James K.A. Smith is on my radar as well!

Dr. Clark critiques him (rightly I must add, though not without some quibbles). D.A. Carson in his new book Christ and Culture Revisited responds to Smith's work as well! (Page 99-113, Christ and Culture)

Smith is the author of, among other books, Who's Afraid of Postmodernism? After having read the book, I thought that James did a poor job of convincing me after 146 pages that I should completely embrace the core tenants of postmodernism and implement postmodern thought (or more accurately "radical orthodoxy") into my (hypothetical) church. This was Smith's chief purpose! (Did I mention in less than 150 pages?!?!) He was completely unpersuasive as to how his view of meaning/reality did not lead one to skepticism and complete irrationalism (or in less Van-Tillian language, "subjectivism"). He is at pains to argue that everything is an interpretation (I agree), but then goes on to say that the ground on which our interpretation is good or not good is not God (or something outside the text) and His Revelation but rather the interpretive community (thus, this is the text or rather "context.") Note what Smith says,

"The context for understanding a text, thing, or event is established by a community of interpreters who come to an agreement [arbitrary??] about what constitutes the interpretation of a text, thing, or event. Given the goals and purpose of a given community [hopefully not like Hitler's goals], it establishes a consensus regarding the rules that will govern good interpretation...Without the rules established by a community, there would be no criteria to govern interpretation. (53)"

But, in fact, we know that the interpretive communities (be it national/denominational etc...) can differ on the rules of interpretation thus leaving the meaning of a text/thing (of Scripture or whatever else) in the hands of the interpreter. Thus skepticism ensues!

All in all, the book failed on many levels. I do not recommend it. Instead, go read Vanhoozer's Is Their Meaning in This Text? for a better grasp on the issues that Smith discusses but rarely defends (at least not to my satisfaction!) Better yet, just read Carson's devastating critique mentioned above and move on to subjects other than the outdated philosophies purported by Derrida and Foucault. Why is it that Christians always latch on to movements that are no longer even respected in their own community?