PostmodernismWeek #1 Lecture

PostmodernismWeek #1 Lecture

• Postmodernism is a comparative term that literally refers to the age following modernity.

• The birth of the modern age can be traced to the Renaissance and its elevation of the individual self as the center of reality.

• Descartes reappropriated Augustine’s dictum cogito ergo sum, revealing the prevailing modern anthropocentrism of his day.

• Modern scientific advances ushered in the Enlightenment age through its passion of unlocking the secrets of nature.

• Postmodernism is a comparative term that literally refers to the age following modernity.

• The birth of the modern age can be traced to the Renaissance and its elevation of the individual self as the center of reality.

• Descartes reappropriated Augustine’s dictum cogito ergo sum, revealing the prevailing modern anthropocentrism of his day.

• Modern scientific advances ushered in the Enlightenment age through its passion of unlocking the secrets of nature.

• For many recent generations, we have lived in a modern world that believes all of life can be rationally managed because knowledge is certain and objective.

• Yet in recent decades, a growing number of social observers agree that we are in the midst of a transition that may well rival the cultural shift from medieval to modern thought.

• History shows, however, that it is incredibly difficult to assess a transition while it is occurring.

• For many recent generations, we have lived in a modern world that believes all of life can be rationally managed because knowledge is certain and objective.

• Yet in recent decades, a growing number of social observers agree that we are in the midst of a transition that may well rival the cultural shift from medieval to modern thought.

• History shows, however, that it is incredibly difficult to assess a transition while it is occurring.

• According to postmodern philosophy, modern attempts to discover objective reality were in fact mythical illusions created for social control.

• Postmoderns assert that these legitimizing myths, or metanarratives (literally “big stories”) no longer have the power over us they once did.

• Jean-Francois Lyotard, a primary postmodern philosopher, put it this way: “Simplifying to the extreme, I define postmodern as incredulity toward metanarratives” (The Postmodern Condition xxiii-iv).

• According to postmodern philosophy, modern attempts to discover objective reality were in fact mythical illusions created for social control.

• Postmoderns assert that these legitimizing myths, or metanarratives (literally “big stories”) no longer have the power over us they once did.

• Jean-Francois Lyotard, a primary postmodern philosopher, put it this way: “Simplifying to the extreme, I define postmodern as incredulity toward metanarratives” (The Postmodern Condition xxiii-iv).

• Evangelicalism came of age in the modern era.• The Church, with its emphasis on systematic

theologies, apologetics, and propositional content, successfully demonstrated the credibility of the Christian faith to moderns.

• But in many ways, the postmodern ethos challenges Christianity by simply ignoring it or setting it aside as irrelevant.

• Postmoderns reject Christian truth claims, not on the basis of the claims themselves but on the assumption that absolutes can ever be found.

• Evangelicalism came of age in the modern era.• The Church, with its emphasis on systematic

theologies, apologetics, and propositional content, successfully demonstrated the credibility of the Christian faith to moderns.

• But in many ways, the postmodern ethos challenges Christianity by simply ignoring it or setting it aside as irrelevant.

• Postmoderns reject Christian truth claims, not on the basis of the claims themselves but on the assumption that absolutes can ever be found.

“…tracts all begin with a personal God; today’s world doubts that such a being exists. They appeal to spiritual ‘laws,’ but the world has rejected the idea that there is such a thing as an absolute. And they use the Bible as an authoritative source in a world that dismisses it as irrelevant.” (David Henderson, Culture Shift 223).

“…tracts all begin with a personal God; today’s world doubts that such a being exists. They appeal to spiritual ‘laws,’ but the world has rejected the idea that there is such a thing as an absolute. And they use the Bible as an authoritative source in a world that dismisses it as irrelevant.” (David Henderson, Culture Shift 223).

• For two thousand years, the Church has confronted culture and existed in tension with the world.

• We cannot afford to ignore the culture and risk irrelevance; nor can we uncritically accept culture without risking syncretism and heresy.

• How can twenty-first century Christians address faith in this new postmodern matrix?

• For two thousand years, the Church has confronted culture and existed in tension with the world.

• We cannot afford to ignore the culture and risk irrelevance; nor can we uncritically accept culture without risking syncretism and heresy.

• How can twenty-first century Christians address faith in this new postmodern matrix?

“…I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized -- whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings on Christ -- but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become

“…I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized -- whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings on Christ -- but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become

just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life.” (I Corinthians 9.19-22, The Message)

just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life.” (I Corinthians 9.19-22, The Message)

PLEASE ADDRESS THREE OF THESE FIVE QUESTIONS IN THE DISCUSSION BOARD:

1. Is it possible to be critical of postmodernism and yet find promise in being postmodern?

2. Do you believe David Henderson is correct? If so, how can Christians address the issue of faith in this emerging postmodern culture? If not, where is he wrong?

3. From your observation, what is most authoritative for postmoderns today?

PLEASE ADDRESS THREE OF THESE FIVE QUESTIONS IN THE DISCUSSION BOARD:

1. Is it possible to be critical of postmodernism and yet find promise in being postmodern?

2. Do you believe David Henderson is correct? If so, how can Christians address the issue of faith in this emerging postmodern culture? If not, where is he wrong?

3. From your observation, what is most authoritative for postmoderns today?

4. Blaise Pascal once wrote, “Seeing too much to deny, and too little to be sure, I am in a state to be pitied.” How does his observation describe…– You? – The Church today? – Our postmodern world?

5. What can we learn from the Apostle Paul’s model in I Corinthians 9 about connecting with our cultures?

4. Blaise Pascal once wrote, “Seeing too much to deny, and too little to be sure, I am in a state to be pitied.” How does his observation describe…– You? – The Church today? – Our postmodern world?

5. What can we learn from the Apostle Paul’s model in I Corinthians 9 about connecting with our cultures?

ADDITIONAL TEXTS FOR OVERACHIEVERS

Grenz, Stanley J. A Primer on Postmodernism. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996.

Henderson, David W. Culture Shift. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998.

Jenkins, Philip. The Next Christendom. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2002.

Taylor, Daniel. The Myth of Certainty. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1992.

Veith, Gene Edward Jr. Postmodern Times. Wheaton: Crossway, 1994.

ADDITIONAL TEXTS FOR OVERACHIEVERS

Grenz, Stanley J. A Primer on Postmodernism. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996.

Henderson, David W. Culture Shift. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998.

Jenkins, Philip. The Next Christendom. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2002.

Taylor, Daniel. The Myth of Certainty. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1992.

Veith, Gene Edward Jr. Postmodern Times. Wheaton: Crossway, 1994.