Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Solomon Among the Postmoderns - Peter J. Leithart


Postmodernism is more than just a hot topic for undergraduate classrooms. Culture continuously evolves with the passage of time and modernism is on its way out. While some evangelicals embrace postmodern views whole-heartedly others have raised serious concerns. In either direction the postmodern view is an unavoidable part of the church and needs to be addressed in more realms than just academia.

In "Solomon Among the Postmoderns" Peter Leithart is a voice of reason and expertise. In this concise volume Leithart defines postmodernism and expresses both the strengths and the weaknesses of a postmodern worldview.

Beginning with the Renaissance, Leithart deftly covers the trends in philosophical thought leading up to today, then discusses the implications of adopting a postmodern worldview with or without a Scripture acting as a sieve. Drawing largely from the book of Ecclesiastes Leithart emphasizes that human life is fleeting like a vapor and that we are in effect, “sheparding the wind.”


Similar to the ending of Ecclesiastes, Leithart chooses not to leave his readers with a hopeless sentiment by reminding us, "But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works." (Ps. 73:28)
by Andrew Rogers

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