James K. A. Smith

Early life and education

Smith was born on October 9, 1970, in Embro, Ontario. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Waterloo and Emmaus Bible College. He earned a Master of Philosophy degree in philosophical theology in 1995 at the Institute for Christian Studies He went on to receive a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1999 from Villanova University After teaching for a short time at Loyola Marymount University, Smith accepted his current position at Calvin University.

He currently resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is a senior fellow at the Trinity Forum.

Work

Smith's published work addresses topics including philosophy, theology, ethics, aesthetics, science, and politics.His work has been described as drawing on continental philosophy and the Augustinian tradition of theological cultural critique, including the writings of Augustine of Hippo, John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards and Abraham Kuyper. As of this date, his stated interest is in bringing critical thought to bear on the practices of the church and the church's witness to culture, culminating in the need to interpret and understand what he has called "cultural liturgies".

Smith has argued that theology—or, more specifically, the narrative of the church—is capable of responding to modernism. His popular writings discuss postmodernism and radical orthodoxy for an evangelical readership. Though he is critical of the emergent church movement, he is at the same time sympathetic to much that could be described as part of that movement. Smith argues that some philosophical and ecclesial approaches described as postmodern continue to reflect assumptions associated with the Enlightenment. Smith has argued that moving away from historic ecclesial tradition is a mistake and has advocated long-term commitment to Christian communities and engagement with historic Christian orthodoxy as post- or counter-modern practices.

His research interests reflect his background in continental philosophy and the theology of the Reformed and Pentecostal traditions. Smith's research topics range from the continental philosophy of religion to urban altruism to the relationship between science and theology.