Biblical critical theory How the Bible's unfolding story makes sense of modern life and culture

This ambitious effort by Watkin (Thinking Through Creation), a senior lecturer in French studies at Monash University, Australia, positions the Bible as a cultural critique. He posits that Christianity's capacity to produce "recognizable and repeatable patterns and rhythms of behavior, of thought, of language" means that the faith can be used as a tool of social analysis. The author suggests that God speaking the world into existence renders moot discussions about whether language produces or merely describes reality because while language can shape reality, only God's language has such power. Tackling posthumanist thinkers' concern with augmenting the human body, Watkin posits that the Bible "endorses the use of technologies and practices... to improve human life," but adds that humans should only undertake major changes if they glorify God. Jesus, the author asserts, provides an alternative to Marxist and Hegelian conceptions of authority because his status as "sovereign servant" suggests that authority can come from deference to a higher power. Watkin's discourses with such thinkers as Nietzsche, Kant, and Derrida on the incarnation, apologetics, prophecy, and eschatology impress with their depth and complexity, though readers unfamiliar with these secular critical theorists may struggle to follow along. Still, Watkin largely pulls off this daring feat of scholarship. (Nov.)