Thinking in Tongues: Pentecostal Contributions to Christian Philosophy

by James K. A. Smith

Publisher:

Eerdmans

, 2010

Overview

The past several decades have seen a renaissance in Christian philosophy, led by the work of Alvin Plantinga, Nicholas Wolterstorff, William Alston, Eleonore Stump, and others. In the spirit of Plantinga’s famous manifesto, “Advice to Christian Philosophers,” James K.A. Smith here offers not only advice to Pentecostal philosophers but also some Pentecostal advice to Christian philosophers.

In this inaugural Pentecostal Manifestos volume Smith begins from the conviction that implicit in Pentecostal and charismatic spirituality is a tacit worldview or “social imaginary.” Thinking in Tongues unpacks and articulates the key elements of this Pentecostal worldview and then explores their implications for philosophical reflection on ontology, epistemology, aesthetics, language, science, and philosophy of religion. In each case, Smith demonstrates how the implicit wisdom of Pentecostal spirituality makes unique contributions to current conversations in Christian philosophy.

Key Features

• Offers advice to Christian philosophers
• Explores how the Pentecostal worldview influences a diverse group of studies
• Connects Pentecostal spirituality to current Christian philosophy

Contents

• Thinking in Tongues: Advice to Pentecostal Philosophers
• God’s Surprise: Elements of a Pentecostal Worldview
• Storied Experience: A Pentecostal Epistemology
• Shattering Paradigms, Opening the World: Science, Spirit, and a Pentecostal Ontology
• From Beliefs to Altar Calls: A Pentecostal Critique of Philosophy of Religion
• At the Limits of Speech: A Pentecostal Contribution to Philosophy of Language

Top Highlights

“Pentecostals should and can work out the implications of Pentecostal spirituality for how we think about God, ourselves, and the world, even within the discipline of philosophy. In short, my goal is not to encourage Pentecostals to drink from the wells of wider Christian philosophy in order to become ‘mature’⁷ thinkers; rather, my goal is to sketch how we might articulate a uniquely Pentecostal philosophy, and what that Pentecostal philosophy has to offer broader conversations.” (Pages xiv–xv)

“Pentecostalism is not first and foremost a doctrinal or intellectual tradition; it is an affective constellation of practices and embodied ‘rituals.’” (Page xx)

“Plantinga’s ‘Advice’ to those developing a Christian philosophy. In this seminal article Plantinga consistently emphasizes three key themes: (1) an apologetic movement defending the ‘rights’ of Christian philosophers to philosophize from out of their Christian commitments; (2) a related call to Christian philosophers to demonstrate more ‘autonomy’ vis-à-vis the philosophical establishment and more ‘integrity’ or ‘integrality’ (p. 254) in their philosophizing; and (3) the need for Christian philosophy to display more Christian boldness or self-confidence. Let me briefly unpack each of these before considering their implications for the development of a distinctly pentecostal philosophy.” (Page 7)

“While the spirituality and practices shared certain similarities, especially an emphasis on the Spirit’s surprise and the continued operation of even the ‘miraculous’ gifts, the charismatic movement did not adopt the classical Pentecostal notion of ‘initial evidence.’” (Page xvi)

Praise for the Print Edition

Thinking in Tongues provides both philosophical thinking about Pentecostalism and philosophical thought from a Pentecostal perspective. In both cases the thinking is vintage Jamie Smith: clear, original, and provocative. Non-Pentecostals can be grateful for this analysis of the philosophical importance of this increasingly important strand of Christian thought.

—C. Stephen Evans, professor, Baylor University

Product Details

• Title: Thinking in Tongues: Pentecostal Contributions to Christian Philosophy
• Author: James K. A. Smith
• Series: Pentecostal Manifestos
• Publisher: Eerdmans
• Print Publication Date: 2010
• Logos Release Date: 2016
• Pages: 180
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Pentecostalism; Philosophical theology
• ISBNs: 9780802861849, 0802861849
• Resource ID: LLS:THNKNGTNPHLSPHY
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T03:22:00Z

About James K. A. Smith

James K.A. Smith (PhD, Villanova University) is the Gary and Henrietta Byker Chair in Applied Reformed Theology and Worldview at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was editor in chief of Comment magazine from 2013 to 2018 and is now editor in chief of Image journal. Smith is the author or editor of many books, including the Christianity Today Book Award winners Who’s Afraid of Postmodernism? and Desiring the Kingdom, and is editor of the well-received Church and Postmodern Culture series, and has written for Christianity Today, First Things, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and the Washington Post.