Jean-Luc Nancy and Christian Thought: Deconstructions of the Bodies of Christ

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Jean-Luc Nancy and Christian Thought explores Nancys deconstruction of Christianity via the various bodies of Christ that accumulate in Christian doctrine, specifically the incarnated body, the resurrected body, and the body of Christ the church. The work ties Nancys deconstruction to the writings of the early church, demonstrating that the seeds of auto-deconstruction are indeed sown in the doctrines of Western Christianity. It then provides brief sketches of current theological works that touch upon similar deconstructive themes. Thus, the work aims to flesh out Nancys deconstruction for the non-theologian, tying his complex scans of Christian thought to early patristics, and also aims to help theologians unfamiliar with deconstruction or with Nancys work recognize the value of the deconstructive method for unpacking Christian doctrine and practice. This book will be of interest to philosophers of religion, hermeneutics, and post-Frankfort School critical theory, and theologians interested in current French philosophy of religion.

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Smerick (philosophy, Greenville Univ.) examines the deconstruction work of Jean-Luc Nancyhis deconstructions of what is called the bodies of Christ: the incarnated body (i.e., the doctrine of the Incarnation), the resurrected body (i.e., the Resurrection), and the mystical body of the Church (in which she includes Nancys discussions of the Eucharist, prayer, and faith). As Smerick writes in the introductory matter, The trajectory of this book is to orient Nancys interpretations of the body of Christ in the Incarnation, the Resurrection, and the practices of the Church to the dogmas from which they arise and in which they have their complex articulations. Smerick attempts to tie Nancys deconstruction of Christianity to the teaching of the early Church fathers. She writes that "just as Nancy himself uses Christian doctrines in order to trace a deconstruction where Christianity undoes itself, [she uses] Nancys account of said doctrines not to work against deconstruction or to work against Nancy, but rather to play out or trace back the origins of these ideas, such that perhaps Christianity can indeed complete the work it begins in its deconstructive tendencies. Smericks book is very specialized and esoteric; its audience will be a select group of readers interested specifically in Nancys deconstruction of Christianity.

Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students, researchers, faculty. * CHOICE *

Author Bio

Christina Smerick is professor of philosophy at Greenville University.