Postfoundationalism, deconstruction and the hope that motivates research in practical theology

Abstract

This article is a critical dialogue between postfoundationalism and deconstruction seeking a way of doing theology, specifically Practical Theology, without universal foundations, in the context of a discussion with Wentzel van Huyssteen. Can postfoundationalism, complemented by the critical contribution of deconstruction, pave a way for doing theology that is open to the global multi-disciplinary dialogue? This would mean a way of doing theology that takes the social constructions of the local seriously, yet can move beyond the local into a global dialogue without recourse to universal foundations. In this article postfoundationalism does indeed pave a way for this global dialogue between the various local constructions while deconstruction critically guides this process so that it is not only a dialogue between the dominant constructions of the powerful, but that space is created for the marginalized voices to be heard in the global dialogue. This move beyond the confines of the local into the global multi-disciplinary dialogue is the hope that motivates research in Practical Theology that has relevance beyond its own context and discipline.