In a couple of my recent sermons I have referred to “postmodernism”. Before anything can be “post” there has to be something that predates it, or is antecedent to it. So, before postmodernity, we had modernity. Let’s start there. What is modernity, or modernism? Well, entire books have been written about this kind of thing and so, in this brief piece, I’ll offer to the best of my ability and research, “potted versions” of these terms. It won’t be adequate, of course. Hopefully, some basic ideas to start you on your own quest …
According to Wikipedia and the Encyclopaedia Brittanica, modernism was a cultural movement of the late 19th century to the mid-20th century. It changed art, literature, music, architecture and drama. It gradually gained momentum so that a significant cultural shift was occurring in western countries. Modernism rejected tradition as old hat. It was interested in new ways of doing old things. Also, there was a belief that science and technology could change the world for the better. In the 1920s before the term was used, the word “progress” was used to describe the shift we now call modernism. But that’s not all. One (just one) key aspect of modernity was the pursuit of objective truth. Advances in the sciences, especially, drove this. In fact, there was an inherent assumption in modernity that there is such a thing as objective and even absolute truth, and that it is discoverable and knowable.
In one sense modernism gave society some sense of security because there were some certain and clear building blocks for our individual worldviews. There were certain truths upon which we all pretty much agreed and built a life – whether you were a Christian, or not. According to Pluckrose & Lindsay (“Cynical Theories), “During the modern period and particularly in the last two centuries in most Western countries there has developed a broad consensus in favour of the political philosophy known as “liberalism.” [Which is not the same thing as theological liberalism] The main tenets of liberalism are political democracy, limitations on the powers of government, the development of universal human rights, legal equality for all adult citizens, freedom of expression, respect for the value of viewpoint diversity and honest debate, respect for evidence and reason, the separation of church and state, and freedom of religion. These liberal values developed as ideals and it has taken centuries of struggle against theocracy, slavery, patriarchy, colonialism, fascism, and many other forms of discrimination to honour them as much as we now do, and not always perfectly.”
But then in the 1960s a new movement which we now call “postmodernism” was slowly emerging. Again, according to Pluckrose & Lindsay, “a group of theoretical concepts clustered around the nature of knowledge, power, and language that came to be known as postmodernism emerged from within several humanities disciplines at once.” Their research shows that at its core, “… postmodernism rejected what it calls metanarratives—broad, cohesive explanations of the world and society [including the biblical narratives]. It rejected Christianity and Marxism. It also rejected science, reason, and the pillars of post-Enlightenment Western democracy.” But one critical element in the postmodernity shift that has taken place – it’s already a done deal – is the outright rejection of objective truth (unbiased and factual truth). So much hinges on this one aspect of postmodernity in my view. As one magazine article stated recently, “The progressive left has aligned itself not with modernity but with postmodernism, which rejects objective truth as a fantasy dreamed up by naive and/or arrogantly bigoted Enlightenment thinkers ...”
Yes, I know, a lot to take in. But it is well-worth trying to come to grips with all this, because most people reading this were born into a world already being shaped by postmodernist thought. Virtually every tertiary, secondary and primary school in western societies are hopelessly infected with decades of postmodernity philosophical agendas – and plenty of theological seminaries, too! There are no absolutes any more - truth is not absolute. It's what we want it to be. And so, everything is fluid – morality, gender (regardless of biological facts), language, politics, and so on. There’s a long, long list.
Postmodern thought and attitude is peaking in our day in the most aggressive, shrill and brutal ways. In the name of tolerance and inclusion any dissenting voices are cancelled. The hypocrisy is stunning. This peaking postmodern agenda is brazenly obsessed with power, language and knowledge and the dynamic relationships between these which is then weaponised for the purposes of imposing a new worldview – there is no discussion or civil public debate anymore. This weaponisation is emerging out of a flood of social and cultural grievances that feed all kinds of political struggles. Some we see daily in the media “revolving around identity markers like race, sex, gender, sexuality, and many others.” Truth is what the political winners decree it to be, and we cannot dispute it without being marginalised as a bigot.
This is the world in which we now live! I am convinced that postmodern philosophies have been raised up by Satan to blind human beings to God’s truth and reality, and seduce them away from God’s worldview which is about real life and joy and peace. These are challenging days, yes, but they are not without hope. And I am not daunted! There is hope!
God is still on His throne. He is the rock of our salvation (Psa. 95:1), He does not change (Mal. 3:6), and His truth and His glorious and ultimate reality will remain in the end.
2 Corinthians 4:4 (NIV)
“The god of this age [Satan] has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
John 8:31-32 (NIV)
To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said,
"If you hold to My teaching [truth], you are really My disciples.
32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Heavy stuff, I know. But we walk by faith, and we overcome in His name.
Think on these things, and pray for wisdom and discernment. I’ll have more to say soon.
Ps Milton
[Key Sources: Pluckrose & Lindsay, “Cynical Theory”; Pluckrose, “A Manifesto against the Enemies of Modernity”; Areo Magazine, August 22, 2017; John Rawls, “A Theory of Justice”; Wikipedia; Encyclopaedia Britannica].