Bruce Benson & Aaron Simmons: Faith After Deconstruction
Aug 17, 2023
auto_awesome
Philosophers Bruce Benson and Aaron Simmons explore philosophical deconstruction and its role in faith transition. They discuss topics such as Godamer, queerness, tradition, prejudice, analytic vs continental philosophy of religion, belief vs faith in Christianity, technical deconstruction and faith deconstruction, engaging in conversations, and playing in a band together.
Engaging with tradition in a dialogical manner can shape our questions and guide our thinking while recognizing its flaws.
Prejudice, understood as preconceived judgments, plays a vital role in shaping interpretations and guiding understanding.
Deconstruction is an ongoing process of interpretation, emphasizing humility and recognizing faith as a way of life beyond doctrines.
Deep dives
Gratitude and the Importance of Tradition
Deconstruction, as understood by philosophers like Gotemer, emphasizes the significance of tradition and the gratitude one should have for it. Gotemer argues that tradition shapes and forms individuals, and it is through tradition that we have access to a wealth of knowledge and discussions that have come before us. While recognizing that traditions also have flaws, Gotemer highlights the importance of engaging with tradition in a dialogical manner, allowing it to shape our questions and guide our thinking.
Prejudice and the Role of Judgments
Gotemer introduces the concept of prejudice as judgments made in advance. While prejudice is commonly seen as negative, Gotemer presents a nuanced perspective. He argues that we always approach things with preconceived judgments, and it is through these judgments that we make sense of the world. While some prejudices may prove faulty, they play a vital role in shaping our interpretations and guiding our understanding. Engaging with these prejudices and critically examining them allows for growth and a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world.
Navigating Transition and Understanding Faith
In the podcast, deconstruction is explored as an essential part of faith transition. Deconstruction is seen as an ongoing process of interpretation, constantly reworking and reimagining beliefs and understandings. It is described as an inherent aspect of being human, as everything is constantly being restated and reinterpreted. The importance of humility is emphasized, as well as recognizing the complexity of historical and interpretive contexts. The podcast delves into the idea that faith goes beyond a set of doctrines and is ultimately about living a way of life.
Challenges of Certainty and Engagement
The podcast highlights the challenges posed by certainty and engagement in discussions surrounding transitions in faith. It stresses the importance of humility, recognizing that certainty does not equate to truth. The dangers of binary thinking are explored, with an emphasis on the need to approach complex issues with charitable engagement and an openness to other perspectives. The podcast encourages constructive dialogue and reflection, while acknowledging the difficulties in navigating the tensions between personal values and habits of power.
The Importance of Interacting with Tradition
It is important to take tradition seriously and interact with it, learning from its positive aspects and critically examining its negative ones. The speaker emphasizes the need to engage in a dialogue with tradition, recognizing its significance while also questioning and challenging harmful elements that may be present. The conversation highlights the ongoing nature of questioning tradition and the excitement and fear that come with living in a time when individuals have the freedom to speak up and challenge oppressive traditions. The danger of injurious traditions is also acknowledged, emphasizing the need to discern and differentiate between harmful and beneficial aspects of tradition.
Understanding and Embracing Improvisation within Tradition
Improvisation is presented as an integral part of various aspects of life, including music performance and interpretation of texts. The speaker discusses how improvisation, when carried out skillfully, demonstrates a deep love and understanding of the tradition being engaged with. It is emphasized that improvisation is not about going rogue or rejecting tradition, but rather about creatively engaging with it and constantly learning and adapting within its boundaries. The importance of gratitude and the ability to listen well in improvisation is highlighted, as is the recognition that faith and tradition can be appreciated and respected in diverse and pluralistic contexts.
I am THRILLED to have two remarkable philosophers join me to unpack philosophical deconstruction and how it can help reframe the ongoing process of deconstruction. Bruce Benson and Aaron Simmons are both accomplished postmodern philosophers, with a bunch of books on my bookshelf. This episode was even better than my high expectations! After you listen, I hope you feel the lure to come hang out with all three of us at Theology Beer Camp this October.
Dr. Bruce Benson teaches Philosophy of Religions and Continental Philosophy at the University of Nottingham, as well as being Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the University of Vienna, as part of the project ‘Revenge of the Sacred: Phenomenology and the Ends of Christianity in Europe.’ Prior to that, Bruce was Senior Research Fellow at the University of St Andrews. Over the years, he has taught and engaged in research at Loyola Marymount University, Wheaton College, the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, and Union Theological Seminary (NYC). He also serves as the Executive Director of the Society for Continental Philosophy and Theology, Philosophy of Religion editor for Syndicate Journal, editorial board member for Faith and Philosophy and the Journal of Continental Philosophy and Theology, and co-editor for the Eerdmans series ‘Prophetic Christianity’.
