Postmodernism
The Danger of Postmodernism To Theistic Christianity
Nathan Chittum
RELS 107
Professor R. Nugara
June 22, 2007
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Postmodernism
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The Danger of Postmodernism to Theistic Christianity
Christian Theism has been a part of society since the beginning of time. Although
it has changed dramatically throughout the course of history, the basic faith in Christ
Jesus still remains and will continue to remain until the end of time. Many other
religions and worldviews have formed and dissipated over the centuries, each impacting
the next generation in a drastic way. The worldviews of society change from generation
to generation and transform slowly into something new and different. Over the past few
decades with the rising of the New Age Movement, generations are starting to be
influenced by the transforming worldviews of society at an extremely young age.
Modernism has developed into an entirely new worldview, with technology moving the
transformation rapidly. Postmodernism has become a significant worldview in the
present age and will continue to grow for decades to come. It could be said that
postmodernism is a higher level in the evolution of knowledge and society’s worldview.
I personally believe that postmodernism is being exposed to the younger generations in a
fashion that Theism cannot overcome. Postmodernism is influencing the world on a daily
basis via technology, the media, and the daily train of thought held by many people
today.
Before being able to fully understand postmodernism, we must first attempt to
identify it. Postmodernism is best defined by analyzing the critiquing of many different
writers on the subject. James W. Sire states, “The term postmodernism is usually thought
to have arisen first in reference to architecture, as architects moved away from
unadorned, impersonal boxes of concrete, glass and steel to complex shapes and forms,
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drawing motifs from the past without regard to their original purpose or function” (Sire,
2004, p. 213). Sire’s assumption about it’s origin is also stated by Stanley James Grenz
in his book, A Primer On Postmodernism(1996). “Postmodernism was born in St. Louis,
Missouri, on July 15, 1972 at 3:32 PM”. Grenz explains, “When it was originally built,
the Pruitt-Igoe housing project in St. Louis was hailed as a landmark of modern
architecture. More importantly, it stood as the epitome of modernity itself in its goal of
employing technology to create a utopian society for the benefit of all. But its
unimpressed inhabitants vandalized the buildings. Government planners put a lot of
effort into attempts to renovate the project. But finally, having sacrificed millions of
dollars to the project, the government planners gave up. On that fateful afternoon in midJuly 1972, the building was razed with dynamite. According to Charles Jencks, who has
been hailed as the “single most influential proponent of architectural postmodernism,”
this event symbolized the death of modernity and birth of postmodernity” (Grenz, 1996,
p. 11). This being said, have we really identified postmodernism to any extent?
Regardless of its exact origin, Grenz tells us that postmodernists look beyond reason to
non-rational ways of knowing conferring heightened status on the emotions and intuition
(p. 14). He also says, “Postmodernism likewise entails a rejection of the emphasis on
rational discovery through the scientific method, which provided the intellectual
foundation for the modern attempt to construct a better world” (p. 12). There is a deep
sense of community involved in postmodernism. Grenz brings up a valid point about this
community oriented element. There are many different communities, so there must
presumably be many different truths. Perhaps one truth for one community is not truth
for a different community. The general consensus of Grenz breakdown of
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postmodernism is best stated in his own words. “Postmodernism refers to the intellectual
mood and cultural expressions that are becoming increasingly dominant in contemporary
society”(p. 13). “Postmodernism refers to an intellectual mood and array of cultural
expressions that call into question the ideals, principles, and values that lay at the heart of
the modern mind-set”(p. 12). Dr. Angela McRobbie wrote in her, Postmodernism and
Popular Culture, “Unlike the various strands of structuralist criticism, postmodernism
considers images as they relate to and across each other. Postmodernism deflects
attention away from the singular scrutinizing gaze of the semiologist, and asks that this
be replaced by a multiplicity of fragmented, and frequently interrupted, “looks””(1994, p.
13). Sire recognizes and shows us the major shifts of society over the past centuries.
“Two major shifts in perspective have occurred over the past centuries: one is the move
from the “premodern” to the modern; the second is the move from the “modern” to the
“postmodern” ( p. 215). Looking at it from a historical context, this view is the evolving
thought processes of humanity. Postmodernism would not recognize the “truthfulness”
of history, but instead at least recognizes the usefulness of it. This goes back to Sire’s
idea about language being such a significant part of postmodernism. He writes, “We
can’t determine the “truthfulness” of the language, only the usefulness (p. 221). This
new worldview has the potential to change the world as we know it. This wave of
obliviousness is sweeping over humanity. It is all around us and is very detrimental to
our youth as well as Christians of all ages. Grenz writes about and recognizes that
“society is in the throes of a cultural shift of immense proportions. Like the Pruitt-Igoe
housing project, the edifice that housed thought and culture in the modern era is
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crumbling. As modernity dies around us, we appear to be entering a new epoch- post
modernity” (p. 11).
The threats of postmodernism are imminent, yet difficult to pinpoint. Terry
Eagleton says in reference to postmodernism, “Against these Enlightenment norms, it
sees the world as contingent, ungrounded, diverse, unstable, indeterminate, a set of
disunified cultures or interpretations which breed a degree of skepticism about the
objectivity of truth, history and norms, the givenness of natures and the coherence of
identities” (1997, p. vii). Later on in his writing, Eagleton brings up a much more
important point, particularly to Theists. “Postmodernism, in short, scoops up something
of the material logic of advanced capitalism and turns this aggressively against its
spiritual foundations” (p. 133). Postmodernism is in contrast with the fundamental values
of Theistic Christianity. In fact, it denies God completely.
With the technology of today, the ways for postmodernism to be propagandized
are extensive. The media, the internet, and all the various tracking devices available now
make it all but impossible to control one’s susceptibility to false information. If we take
a look back even further, we can see the French Jean-Francois Lyotard acknowledging
the computer age and its capabilities long before the recent technology boom. Lyotard’s
hypothesis was that “the status of knowledge as societies enter what is known as the
postindustrial age and cultures enter what is known as the postmodern age” (1984, p. 3).
He goes on to say, “These technological transformations can be expected to have a
considerable impact on knowledge. Its two principal functions- research and the
transmission of acquired learning- are already feeling the effect, or will in the future”.
Lyotard tells us that, “the nature of knowledge cannot survive unchanged within this
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context of general transformation.” Lyotard predicts that in the future, anything that
cannot be understood in computer language will be abandoned and research will only be
directed towards computer friendly information (p. 4). He probably cannot fathom how
right he was, and will continue to be in the near future.
It is known to Theists, that society as a whole is inherently evil and in a state of
decline. We know from the Bible that after Adam and Eve sinned, we were all recipients
of the sin nature at birth. The Bible talks about this extensively, throughout the New and
Old Testaments. The Bible says in Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered
into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have
sinned:”. Romans 5:19 says, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made
sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” It is this sin nature
that makes us unworthy to exist in the world.
For the Postmodernist, there may not be a sense of reason, or even significance. It
is an arduous task to convert a postmodernist to Theism. There would be difficulty
showing one the reality of salvation and the redemption story because there is no real
hard evidence, aside from the Bible, to instill that knowledge into a postmodern
mentality. The Postmodernist will question life and spirituality saying, “If God is divine
and is here, why is the world so messed up?”. Of course, this is a challenging question
for the Christian to answer. It is difficult to tell someone that God is in control of
everything, yet so many terrible things happen. Only by faith, can we accept His
complete control of everything, and His omniscient wisdom. Paul tells us in Galatians
2:16b, “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of
Jesus Christ.” This almost fits into the postmodern worldview solely because it denies
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the value of works for redemption. What does a Postmodernist have faith in, if not in
spirituality and religion?
Most people set in their worldview need substantial evidence to change their
mentality and reality. If someone is content believing nothing, there is little that can be
done to make them want to acknowledge morality, judgment, and spirituality. The only
real Book that needs to be read and meditated on is the Holy Bible, for it is the only real
Truth left for a dying world. I believe that God can work through any circumstance to
reach any lost soul, and God proves Himself time and time again. The closer we get to a
universal computer language and a sense of no spirituality, the closer we are to judgment
day. The Bible warns us to be watching for the end times in Luke 21:36. “Watch ye
therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things
that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” God has been gracious
enough to allow us to go on this far, but as time will tell, the world is in a state of
entropy. Our reason, logic, and desire for knowledge dooms us to failure. Unless of
course, we recognize the goodness of God’s grace and accept that as the only Truth
relevant in daily life. Furthermore, it is our sole purpose on this earth to reach out to
Postmodernists, as well as anyone with a worldview that does not embrace Christ Jesus
as Lord. Jesus said, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19).
So what can we do to stop this monstrosity from overtaking the next generations?
We, as Theistic Christians, must make it our mission to reach out to all people to
minimize the effects of Postmodernism. We must set ourselves separate from the world
by trusting in Christ Jesus to give us the strength to show others His power.
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II Corinthians 6:17 tells us this, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye
separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,”
Postmodernism is a reality in our daily lives, and it’s influences are all around us.
Fortunately we have a loving Savior who can guide us through these difficult times. The
younger generations have it far worse than we did when it comes to their exposure to
false beliefs and worldly stumbling blocks. There is little a mortal man can do to slow
down the rushing water of Postmodernism. However, after telling us to put on the whole
armour of God, the Bible says, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the
Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all
saints”(Galatians 6:18). God’s plan is underway, regardless of any evil influences the
world has to offer. We must pray, have faith, and witness in hopes of saving as many as
possible before the end times.
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References
Eagleton, Terry. (1997). The Illusions of Postmodernism. Blackwell Publishing.
Grenz, Stanley James(1996).A Primer On Postmodernism. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing.
Holy Bible. King James Version. NY: Oxford University Press
Lyotard, Jean-Francois(1984). The Postmodern Condition: A Report On Knowledge
(Brian Massumi, Trans.). MIN: University of Minnesota Press.
McRobbie, Dr. Angela. (1994). Postmodernism and Popular Culture. Routledge
Sire, James W.(2004). The Universe Next Door (Fourth ed.). IL: InterVarsity Press,
USA.
.