Preaching Philosophy: French Thought for Gospel Proclamation
Philosophy preaches, and the pulpit preaches philosophy. As with all guilds, homiletics orients itself around a canon that constitutes its ways of being, behaving, and belonging. Part of the process of becoming a homiletician entails demonstrating one’s mastery of certain concepts and texts. Doctoral research in homiletics maintains its disciplinary boundaries by requiring students to demonstrate familiarity with and understanding of those authors who have established the "proper" methods and modalities of preaching.

In Preaching Philosophy, Jacob D. Myers and Sunggu A. Yang stage an intervention at this foundational pedagogical site by challenging the philosophical assumptions operative in the works of a selection of canonical characters and texts in the field of homiletics. The book arises from the conviction that critical homiletical scholarship must extend beyond those authors and texts that predominate preaching syllabi in North American seminaries and divinity schools. Furthermore, Myers and Yang argue that it is not enough to challenge another’s wisdom on how to preach faithful and effective sermons. Rather, one must also discern and question the a priori assumptions undergirding said wisdom. This is precisely what Preaching Philosophy seeks to do: to trouble the philosophical assumptions presupposed by foundational figures in homiletics.

Much homiletical theory prior to the 1960s arises from Kantian convictions about the limits of human rationality vis-à-vis the divine. As traditional, deductive preaching styles made way for the inductive logics constituting the New Homiletic, Heidegger and Kierkegaard came to supplant Kant’s long ascendancy by shifting attention to the role of discourse in sermonic reception. Building on this foundational shift, Preaching Philosophy looks to francophone theorists from the second half of the twentieth century to intervene in how we conceptualize homiletical theories and theologies. Each chapter stages a critical encounter between a foundational homiletician and a French philosopher in hope of introducing new concepts and angles of critique into homiletical scholarship.

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Preaching Philosophy: French Thought for Gospel Proclamation
Philosophy preaches, and the pulpit preaches philosophy. As with all guilds, homiletics orients itself around a canon that constitutes its ways of being, behaving, and belonging. Part of the process of becoming a homiletician entails demonstrating one’s mastery of certain concepts and texts. Doctoral research in homiletics maintains its disciplinary boundaries by requiring students to demonstrate familiarity with and understanding of those authors who have established the "proper" methods and modalities of preaching.

In Preaching Philosophy, Jacob D. Myers and Sunggu A. Yang stage an intervention at this foundational pedagogical site by challenging the philosophical assumptions operative in the works of a selection of canonical characters and texts in the field of homiletics. The book arises from the conviction that critical homiletical scholarship must extend beyond those authors and texts that predominate preaching syllabi in North American seminaries and divinity schools. Furthermore, Myers and Yang argue that it is not enough to challenge another’s wisdom on how to preach faithful and effective sermons. Rather, one must also discern and question the a priori assumptions undergirding said wisdom. This is precisely what Preaching Philosophy seeks to do: to trouble the philosophical assumptions presupposed by foundational figures in homiletics.

Much homiletical theory prior to the 1960s arises from Kantian convictions about the limits of human rationality vis-à-vis the divine. As traditional, deductive preaching styles made way for the inductive logics constituting the New Homiletic, Heidegger and Kierkegaard came to supplant Kant’s long ascendancy by shifting attention to the role of discourse in sermonic reception. Building on this foundational shift, Preaching Philosophy looks to francophone theorists from the second half of the twentieth century to intervene in how we conceptualize homiletical theories and theologies. Each chapter stages a critical encounter between a foundational homiletician and a French philosopher in hope of introducing new concepts and angles of critique into homiletical scholarship.

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Preaching Philosophy: French Thought for Gospel Proclamation

Preaching Philosophy: French Thought for Gospel Proclamation

Preaching Philosophy: French Thought for Gospel Proclamation

Preaching Philosophy: French Thought for Gospel Proclamation

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Overview

Philosophy preaches, and the pulpit preaches philosophy. As with all guilds, homiletics orients itself around a canon that constitutes its ways of being, behaving, and belonging. Part of the process of becoming a homiletician entails demonstrating one’s mastery of certain concepts and texts. Doctoral research in homiletics maintains its disciplinary boundaries by requiring students to demonstrate familiarity with and understanding of those authors who have established the "proper" methods and modalities of preaching.

In Preaching Philosophy, Jacob D. Myers and Sunggu A. Yang stage an intervention at this foundational pedagogical site by challenging the philosophical assumptions operative in the works of a selection of canonical characters and texts in the field of homiletics. The book arises from the conviction that critical homiletical scholarship must extend beyond those authors and texts that predominate preaching syllabi in North American seminaries and divinity schools. Furthermore, Myers and Yang argue that it is not enough to challenge another’s wisdom on how to preach faithful and effective sermons. Rather, one must also discern and question the a priori assumptions undergirding said wisdom. This is precisely what Preaching Philosophy seeks to do: to trouble the philosophical assumptions presupposed by foundational figures in homiletics.

Much homiletical theory prior to the 1960s arises from Kantian convictions about the limits of human rationality vis-à-vis the divine. As traditional, deductive preaching styles made way for the inductive logics constituting the New Homiletic, Heidegger and Kierkegaard came to supplant Kant’s long ascendancy by shifting attention to the role of discourse in sermonic reception. Building on this foundational shift, Preaching Philosophy looks to francophone theorists from the second half of the twentieth century to intervene in how we conceptualize homiletical theories and theologies. Each chapter stages a critical encounter between a foundational homiletician and a French philosopher in hope of introducing new concepts and angles of critique into homiletical scholarship.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781481316514
Publisher: Baylor University Press
Publication date: 05/15/2025
Pages: 274
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.79(d)

About the Author

Jacob D. Myers is Wade P. Huie, Jr. Associate Professor of Homiletics at Columbia Theological Seminary.

Sunggu A. Yang is Associate Professor of Theology and Christian Ministries and Director of the Margaret Fell Scholars Program at George Fox University School of Theology.

Table of Contents

Introduction: What Has Paris to Do with Jerusalem?
1 Disturbing Homiletical Subjectivity: Julia Kristeva on Jarena Lee
2 Disturbing Homiletical Authority: Michel Foucault on Fred Craddock
3 Disturbing Homiletical Truth: Pierre Bourdieu on Phillips Brooks
4 Disturbing Homiletical Discourse: Luce Irigaray on John Broadus
5 Disturbing Homiletical Experience: Jean-Luc Marion on Henry Mitchell
Coda: Disturbing Homiletical Pedagogies with Gilles Deleuze

What People are Saying About This

Thomas G. Long

In this volume, two of homiletics’ most creative thinkers, Jacob D. Myers and Sunggu A. Yang, take us on an exciting journey into unexplored territory. They imaginatively place French philosophers into conversation with classic preachers and teachers of preaching, and the insights flash brilliantly page after page. Myers’ and Yang’s clear prose makes often complex topics accessible and fascinating.

Donyelle McCray

Jacob Myers and Sunggu Yang show us a mighty stream that flows through the heart of homiletics—French philosophy. Its reach proves vast, undergirding long-held assumptions about sermon conception, design, and effects. This astute and exciting volume offers vital insights for preachers and homileticians, and promising paths for the future of homiletics.

Ruthanna B. Hooke

In this immensely creative book, Jacob D. Myers and Sunggu A. Yang demonstrate the fresh insights that emerge when homiletics is brought into conversation with contemporary French philosophy. This dialogue sheds light on such crucial topics as subjectivity, language, revelation, and hermeneutics, opening possibilities for the transformation of homiletical theory, practice, and pedagogy. Anyone who wants to probe more deeply the inner workings of proclamation, or who longs for a revitalization of preaching, will be inspired by this provocative text.

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