Radical Orthodoxy anyone??

[Timothy Parker]

I'm curious whether the work of the so-called "Radical Orthodoxy" theologians has hit Nazarene seminaries, or the bookshelves of any Nazarene folks, yet...

Main candidates would be: John Milbank, Catherine Pickstock, Graham Ward...

And I suppose I am wondering mainly because they seem to be, as the name implies, quite orthodox and traditional theologically -- and yet draw rather different conclusions from this than is conventionally the case. Politically they are typically very much on the left (to the degree that I've been able to discern it), yet are also a strong counterpoint to mainstream liberal theology... and also take into account (and can answer) post-modern philosophy's main lines of critique (again... insofar as I've been able to follow it!).

So I'm just wondering if there are any RO fans or just conversant folks out there?

[Todd Erickson]

Heh. Some would consider folks like Shane Claiborne and Tony Campolo Radical Orthodox.

[Ryan Scott]

I can't really stand to read Milbank mostly because he actually tried to write in a way that is so confusing no one can understand him. However, I think he's got some good points to make.

[Shea Zellweger]

Alan Roxburgh talks some about RO in a book I was required to read for NNU Grad work, so that answers at least part of your question

[Timothy Parker]

Agreed that the writing is rather difficult -- but then again they're taking on Derrida et al so...

Here's a great podcast (2007) from a CBC radio show called "Ideas," hosted by Paul Kennedy, that incorporates interview segments with both Milbank and Pickstock. It's longish (a little under an hour) but entirely worthwhile: http://theologyphilosophycentre.co.u...cal-orthodoxy/

[Ryan Scott]

Agreed that the writing is rather difficult -- but then again they're taking on Derrida et al so...

It's not difficult, its written intentionally to be difficult. Milbank has said as much. Check out an interview with him, he can be amazingly clear when he wants to be.

[Timothy Parker]

It's not difficult, its written intentionally to be difficult. Milbank has said as much. Check out an interview with him, he can be amazingly clear when he wants to be.

Point taken -- reminds me of Umberto Eco saying the first hundred pages or so in The Name of the Rose was intended to weed out the too-casual readers! Milbank is certainly quite clear in the interview I linked above.