Pomo
What is post-Modernism (pomo for short) and how does it affect spirituality? Furthermore, how does it relate to the Christian religion?
Over the past four decades, our culture has been emerging beyond Modernism into postmodernism (post means ‘beyond’ not ‘anti’). Some believe we already are a postmodern culture, while others say we are still emerging. Regardless, our contemporary American society is reacting to and emerging beyond Modernism, and this is really what postmodernism is: a reaction to Modernism and a desire to move beyond this philosophical structure.
Without going into great detail of the philosophical distinctions–both because I am certainly not qualified to make a lengthy discussion and because it is really not entirely important–pure Modernism held to a single, universal worldview and moral standard, a belief that all knowledge is good and certain, truth is absolute, individualism is valued, and thinking, learning, and beliefs should be determined systematically and logically. Postmodernism, then, holds there is no single universal worldview. All truth is not absolute, community is valued over individualism, and thinking, learning, and beliefs can be determined nonlinerarly.
How has this tension affected spirituality, religion, and Christianity? Postmoderns react severely to dominant groups imposing a single worldview and life story (called metanarratives) on a people group. They have witnessed the results by various groups throughout history using certainty and worldviews to bring destruction upon a people group and world. These metanarratives range from Facism with the Nazi regime in Germany, to Communism being utilized in the former Soviet Union, to Christians suppressing different people groups like slaves and women using the metanarrative of the Bible. Obviously, it is unfortunate Christianity is lumped in with evil, Satanic dictatorial beliefs throughout history, but the biblical worldview (metanarrative) is considered just as oppressive as these other regimes. This is why a diversity of spiritual experiences and traditions is accepted, celebrated, and embraced.
While most believe the transition into a fully postmodern, “post-Christendom” era has not fully culminated, there are very real forces at work behind the scenes of modern American life. The American society is moving into a world beyond the values and world view of Modernism, and even more significantly beyond Christianity. Much of the culture neither understands nor accepts Christianity as being true, real or valuable. At worst, Christianity is seen as a world view used to oppress Blacks, women, Native Americans, and other non-Western nations; at best, Christianity is one other alternative in the spiritual smorgasbord and completely irrelevant to 21st Century living.
What’s worse, the Church and Christianity unwittingly adopted the Modern framework for viewing the world. While Christian leaders wouldn’t admit it, the modern version of Christianity was largely influenced by Enlightenment and Modern modes thinking.
Now, many Jesus-followers are rejecting this Modern-influenced version of Christocentric spirituality and embracing a pre-Modern view of God, Scripture, Jesus, Mission, Reality, Truth, Discipleship, and the World. Post-Modernism is not the savior, just the means by which many of us are moving beyond the Modern way of doing Christocentric spirituality.
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