previously and wanting to know more, the author provided a great starting point and a guide to further exploration.

[Jann Cather · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful book in understanding postmodern criticism. At times, her writing style defeats itself by using such phrases as, “in fact,” or “in truth,” which are phrases contrary to postmodernism. This book is very well organized, containing within it a method of criticism similar to postmodernism used in the Medieval times. Her description of what postmodernism does revealed how it may be applied to many “fields “other than biblical criticism. I especially enjoyed the third chapter, which discusses the transgressive interpretational properties of postmodernist criticism. It seemed, however, she ran out of steam on her third chapter. I would have enjoyed further exploration of the transgressive properties of postmodern criticism.

[Kendall Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really well-written introduction. Does what it says on the tin. The introductory chapter that explained postmodernity was particularly good. Some of the later chapters that explored particular approaches were a bit more muddled and dated at this point in time. Adam is also notable for having a broad familiarity with postmodern theorists outside of biblical studies and this expertise makes this introduction particularly valuable.

[Lawrence Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly what it claims

After reading this book, I am able to answer the question posed in the title. If you want to know what postmodern biblical criticism is, read this book.

[Ike Reeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

As another reviewer stated, does exactly what it purports to do. The four stars are for its conciseness and clarity in engaging an ambiguous topic, not because I agree with the methods it proposes.

[Jonathan Widell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A clear, readable introduction to postmodernist biblical criticism and postmodernism in general. However, I found it to be too enthusiastic to be truly postmodern. No, the enthusiasm is not contageous. And it does sound dated (1995). I liked one sentence:"...we cannot short-circuit the spiritual gift of discernment by conceding that an interpretation that is adorned with academic credentials and access to publishing facilities is automatically superior." (p. 35). Unfortunately, the case is overstated, and we get a rather rambling account of transgressive interpretations, which I feel inclined to omit and transgress.

[Bronwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me 11 years back into my English Literature Criticism & Theory classroom. A. K. M. Adam summarized, synthesized, and elucidated postmodern scholars and their thought for me in ways that my English prof had done but I had forgotten. It was a great refresher with only a few Biblical examples. If you're picking up this book and hoping it will tell you how to do postmodern Biblical criticism, you're out of luck. It's not prescriptive (and neither is postmodernism). My next read will probably be Adam's "Faithful interpretation: reading the Bible in a postmodern world".

[Seth Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whether you agree or not with postmodern biblical criticism, this is an excellent overview. The language is accessible and you can feel the effects of the major philosophers in the example arguments even if the author doesn't dig deeply into them.

Good introduction.

[Jason Gardner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't like it--AT ALL!