Back on the blog horse, and dipping my toe in. (Aha! Master of the Mixed Metaphor! To dip my horse hoof in? My blog’s equine lower digit…?)
This year, as I return to my blogging habit (it’s been a very very busy fall), I am of the mind to make this space much more topical, much less a preview of the sermon…but we’ll see how that goes.
Here’s the first topic, designed to get discussion going. Ready?
[Sound of empty warehouse. The echo of water dripping in the background].
What is Postmodernism? And why does it matter?
I came across this very succinct and interesting (and well done, in my opinion) video about just that question. I think it does a very very good job of responding to a question to which (characteristically) there IS no answer, at least no ONE answer. There are only answers.
Watch it and then read on…:
What does this mean in terms of one’s relationship to and experience of faith? Does it matter if we believe in even the possibility that there is such a thing as “truth”? How does one hew to a Christianity that indeed does make some pretty serious claims about the Truth with a capital T, in an era in which the postmodern soup we’re swimming in holds that there is no Truth, just your truth and mine?
So – will leave it at that. Love to hear your thoughts. Are you a postmodernist? And if so, how would you define that?
As for the sermon this Sunday – I have not completely jettisoned the idea that a spin through some of the texts for Sunday is a good idea. But my hope is to be more oriented here toward the questions, than the conclusions.
So…the texts: 2 Timothy 2:8-15, and Luke 17:11-19. Here are the questions rattling around in my head as I prepare for the sermon on Sunday:
IN the 2 Timothy passage, I wonder: how does Paul arrive at such a state, wherein he can say, “If we have died with him, we will also live with him…”? He seems to understand his suffering as purposeful, useful even, “for the sake of the elect.” As an aside, I wonder what Paul would make of his own letter in light of postmodernism.
PERHAPS more on my mind are questions about the Luke 17 passage.
* How are gratitude and healing related? This is where I think I’m going in my sermon.
* More specifically, do we assume that all 10 lepers were indeed “healed”? The Greek word in verse 14 is: Katharizo. To be made clean. Extra credit for those who do a bit of word study on it. Does this word imply that they were all “healed”? The next line reads, “then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back….” The word here for healed is Iaomai. Is that different from “being made clean”? Extra extra credit: what does it mean that Jesus says at the end of the story, in verse 19, “…your faith has made you well?”
For now, that’s all from the grab bag. Love to hear from (*gulp*) anyone out there.
Blessings!
Jeff V.
I consider myself to be postmodern. I also consider myself to be Christian.
For me the key to the intersection of postmodernism and religion is this – can any human being Know the Whole Truth? I don’t believe that it’s possible. We are broken and imperfect beings, and therefore our knowledge of the world and of God are imperfect. We can’t know the whole truth now. Someday when we are part of the Kingdom that knowledge may be possible. But not now.
Given that, who am I to say that I know better than anybody else? Postmodernism doesn’t say “there is no Truth”. To me, postmodernism says “we don’t know the Truth, and we can’t”. Each of us has a piece of the Truth (and some, even many may have lots of the Truth) but nobody knows the whole thing. And we can be wrong.
But still, I believe that I’m right. I just also believe that I might be wrong. Postmoderism does not say (as it is accused of saying) that there is no single Truth. It just says that You (the generic you, not Jeff
don’t know what it is.
Based on your sermon Four Ways to Have a Conversation, I’d say that postmodernism supports both Pluralism and Particularism. Both of those models presuppose a Truth that is not fully known or fully claimed by any one person or group.
I believe that this is scripturally supported. John’s gospel shows this idea in a few places. John 3:8 “The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 13:7 “Jesus answered, ‘You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’” This theme of “you don’t know but I do, and you’ll find out later” is common to the sayings of Jesus. And I don’t see anything saying that Pentecost gave perfect knowledge – just that it gave the ability to communicate the Word through speech and deed.
And if we need further evidence, we can look at the splintering of Christianity. Every schism from the Eastern/Rome schism through the formation of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in the 70′s is the result of a difference of opinion on Truth. Somebody thinks that they know the Truth better than we do, and were so sure of it that they chose to no longer identify themselves with us. Even at PCOL we have people who discuss their differences of faith with each other – though at PCOL we do it pretty congenially.
One tiny correction – the Evangelical Presbyterian Church was formed in 1981. I was close
Very interesting, clear and cogent, Mark. Well reasoned, and well stated.
You do point out the crux of the matter: we need to be in a sort of existentially humble position: no one knows the mind of God; know one can know the truth as God (as we speak of God within our Christian framework) knows it. Faith ceases to be faith if it’s based on the same category of knowledge that, say, science is based on.
The challenge can be, however, with the question: whether we can discern it or not, IS there truth? Does it exist? You say that “postmodernism doesn’t say there is no truth.” In other words, that statement means, “there is Truth somewhere, but we can’t know what it is.” I wonder if postmodernism (to the extent we can generalize about it) would indeed embrace that. Because much of it is a radical de-construction of every edifice on which to hang the thing called “truth”.
Many post-modern thinkers (e.g. Derrida) have deconstructed language itself in claiming that the very thing it is signifying doesn’t exist. None of us is really talking about anything; the actual referent of language is non-existent. The Tower of Babel image from that short clip is a good image for that (one that Jacque Derrida used too, I believe).
So maybe a more refined way to state this is: is there Truth at all – even if one can’t discern it? Would a postmodern thinker embrace the idea that truth does exist, we just can’t know it?
Perhaps this discussion is worth the time and electrons – not just a philosophical mind game – because it goes to the question of conviction. Would Paul really bet his life on the reality of Christ’s resurrection if he somehow doubted that this could be true? It is indeed based on faith – a means of knowledge of a different category than the kind of knowledge we can acquire from, say, a telescope or an X-ray. But that it can refer to what is TRUE is the very basis for faith.
In any case–that seems to be the crux of the issue for post-modern Christians. Perhaps we can learn/discuss more!?
Here’s another interesting video that explores these issues. I’m not claiming to agree with the speakers! And the parade of White Men is a bit creepy. But they elucidate the issues well. Give them a listen:
Hello All:
A quick note before we dash off to see Geoff [son] in NH.
What is postmodernism? Postmodern? Modern? Voltaire thought he was modern. Romans thought they were modern. The Sumerians thought they were modern. Not a new concept. Adam? Hmmm
Postmodern – actually a 19th century idea — and then of course we get a book about “The End of History” and… and …
It is all “relative”/.
Do we walk around worrying about being mostly a lot of space and a few subatomic particles? No. Do we worry about alternate universes [except on Fringe & in SFi - No.
What is true? I believe there is Truth but you don't find it throw philosophy or reason or Reason or touching.
God is Truth - has been - always will be. And beauty is Truth - but just one aspect of God.
Back to Luke.
To me the point is we are offered salvation and Grace. We have Free Will [sort of] – we choose or do not choose to accept it.
Only the Samaritan knew and thanks Jesus that he was saved through Grace.
Do we receive Salvation through Grace if we do not willfully accept and acknowledge it? That one I am [and will be for some time] still working on.
Agape, Bob S
thanks for your thoughts, Bob! And have a great trip. Say hello to Geoff.
This has been an interesting read. My contribution will be brief and probably not directly related to the idea of post modernism. (1) Our beliefs affect how we behave and our choices, but belief does not equal the truth of the matter. So whether or not we believe in God has nothing to do with whether or not God actually exists. (2) One of my lessons in history is to beware of those who “own” the truth.
Good point indeed, Jean. One of the positive aspects of post-modernism is the suspicion around those who would use any purported “Truth/truth” in order to manipulate, control, shame, cajole – co-opt. Post modern Christians want to experience the truth – not be told it, not be “sold” it….
One of the reasons I like the theologian Karl Barth is his critique of such a phenomenon: we always have to approach truth from the perspective that we can’t “harness” it ourselves. We never “have” it – at best, it “has us”.
Really appreciate your comment! Hope you continue to hang with us!