Thinking in tongues : Pentecostal contributions to Christian philosophy

198 Pages·2010·1.11 MB·English

by  James K. A. Smith

Table of Contents

Pentecostal Manifestos
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1 Thinking in Tongues - Advice to Pentecostal Philosophers

Excursus: Why a Pentecostal Philosophy?
Plantinga’s Program for Christian Philosophy
A Program for Pentecostal Philosophy

2 God’s Surprise - Elements of a Pentecostal Worldview

Pentecostal Worship: A Vignette
Hermeneutical Courage and Unapologetic Pentecostalism
Elements of a Pentecostal Worldview
Conclusion: Seeing Otherwise

3 Storied Experience - A Pentecostal Epistemology

Introduction: “I Know That I Know That I Know”
Pentecostalism as Countermodernity
I Love to Tell the Story: A Narrative Pentecostal Epistemology
Moved by the Spirit: Affective Knowledge
Imagining the World Otherwise: A Pentecostal Aesthetic

4 Shattering Paradigms, Opening the World - Science, Spirit, and a Pentecostal Ontology

Pentecostalism, Modernity, and the Disenchantment of the World
Whose Naturalism? Which Supernaturalism? Topography and Taxonomy
A Pentecostal Ontological Intervention in the Science/Theology Dialogue
Nature as En-Spirited

5 From Beliefs to Altar Calls - A Pentecostal Critique of Philosophy of Religion

Limits of the “Renaissance” in Philosophy of Religion
Cartesian Ghosts: A Lingering Rationalism in Philosophy of Religion
Against Minimalist Theism: Pentecostal Philosophy and Canonical Theism in Dialogue
Conclusion

6 At the Limits of Speech - A Pentecostal Contribution to Philosophy of Language
Resisting (and Producing) Concepts: Tongues and Philosophy of Language
The Politics of Tongues-Speech: A Language of Resistance

EPILOGUE
Name Index
Subject Index
Pentecostal Manifestos

James K. A. Smith and Amos Yong, Editors
PENTECOSTAL MANIFESTOS will provide a forum for exhibiting the next generation of
Pentecostal scholarship. Having exploded across the globe in the twentieth century, Pentecostalism
now enters its second century. For the past fifty years, Pentecostal and charismatic theologians (and
scholars in other disciplines) have been working “internally,” as it were, to articulate a distinctly
Pentecostal theology and vision. The next generation of Pentecostal scholarship is poised to move
beyond a merely internal conversation to an outwardlooking agenda, in a twofold sense: first,
Pentecostal scholars are increasingly gaining the attention of those outside Pentecostal/charismatic
circles as Pentecostal voices in mainstream discussions; second, Pentecostal scholars are moving
beyond simply reflecting on their own tradition and instead are engaging in theological and cultural
analysis of a variety of issues from a Pentecostal perspective. In short, Pentecostal scholars are poised
with a new boldness:
• Whereas the first generation of Pentecostal scholars was careful to learn the methods of the
academy and then “apply” those to the Pentecostal tradition, the next generation is beginning
to interrogate the reigning methodologies and paradigms of inquiry from the perspective of a
unique Pentecostal worldview.
• Whereas the first generation of Pentecostal scholars was faithful in applying the tools of their
respective trades to the work of illuminating the phenomena of modern Pentecostalism, the
charismatic movements, and (now) the global renewal movements, the second generation is
expanding its focus to bring a Pentecostal perspective to bear on important questions and
issues that are concerns not only for Pentecostals and charismatics but also for the whole
church.
• Whereas the first generation of Pentecostal/charismatic scholars was engaged in transforming
the anti-intellectualism of the tradition, the second generation is engaged in contributing to
and even impacting the conversations of the wider theological academy.

PENTECOSTAL MANIFESTOS will bring together both high-profile scholars and newly emerging
scholars to address issues at the intersection of Pentecostalism, the global church, the theological
academy, and even broader cultural concerns. Authors in PENTECOSTAL MANIFESTOS will be
writing to and addressing not only their own movements but also those outside of Pentecostal/
charismatic circles, offering a manifesto for a uniquely Pentecostal perspective on various themes.
These will be “manifestos” in the sense that they will be bold statements of a distinctly Pentecostal
interjection into contemporary discussions and debates, undergirded by rigorous scholarship.
Under this general rubric of bold, programmatic “manifestos,” the series will include both shorter,
crisply argued volumes that articulate a bold vision within a field as well as longer scholarly
monographs, more fully developed and meticulously documented, with the same goal of engaging
wider conversations. Such PENTECOSTAL MANIFESTOS are offered as intrepid contributions with
the hope of serving the global church and advancing wider conversations.
PUBLISHED
Frank D. Macchia, Justified in the Spirit: Creation, Redemption, and the Triune God (2010)
James K. A. Smith, Thinking in Tongues: Pentecostal Contributions to Christian Philosophy (2010)
Wolfgang Vondey, Beyond Pentecostalism: The Crisis of Global Christianity and the Renewal of the
Theological Agenda (2010)

© 2010 James K. A. Smith
All rights reserved

Published 2010 by
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
2140 Oak Industrial Drive N.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49505 /
P.O. Box 163, Cambridge CB3 9PU U.K.

Printed in the United States of America

16 15 14 13 12 11 10 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Smith, James K. A., 1970-
Thinking in tongues: pentecostal contributions to Christian philosophy /
James K. A. Smith.
p. cm. — (Pentecostal manifestos)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8028-6184-9 (pbk.: alk. paper)
1. Pentecostalism. 2. Philosophical theology. I. Title.

BR1644.S545 2010
230’.994 — dc22
2010005260

www.eerdmans.com
For Rev. Charles Swartwood,
Patrick & Dorothy St. Pierre,
and the saints at Bethel Pentecostal Tabernacle, Stratford, Ontario
for welcoming us to Pentecost;

for Rev. Ron Billings,
David & Stephanie Burton,
and our brothers & sisters at Cornerstone Christian Fellowship,
Abington, PA
for encouraging us to keep the Feast;

and

for Amos Yong,
fellow pilgrim, wise guide, and faithful friend all along the way.
Acknowledgments

When I once tried to explain this book to a friend who was not a Christian, I realized it sounded like
the plot of a David Lodge farce. Indeed, the very idea of “a pentecostal philosopher” has the quirky,
whimsical makings of a Wes Anderson film or a Dave Eggers story (you know the sort of plot:
“When a one-armed Jewish fashion designer is put in charge of a hog production plant in Pender,
Nebraska ...”). It’s easy enough to imagine a wizened Bill Murray or naive Jason Schwartzman in the
lead role.
But I have been sustained by a circle of friends and colleagues who have provided the plausibility
structures needed for this project to make sense and (hopefully!) resist spiraling into a vaudeville
production. More importantly, they have provided support, encouragement, and opportunities for this
book to become a reality. I think all the way back, for instance, to my correspondence with Ron Kydd,
the first pentecostal scholar I’d ever come in contact with. His letter meant more than he could know.
When I was just beginning to imagine myself as a pentecostal philosopher, I was inspired by the crew
I thought of as “the Cleveland gang”: Chris Thomas, Steve Land, and Rickie Moore, the first editors
of the Journal of Pentecostal Theology. Only later was I nourished firsthand by conversations at the
Society for Pentecostal Studies where, somehow, Don Dayton, Dale Irvin, Ralph Del Colle, and Frank
Macchia always ended up back in the hotel room I shared with Amos Yong. Those late-night
conversations have been treasured opportunities for me.
I first started to imagine this book when Blaine Charette invited me to give the Pentecostal Lectures
at Northwest University in 2006. His kindness and hospitality were matched by Jack Wisemore and
others at Northwest, for which I’m grateful. My colleague at Calvin College, Del Ratzsch, very kindly
passed on to me his personal library of books, tracts, and newspapers on Pentecostalism that now
constitutes the “Del Ratzsch Pentecostal Library” in my office. I’m grateful for his gift, but even more
so for his encouragement. Dean Zimmerman provided critical, constructive feedback on an early
draft of the book (and shouldn’t be blamed for the problems that remain). Ryan Weberling provided
help getting the manuscript into some semblance of a book and assisted with the index.
A grant from the John Templeton Foundation funded research on chapter 5 and, coupled with a
summer research fellowship from Calvin College, enabled me to finish the manuscript. I’m grateful
to Jon Pott and all the good folks at Eerdmans for their patience, and for taking a risk on this little
pentecostal manifesto.
Finally I’m grateful to the gracious Spirit who sent me to the friends and communities to whom I
dedicate this book. Pastor Charlie Swartwood remains a hero and treasured friend for me, and has
journeyed long with our family. Patrick and Dorothy St. Pierre have long supported and prayed for
me, which I value more than they know. And Bethel Pentecostal Tabernacle will always be our “home
church.” But we’re also grateful for the saints at Cornerstone Christian Fellowship who received us
when we made the pilgrimage to Philadelphia. Pastor Ron Billings holds a special place in our
imagination as a generous shepherd, and Dave and Stephanie Burton will always be kindred spirits in
the Spirit. Not surprisingly, Amos Yong’s fingerprints are all over this book because my own
pentecostal imagination has been so shaped by his friendship. It is a joy to have good work to do; it is
untold joy to be able to do so with friends like Amos.
Finally, of course, my thanks to Deanna, whose pentecostal heart taught this Calvinist to dance.
Part of chapter 1 originally appeared as “Advice to Pentecostal Philosophers,” Journal of Pentecostal
Theology 11, no. 2 (2003): 235-47. Chapter 4 incorporates my essay “Is the Universe Open for
Surprise? Pentecostal Ontology and the Spirit of Naturalism,” Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science
43 (2008): 879-96. Material in chapter 5 is adapted from “Philosophy of Religion Takes Practice:
Liturgy as Source and Method in Philosophy of Religion,” in Contemporary Practice and Method in
the Philosophy of Religion: New Essays, ed. David Cheetham and Rolfe King (London: Continuum,
2008), pp. 133-47, and “Epistemology for the Rest of Us: Hints of a Paradigm Shift in Abraham’s
Crossing the Threshold,” Philosophia Christi 10 (2008): 353-61. And an earlier version of chapter 6
was published as “Tongues as Resistant Discourse: A Philosophical Perspective,” in Speaking in
Tongues: Multi-Disciplinary Perspectives, ed. Mark Cartledge (Carlisle, U.K.: Paternoster, 2006), pp.
81-110. I’m grateful to the editors and publishers of these publications for permission to include this
material here.