The Challenge of Postmodernism. An Evangelical Engagement, edited by David S. Dockery, 2001
The modernist philosophy, the prevailing worldview of the 19th,
20th , and early 21st
centuries, holds that there is a truth to be known and that it is
knowable by the scientific method.
In its most developed form, it holds that everything which can be known
is knowable only from measurable and observable phenomena. There is an absolute denial of the
supernatural and a denigration of knowledge derived in other ways than the
scientific.
A new worldview is replacing the scientific/modernist
philosophy. Postmodernism has been
building since the early 20th century. It rejects the idea of a knowable single absolute truth and
stresses the idea of pluralism.
There are many truths.
Community is favored over individualism. Truth is mediated through social relations, true because it
is accepted with a particular community.
In effect, anything can be true because it is accepted by a particular
community. The truth of one
community is just as true as the truth of another community, even if the truths
are incompatible. Since there is
no absolute truth, truth becomes subjective
and relative to the situation and community in which It is believed.
Meaning is defined by how one feels. Your truth may not be my truth, but all truths are equally valid. Reality becomes a social construct.
To a postmodernist, truth, if it exists at all, is a social
relation. It is what a particular
group declares that it is. To
assert truth is to assert domination over other groups that define truth
differently. Absolute truth claims
are seen as oppressive and imperialist.
Those who uphold traditional orthodox Christianity are derided. Pope Benedict XVI has called it “the
dictatorship of relativism.”
Postmodernist H. Tristam Engelhardt has said, “Insofar as
individual do not share in the consensusof a common religious belief, including
the divine roots of state authority, appeals to religious consideration will
appear to those without faith or with a different faith as an appeal simply to
force in order to support private interests.”
Obviously, then, postmodernism is a direct and hostile
challenge to Christianity because Christianity declares that “Neither is there
salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among
men, whereby we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12
The point of The Challenge of Postmodernism is that
Christians must not be caught unaware.
Postmodernist philosophy is all around us; perhaps you have heard it
expressed by someone you know.
Postmodern thought can even be found in many Christian churches,
especially those which pride themselves on their inclusiveness and those which
accept Christianity as merely one religion among many.
The Challenge of Postmodernism discusses the background
information Which Christians need to know in order to understand postmoderism
so that they may counter it intellectually and successfully evangelize the new
culture.
I would strongly recommend this book to pastors,
theologians, and those others who are not intimidated by a bit of “heavy”
reading. It is good to be aware of
the bear before he attempts to eat you.
………………………………………………………………………
I bought a trade paperback copy of The Challenge of Postmodernism at 2nd and Charles, a used bookstore. When I got it home, I realized that it
was a signed copy. The inscription
reads, “Soli Deo Gloria, David S. Dockery.”
“Soli Deo Gloria” is Latin and translates as “glory only to
God” or “glory to God alone.” Some
have translated it as “glory to the only God.”
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