The Postfoundationalist Task of Theology

J. Wentzel van Huyssteen "F. LeRon Shults's theological debut is a major accomplishment. Au courant with the cutting edge of contemporary theories of rationality, he moves effortlessly between the different intellectual domains of theological and philosophical reflection. In this dynamic process he creatively revisions the theology of Pannenberg and places it in a challenging postfoundationalist dialogue with the wide-ranging and complex profile of contemporary North American theology."Wolfhart Pannenberg, from the foreword "While much of the current talk on postmodernity remains somewhat obscure, one of the real issues is the criticism of foundationalist claims as they developed in modern thought either in empiricist or intellectualist fashion. . . F. LeRon Shults here presents a very subtle and detailed analysis of my understanding of this issue and of its application in my own theology. He is correct in placing me neither in the foundationalist camp nor among certain forms of nonfoundationalism that surrender the rational quest for truth. I feel rather sympathetic with the position he describes as postfoundationalist. He correctly criticizes interpretations of my thought that take me to make anthropology the foundation of Christian theology. His book shows that anthropology rather gets 'sublated' in the course of my argument, though I often start from anthropological data since in modern culture anthropology has been treated as the basis of religion. The importance of sublation or elevation into something else within the procedure of my argument is presented in this book with excellent clarity."Themelios "All in all this was an enjoyable and rewarding book, always clear, fair and interesting."Theological Studies "Shult's discussion is valuable for his fine summary presentation of the current discussion in Protestant Anglo-American theology, for his trenchant critique of many varieties of nonfoundationalism and for his convincing argument that the very terms of the debate are inadequate. . . Theologians and advanced students interested in theological method will find Shult's first two chapters profitable reading."