Ronald A. Kuipers, PhD (Free University), MPhil (Institute for Christian Studies) is assistant professor of the philosophy of religion. His research and teaching concentrate on the continuing social relevance of religious life patterns in pluralistic Western societies. He pursues that discussion by working with such intellectual traditions as pragmatism and critical theory, among others. Kuipers is the author of Critical Faith: Toward a Renewed Understanding of Religious Life and its Public Accountability and Solidarity and the Stranger: Themes in the Social Philosophy of Richard Rorty. He has co-edited two books: Walking the Tightrope of Faith: Philosophical Conversations about Reason and Religion and Philosophy as Responsibility: A Celebration of Hendrik Hart's Contribution to the Discipline.

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Nota Bene

The Politics of Discipleship

Read my critical review essay of Graham Ward's latest book, The Politics of Discipleship: Becoming Postmaterial Citizens, which is now up on The Church and Postmodern Culture blog.  I first presented this essay in Montreal last fall, for a book panel at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion organized by James K.A. Smith of Calvin College.

'God is Dead' and I Don't Feel So Good Myself

A version of my inaugural address, delivered at ICS' 2007 convocation, entitled "Faith as the Art of the Possible," has been published in 'God is Dead', and I Don't Feel So Good Myself: Theological Engagements with the New Atheism (Wipf and Stock).  One of the book's editors is ICS' doctoral student in theology, Jon Stanley, who also has an essay in the collection.  Calvin College's James K.A. Smith (also an ICS alum) has this to say about the book:

The very shape of this book is a response to the New Atheism precisely because it refuses their narrow imagination and rationalist fundamentalism. Instead of playing by their rules, this book imagines faith otherwise in a stunning collection of poetry, prose, interviews, and images. It is an intellectual feast which seats us at the table with some of the most significant voices of our day.

The collection also includes Part I of a three-part interview I conducted with Charles Taylor.  All of parts I, II, and III are still available online at The Other Journal.

Excellence and the Emersonian Perfectionist

For my second foray into the world of academic journalism, I was privileged to interview the Princeton philosopher Jeffrey Stout, author of the book Democracy and Tradition.  Among other things, Stout's work explores new possibilities for dialogue between religious and secular people today.  Click the following links to read the full interview:  Part I and Part II.