Peter Rollins | |
|---|---|
 Rollins in 2015 | |
| Born | 31 March 1973 |
| Era | Contemporary philosophy |
| Region | Western philosophy |
| School | |
Main interests | Theology |
Notable ideas | Pyrotheology Transformance art Suspended space |
Peter Rollins (born 31 March 1973) is a Northern Irish writer, public speaker, philosopher, producer and theologian.[1]
Drawing largely from various strands of continental philosophy, Rollins' early work operated broadly from within the tradition of apophatic theology, while his more recent books have signalled a move toward the theory and practice of death of God theology. In these books Rollins develops a "religionless" interpretation of Christianity called pyrotheology,[2] an interpretation that views faith as a particular way of engaging with the world rather than a set of beliefs about the world.[3]
In contrast to the dominant reading of Christianity, this more existential approach argues that faith has nothing to do with upholding a religious identity, affirming a particular set of beliefs or gaining wholeness through conversion. Instead he has developed an approach that sees Christianity as a critique of these very things. This anti-religious reading stands against the actual existing church and lays the groundwork for an understanding of faith as a type of life in which one is able to celebrate doubt, ambiguity and complexity while deepening care and concern for the world.[4] He argues that the event which gave rise to the Christian tradition cannot itself be reduced to a tradition, but is rather a way of challenging traditions.
In order to explore and promote these themes Rollins has founded a number of experimental communities such as ikon[5] and ikonNYC.[6] These groups describe themselves as iconic, apocalyptic, heretical, emerging and failing[7] and engage in the performance of what they call 'transformance art'[8] and the creation of "suspended space."[9] Because of their rejection of "worldview Christianity" and embrace of suspended space, these groups purposefully attempt to attract people with different political perspectives and opposing views concerning the existence of God and the nature of the world.[10]
Although Rollins does not directly identify with the emerging church movement,[11] he has been a significant influence on the movement's development.[12][13]
- ^ "Moody, Katharine, "The Church Emerging After the Birth of God"". syndicatetheology.com. Archived from the original on 29 April 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
- ^ Keefe-Perry, Callid Way to Water: A theopoetics Primer (Cascade Books, 2014), Loc 2232
- ^ Rollins, Peter The Idolatry of God (Howard, 2012), p121
- ^ Rollins, Peter The Divine Magician (Howard, 2015) p95-96
- ^ Caputo, John What Would Jesus Deconstruct? (Baker Academic, 2007), pp129-134
- ^ "Ikon NYC". Facebook. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
- ^ "Pyrotheology". Pyrotheology. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
- ^ Higgins, Cathy Churches in Exile (Columbia Press, 2013), Loc 3011
- ^ Rollins, Peter The Fidelity of Betrayal (Paraclete Press, 2008), pp173-176
- ^ Caputo, John What Would Jesus Deconstruct (Baker Academic, 2007), p130
- ^ Higgins, Cathy Churches in Exile (Columbia Press, 2013), Loc 2994
- ^ "Northern Ireland, America and the Emerging Church Movement: Exploring the Significance of Peter Rollins and the Ikon Collective By Katharine Sarah Moody" (PDF). Journal of the Irish Society for the Academic Study of Religions. Retrieved 25 May 2015.
- ^ "A Book Review of Gerardo Marti and Gladys Ganiel's The Deconstructed Church: Understanding Emerging Christianity By James Wellman". Patheos. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2015.