The postmodern worldview is growing and Dr. Smith's thoughts address well the concerns that the Church should have regarding its coherence and practical influence.

Unlike the previous review, I found this book to be an excellent representation of the views held by many in this camp.

The chapter on Christian Postmodernism clearly lays out what many of the mainstream Christian Postmoderists are advocating. Dr. Smith uses various movies and TV shows as examples, which are very interesting and help to both explain Christian postmodernism and to capture the reader's attention. Overall, I found the discussion on the views, and especially the summary of the four common points, of Hauerwas, Kallenberg Grenz & Franke very helpful.

I also really enjoyed the chapter on youth ministry. This is where we see the practical implications of Christian postmodernism - many young Christians who have been influenced by the ideas of their generation, namely relativism, are dismissing the importance of Truth. For advocates of postmodern Christianity, there really is no need for proof or truth. Yet, without Truth how does anything one believes matter?

I enjoyed the chapter "Addressing Postmodernism" the most. I thought it was an extremely well articulated and fair criticism of Christian postmodernism. Dr. Smith lays out an argument for perhaps the most foundational point in the debate, that postmodernists make all their claims (i.e. that we cannot know truth) yet "they seem to be written in such a way as to indicate that they have found the truth". Great point! Furthermore, he uses this point to demonstrate that they must "presuppose that they can get out of language" while arguing that one cannot get outside of language. This is particularly insightful.

I also think he makes some great points in the "Addressing Issues for Christian Theology" chapter, but I'll save that for the reader.

The evangelical debate on the "postmodern turn" (cf. Penner) and its implications for the church more often than not looks like "ships passing in the night." Both sides are saying important things. While there is more "conversation" evident in the approach of Smith's book, then say, D. A. Carson's important work, it is frustrating to still hear the other side misrepresented. Let the conversation continue, with careful listening.