Postmodernism and the need for story and promise: how Robert Jenson's theology addresses some postmodern challenges to faith
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Date
2012
Authors
Verhoef, A. H.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State
Abstract
Modernity’s belief that we live in a narratable world (a world with a story) and its
confidence in progress (a world with a promise), are terminated by postmodernism’s
insights. This is how the American Lutheran theologian Robert Jenson understands
the impact of postmodernism. If this is true, it poses great challenges for the Christian
faith to be communicated and accepted within this context. This article assesses
how Jenson’s theology attempts to address postmodernism’s need for a new story
and promise. It concludes that Jenson’s theology, as a Trinitarian theology, forms
a coherent answer to these challenges because it is a narrative and eschatological
theology. This article indicates, amongst other things the importance of Jenson’s
understanding in his theology of the relation between God and time. The significance
of Jenson’s approach is that it, firstly, understands the church as a narratable world,
with a visible promise, and that it, secondly, follows a characteristically postmodern
methodology in addressing these challenges.
Description
Keywords
Postmodernism, Eschatology, Narrative, Robert Jenson
Citation
Verhoef, A. H. (2012). Postmodernism and the need for story and promise: how Robert Jenson's theology addresses some postmodern challenges to faith. Acta Theologica, 32(1), 170-188.