Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores that it has become almost a commonplace in contemporary theology to argue, explicitly or implicitly, that the attacks against Christianity, in particular as found in Nietzsche, Feuerbach, Heidegger and Derrida, do not obtain against biblical Christianity, but only against the god of a certain kind of metaphysics. It draws attention to what distinguishes Rorty and Lyotard from other so-called postmodern philosophers. It is impossible to generate a definitive list but Westphal has suggested that Rorty, Lyotard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Foucault and Derrida constitute the major postmodern philosophers. Theological responses to Rorty and Lyotard have all too often focused solely on the epistemological dimensions of their thought, and not the ethical. Yet in doing so it fails to respond to the most important motivation behind their antipathy to Christianity.