Speech and Theology

by James K.A. Smith

God is infinite, but language finite; thus speech would seem to condemn Him to finitude. In speaking of God, would the theologian violate divine transcendence by reducing God to immanence, or choose, rather, to remain silent? At stake in this argument is a core problem of the conditions of divine revelation. How, in terms of language and the limitations of human understanding, can transcendence ever be made known? Does its very appearance not undermine its transcendence, its condition of unknowability?
Speech and Theology posits that the paradigm for the encounter between the material and the divine, or the immanent and transcendent, is found in the God's voluntary self-immersion in the human world as an expression of His love for His creation. By this key act of grace, hinged upon Christs condescension to human finitude, philosophy acquires the means not simply to speak of perfection, which is to speak theologically, but to bridge the gap between word and thing in general sense.

Genres: Philosophy, Theology

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Mark Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jamie's reading of Marion and other PM/ Hermeneutics types is astute and perceptive, his application of that reading to the possibility of theology is at times prophetic and important, but at others he tends to retreat back into familiar and well populated modernist religious studies territory. So some sections deserve 5 stars, others, for me, 1 or 2.

[Igor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very difficult book, but I like that I’ve read it. Smith engages with phenomenologists (Husserl, Marion, Levinas, Heidegger) and also Derrida, and asks a question whether we can speak about God at all. How can we speak about transcendence without reducing it to immanence. Kierkegaard and Augustine come in to picture as well. Before Smith argues that incarnation is not just the condition of the possibility of theological language, but of all language in general.

[Tyler Holley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smith helpfully and ably deals with the significant problems. In classic Smith form, he was a bit repetitive. Would have loved to see him deal with Deconstruction a bit more, but otherwise very helpful in navigating a "third way" between silence and violence.

[Amy Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview of phenomenology and a helpful consideration of a dialogue between theology and philosophy in general and specifically with phenomenology. Smith proposes an incarnational paradigm (drawing upon Augustine and a young Heidegger) that bears consideration a for a renewed discussion about finitude and infinitude, how the transcendent and the immanent intersect.

[Brian Dant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book assumes knowledge of postmodern philosophical thinkers (Derrida, Levinas, Marion, Heidegger, etc), so don't start here if you're looking for an intro to speech and theology. That being said, the book is well-structured and well-written so it is still possible to appreciate Smith's thesis (for an advanced undergrad or grad student) without the full background.