Radical Orthodoxy is a theological movement that began in the late 1990s among academic theologians in the United Kingdom. The movement aims to recover classical Christian orthodoxy, emphasizing the transcendence of God and the sacramental nature of reality, in response to postmodern critiques of traditional Christianity.
Some key features of Radical Orthodoxy include:
Emphasis on Divine Transcendence
Radical Orthodoxy stresses the utter transcendence and “otherness” of God, against modern ideas of God as immanent in creation or subject to rational understanding (Isaiah 55:8-9). God infinitely surpasses human concepts and cannot be constrained by philosophical systems. Faith seeks understanding, but God remains ultimately mysterious.
Sacramental Ontology
Drawing on Augustine and Aquinas, Radical Orthodoxy sees all creation as fundamentally sacramental, filled with signs that point to God’s grace. The world mediates the presence of God, although God infinitely transcends it. Materiality participates in the spiritual realm. This “sacramental ontology” contrasts with secular disenchantment of nature.
Suspicion of Modernity
Radical Orthodoxy is deeply critical of key modern trends like secularization, disenchantment, atomistic individualism, materialism, and the marginalization of theology in public discourse. It sees modernity as compromising Christian theological values and seeks a radical alternative.
Reclaiming Metanarratives
Against postmodern skepticism of overarching stories, Radical Orthodoxy aims to reclaim metanarratives like the drama of creation, fall, redemption, and consummation. Only God’s story can orient cosmically. All philosophies reflect implicit metanarratives which should be unearthed and evaluated theologically.
Theological Engagement with Philosophy and Culture
While critical of modern trends, Radical Orthodoxy also sees deep engagement with philosophy and wider culture as essential. It uses diverse philosophical resources to construct a coherent alternative Christian vision that can compete in the marketplace of ideas.
Concern for Social, Economic, Political Structures
Radical Orthodoxy maintains that society, economics, politics, etc. are shaped by implicit theologies which require explicit theological critique. A genuinely Christian social theory is needed, against secular liberalism or conservatism. The movement has explored alternative social arrangements like “Radically Orthodox political theology.”
Key Figures
Some prominent Radical Orthodox thinkers include:
– John Milbank: Key founder, author of Theology and Social Theory which laid out early Radical Orthodoxy ideas. Emphasizes developing a distinctively Christian social theory and sees modern secular politics as deeply flawed.
– Catherine Pickstock: Known for reimagining modern concepts like language, liturgy, time, etc. in radically orthodox ways, counteracting secular assumptions buried in such notions.
– Graham Ward: Significant contributor, interested especially in cultural critique, theology’s engagement with poststructuralism, psychoanalysis, and discourse theory.
– James K.A. Smith: Younger Radical Orthodox theologian, interested in cultural liturgies, Radical Orthodoxy’s implications for Christian worship and discipleship, recovering a sacramental ontology, etc.
– William Cavanaugh: Applies Radical Orthodox insights to social and political issues like consumerism, capitalism, religious violence, torture, migration. Critiques modern liberalism and advocates an Augustinian politics.
Critiques and Responses
Some common critiques of Radical Orthodoxy include:
– Overly polemical tone toward all things “modern”
– Lacunae in positive constructive social program
– Inattention to the church and Christian practices
– Unclear how radical theology translates into everyday Christian discipleship
– Fetching postmodern ideas uncritically
– Hyper-intellectual academic style inaccessible to lay Christians
In response, Radical Orthodoxy thinks its polemics against modernity are largely justified; it is developing more positive constructive proposals over time; it seeks to investigate implications for Christian practices; it utilizes helpful postmodern insights while ultimately subordinating them to theological priorities; it aims to filter ideas down to clergy and laity in helpful ways.
Interactions with Other Theologies
Radical Orthodoxy has similarities with various other theological streams but ultimately stakes out its own distinctive territory:
– It shares Postliberalism’s suspicions of modernist theology, but has its own unique emphases (e.g. sacramental ontology).
– It overlaps with the Nouvelle Theologie movement but again diverges in many ways (e.g. Eucharistic focus).
– It resonates with aspects of Stanley Hauerwas’s theology (suspicion of liberalism) but has a distinct philosophical and cultural methodology.
– It intersects with Henri de Lubac’s ressourcement theology but extends this retrieval into highly original directions.
In the end, Radical Orthodoxy remixes old and new ingredients into an idiosyncratic theological vision. It aims to question secular modernity in a deeper way than these other movements.
Influence and Applications
Some key areas influenced by Radical Orthodoxy include:
– Rethinking political theology, use of power, liberal secularism
– Challenging reigning academic paradigms in theology and religious studies
– New readings of Scripture, doctrine, the fathers, scholasticism, Catholic social teaching
– Protestant-Catholic dialogue on tradition, liturgy, sacraments
– Environmental thought regarding a sacramentalcosmology
– Theological commentary on literature, music, visual arts, and pop culture
– Interrogating philosophical paradigms using Augustinian and Thomistic resources
Radical Orthodoxy conversations have also stimulated new theological work by critics and sympathizers across denominations and disciplines. Despite initial controversy, its provocative style has helped revive rigorous, creative theological exploration.
In sum, Radical Orthodoxy aims for no less than the dramatic re-narration of theology and culture from a historic Christian perspective, meeting postmodernity with an unapologetic confidence in orthodoxy. Its full impact remains unfolding.