Responding to Postmodernism

Responding to Postmodernism

CONTENTS:

Articles / Church in the 21st Century / Gen X / Magazines / Music & the Arts / Newsletters / Research / Resources

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ARTICLES

A Glimpse At Postmodernism

Being Post Western - It Was All Greek to Me - Andrew Jones

Bubbles, Couches and Pancakes - Andrew Jones

Postmodernism and Global WorldViews - Andrew Jones

Postmodern Church: Are We There Yet? - Andrew Jones

"POSTMODERN POSSIBILITIES" - For the entire article, check out the following.

"I was sitting with an evangelical pastor listening to his story. His associate, ten years younger than he, felt that their church needed to experiment with new styles and new music. He wanted to see greater participation, more use of media, and a less structured order of service. The older man feared that in changing the forms the functions might be lost; he also feared that connecting with postmodern culture meant abandoning truth. The younger man feared that the forms limited function; he also feared that not connecting with postmodern culture would mean a dying church, disconnected from the real world. The two men parted company, both perceiving a cultural gap.
One man could not envision life in the future. The other would not live in the past.
"Postmodernism is a huge threat. Advocating the impossibility of knowing truth, it throws off all limits and casts us adrift in a sea of doubt."
"Postmodernism is a tremendous opportunity. It offers the potential for the rediscovery of spiritual reality and the integration of faith in everyday life."
Two positions. Two opinions. Is one position true, or both?
As I began researching the postmodern movement, I came across a host of opinions and observations, many contradictory. Furthermore, even postmodern advocates disagree as to definition. What is postmodernism anyway? Is it a cultural shift, or a worldview? What are its main tenets? And does
postmodernism represent a crisis for the church, or an opportunity? What are some of the facets of postmodern culture that offer a unique opportunity for the Gospel? Let's list them:
+ recognition of the essentially spiritual nature of life
+ openness and desire for community
+ rejection of authority in position and acceptance of authority in
+ relationship
+ emphasis on participation over spectator mentality
+ leadership by wisdom and example not knowledge or position
+ emphasis on practical answers, "walk" over "talk"
+ emphasis on journey and process over goal
+ desire for experience over knowledge, the "subjective" and mystical dimension
+ spontaneous order over rational structure, webs of connection and meaning
+ recognition of truth in paradox, images and story…"