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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 270.83
EAN num: 9781587432040
ISBN number: 1587432048
Label: Brazos Press
Manufacturer: Brazos Press
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 176
Printing Date: January 01, 2008
Publishing house: Brazos Press
Sale Popularity Level: 73029
Studio: Brazos Press
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In Ecclesiastes, Solomon states that 'all is vapor' and describes humans as trying to 'shepherd the wind.' In Solomon among the Postmoderns, author Peter J. Leithart uses these claims, as well as the entire book of Ecclesiastes, to show how Solomon resonated with postmodernism. Exploring the strengths and weaknesses of postmodernism, Leithart shows how the theory reflects an important biblical theme: the elusiveness and instability of the world. But he goes on to show that biblical faith takes us beyond cynicism and despair. Solomon among the Postmoderns will appeal to academics and laypeople alike seeking a biblical view of postmodernism.
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Rated by buyers -
This book was a helpful summary of and response to the phenomenon known as "postmodernism." In short, postmodernity is that phenomenon that follows the arrogance of modernity and posits limitations to human knowledge and politics.
However, postmodernity has suffered from naive supporters and savage critics. I had my own misunderstandings. I thought postmodernists were those people with dark eye-liner, low-brow culture, readers of Nietzsche and those who sit around all day watching *Fight Club.* Leithart convinced me I was wrong.
The strengths of the book:
Leithart, following Kevin Vanhoozer, sympathetically interacts and appreciates some of the good things that postmodernity has to offer. Postmodernity can celebrate the death of modernity (but so can conservative foundationalists) but postmodernity doesn't share the same modern presuppositions that many of modernity's critics share.
Leithart gave a good critique of democracy. Democracy celebrates religious freedom to the degree that a religion supports the statist status quo. Whenever that religion begins to proclaim another king, one Jesus, then they will be marginalized and persecuted.
Leithart gave a good critique of postmodernism's non-eschatology. Postmodernism can't even claim the honor of being a noble tragedy. A tragedy implies a climactic ending. Postmodernism denies precisely that. It forces its adherents to hope for eternal anti-climax (Foucalt's thoughts on the matter).
Leithart correctly translates the Hebrew word *hebel* as vapor, not vanity.
Weaknesses:
This is not Leithart's best piece of writing, stylistically. I gave him 4 stars because he is capable of outstanding, breathtaking writing. This book was quite good, but not his best.
That being said, I definitely recommend it and would encourage the reader on to Leithart's other work *Deep Comedy,* particularly the chapter "Supplement at Origin."
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