Postmodernism and the Ethics of Theological Knowledge

This book establishes the necessary integration of theological knowledge with theological ethics. It does this as a response to the postmodern critique of Christianity, as exemplified in Rorty and Lyotard. They argue that any claim to know God is necessarily tyrannical. Contemporary responses to such postmodern thinking often fail to address adequately the ethical critique that is made. This book redresses that balance by suggesting that our knowedge of God and love of the Other are so intimately connected that we cannot have one without the other. In the absence of love, then, we simply do not know God. Justin Thacker proposes that an effective theological response to postmodernity must address both knowledge and ethics in an integrated fashion as presented in this book.

Justin Thacker trained and practised as a medical doctor before studying philosophy and theology. His doctoral thesis, obtained at King's College London, was an inter-disciplinary study exploring a theological response to some contemporary developments in postmodern philosophy. He has been an ordained elder and chaplain within the United Reformed Church. He has published works in a range of church and academic journals including Faith and Philosophy and the International Journal of Systematic Theology.