Trying to think Post-modernly

“All thinking begins with a pain in the mind.”

- Lesslie Newbigin

My journey into postmodernity… Egypt, Morocco and North Africa

Pre-modern world rushing into postmodern…

My kids… Growing up in Africa, Europe and

Middle East

Looking at church…

We can look at things…

On the surface – cosmetics

Self-righteously – with reaction

Critically – with judgment

Realistically – with self-assessment

Where you stand will determine what you see…

“Spirit of the age…”

Let’s look at how we – as “moderns” – view the world…The Key Ideas of Western Modernity:

We consider things to work… Rationality

Logically With autonomy

We are independent Objectivity

We can step outside Science as the objective arbiter of truth

Although we are “spiritual” we think scientifically

Knowledge produced by science is "truth" and is eternal

We value

Progress and perfection Order Platonic divisions:

Sacred – Secular Material – Spiritual

Language See it as rational and transparent

(it means exactly what it says)

Platonic dualistic thinking:

Religion… Science “Real”…“Unreal” State…Church Earth… Heaven Material… Spiritual Secular… Sacred Immanent… Transcendent

Rejection of that which does not represent order

Rejection of that which is considered "other" i.e. lack of tolerance

REASON – An emphasis upon reason, which results in the suggestion that it is the human mind that is the unquestionable benchmark for the pursuit of all knowledge.

DIVISION of REALTIES – Reality was divided into two discrete parts, the thinking subjects over and above the objects that could be analyzed and exploited.

Results in “experience zones…” Places where you can experience

God…

Pomo’s say, “I can experience God anywhere, any time…”

And in fact I do…

MECHANICAL WORLDVIEW – The idea of purpose was abandoned in favor of considering all things in mechanistic terms, essentially a cause and effect approach.

Cause and effect Mechanical rather than organic

worldview…

PROGRESS – A significant emphasis was placed upon progress, which led to the pursuit of expansion, advancement and innovation.

VALUE FREE KNOWLEDGE – The Enlightenment approach proceeded from the assumption that all true knowledge was factual, value free and neutral.

What does the postmodern person act like? How are they different from

modern people? The following is a profile of postmodern people from their own perspective…

“I’m looking for a truth that works for me…”

“I can only try to see life from my own perspective; reality is too complex to understand it all…”

“I’m interested in the values of my group and my community…”

“I believe in being tolerant…”

“I believe in letting others live like they want to…”

“I don’t like it when people argue about how their group or beliefs are better…”

“I want practical answers to life. I’m not drawn to idealistic schemes…”

“I am suspicious of schemes that try to explain everything or give simplistic answers to complex questions…”

“When people talk to me about these schemes I think of it as ‘noise’ to be ignored…”

“I like to have a group of close friends with which I share common values…”

“I don’t like institutional religion...”

“I do have a vague desire for non-institutional spirituality. But I don’t know how to find it...”

Tendencies among “Pomo” Subjectivity Rejection of rigid distinctions Local, personal and specific truth Rejection of absolute truths Rejection of "grand narratives" which

explain reality such as capitalism or communism. These grand narratives are seen as old and simplistic and don’t adequately explain the world’s complexity.

Practicality

Inclusiveness or tolerance Diversity of morals and lifestyle Tendency to perceive information that

does not fit their worldview as "noise". Tendency to see conservative religion or

politics as the enemy. Language is fluid and subjective (the

hearer brings as much to the conversation as the listener).

Desire for spirituality

Desire for community

Rejection of negativity

The Emerging Global Culture demands: Relationship

“Tribal thinking…”

Participation

Community

Symbol

Servanthood

Engaging the Emerging Global Culture demands: The radical “re-norming” of biblical

priorities What the Bible considers “normal”

we should consider normal… So much today is biblically sub-

normal “Spiritual temperature is so low,

that when someone comes by with normal temperature, we think he has a fever…”

Absolute rejection of: Slick marketing Showy worship Phony verbal games

VRG – Verbal Religious Garbage

Culture is created…

Religion is created…

Mystical experience

Theological application

Religious ritual

Looking at how we do religion…

Operations

Theology

Mystical encounter with God

People have used many methods to try to gain knowledge.

By reason and logic (perhaps in cooperation with others, using logical argument).

By mathematical proof. By the scientific method. By the trial and error method. By applying an algorithm. By learning from experience. By an argument from authority, which

could be from religious, literary, political, philosophical or scientific authorities.

By listening to the testimony of witnesses.

By observing the world in its "natural state"; seeing how the world operates without performing any experiments.

By acquiring knowledge that is embedded in one's language, culture, or traditions.

By dialogical enquiry (conversation). By some claimed form of enlightenment

following a period of meditation. By some claimed form of divine

illumination or revelation from a divine agency.

Systems theory

Complex adaptive systems