Saturday, July 31, 2004

Postmodern Catechism

Today I thought I would share with you exerpts from a conversation that I had in which I attempted to explain postmodernism. I like the way that it came out, and it kinda reminds me of my hero, Luther. He would often have students over for breakfast and he was known to sit for hours answering questions. After his death several of the students got together and published some of the conversations. How cool! Anyway, this is my humbe attempt to emulate him:


ELaiNey512: dave....

Just as I am: ?

ELaiNey512: you're not logging off soon, are you?

Just as I am: i don't plan on it . . .

Just as I am: my comp is old and it sometimes doesn't leave me much of a choice, but i have stuff to do, and i intend to be on until 12:30 at least

Just as I am: why?

ELaiNey512: so what's post-modernism

ELaiNey512: haha ppl were talking about it today and i was somewhat interested

Just as I am: have you read my blog lately?

ELaiNey512: yes

Just as I am: ok, good. . .

ELaiNey512: but i'm still kinda off, cuz i'm totally not relating to the star trek

Just as I am: ok, thats fair . . . lets back out a little and look at the larger picture

Just as I am: postmodernism (pomo) as a philosophical approach has looked back on history and come to the realization that every time we think that we have it all figured out, we are very wrong

Just as I am: so what is basically says is that we need to be aware that we are limited in what we know and how we can view the world

ELaiNey512: ohk

Just as I am: those in conservative christian circles equate pomo to moral relativism, which i don't think is fair

Just as I am: and misses the point

Just as I am: are you with me thus far?

ELaiNey512: ok define moral relativism exactly

Just as I am: baiscally there is no right or wrong, morals are imposed by society, but ultimately, there is no moral right and wrong

ELaiNey512: alrite i thought so

ELaiNey512: with ya now

Just as I am: ok, now christians obviously don't want to take a moral relativism stance, so they have put thier own spin on pomo

Just as I am: they look at it as a reaction against modernism

ELaiNey512: modernism being exactly what?

ELaiNey512: like what exactly about modernism they're reacting to?

Just as I am: the modern age (roughly reformation to woodstock) valued reason, intelect and logic above all else . . . modernism placed ultimate value on these things

Just as I am: this impacted they way that they view God and understand the Bible

ELaiNey512: right okay.

Just as I am: the Bible became God's instruction book, full of clear answers to all of life's problems . . . i suppose that methodism (as in, live according to this method and gain God's approval) is an extreme example of this line of thought

Just as I am: God became the master engineer

Just as I am: and we attempted to use theology and philosophy to define God

ELaiNey512: ok.

Just as I am: pomo tells us that even our best efforts will fail to fully define God, and that the Bible is a pre-modern text, and that looking to it as the great answer book is taking the Bible out of context

ELaiNey512: wait, is that pomo pomo or the christian twist to pomo

Just as I am: the christian twist . . .

so, pomos are beginning to reclaim a lot of the mysterious elements of the faith that we have lost over the years

Just as I am: remember that there is some intelectual relationship between secular pomo and christian pomo

Just as I am: and that secular pomo isn't necessarially moral relativism

ELaiNey512: okie

Just as I am: so, the approach that alot of pomos are taking to worhsip is to basically lead people to a place where they can encounter God on thier own, on thier terms.

ELaiNey512: kinda like liquid....

Just as I am: sort of lead them to God and then let the Holy Spirit take over

Just as I am: right

ELaiNey512: okie

Just as I am: doing things exactly right when you are there isn't nearly as important as it is in a catholic or lutheran church that is highly liturgical

Just as I am: does that make sense?

ELaiNey512: right

Just as I am: those are the basics . .

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's kind of how I look at it. I feel that there is a definite right and wrong. However, we can never get it entirely right or understand entirely what it is, as we are only human. Therefore, we must each do what we interpret to be right and wrong to the best of our abilities, and trust God to lead us in the right direction if we go too far astray. That's how I look at it, anyway. Not exactly moral relativism, but close to it. God bless and take care.

- Scott

Anonymous said...

Rocking post dude, good clear explanations.

In line with the last comment...

Perhaps "moral relativism" and "moral absolutism" are both inaccurate depictions our world.

I'm leaning towards "moral humility." Believing that there is a right way to go, right decisions to make, but that we can never be sure of all the answers (at least in this life). Even an secular postmodernist would agree with that one- you realistically can't know all the answers to our moral dilemas, but you have to try to get by in this world and live in relationship with your fellow human beings. To ignore morality is fatalistic and ignorant of reality.

And note my use of the term "way." Its not about strict rules or precepts that are right 100% of the time. In that sense, many Christian denominations seem to be as bad as the Pharisees. Rather, moral living is a path, a PROCESS which we must live out day by day. There are guidelines and lessons we should learn to guide our decisions, but the morality ultimately comes down to just that- making a decision. It takes knowing that life isn't about situations that always fits into our neat boxes. And the humility and wisdom to realize that where rules may fail, love endures. Guess that's why Jesus taught it as the Greatest Commandment. :)

-Kieran

Anonymous said...

You are a great teacher, David.
--Lauren

(But I knew this already ;))