Confronting Postmodernism
In 2016, the Oxford English Dictionary’s word of the year was post-truth: “relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.”[1] In that same year, the people around the world from all political and religious beliefs watched with mourning as unbelievable stories were aired for all to witness. However, post-truth thinking about our politics and religion had already been the air we breathed. What made everything after 2016 different than before? Why, in 2017, did it take the #MeToo movement for thousands of women to speak up and no longer be silent about the sexual and physical abuse they suffered from powerful and perverted men? Celebrities around the world declared that speaking “your truth” is a powerful tool. As Rebecca Mclaughlin says in Confronting Christianity, “The truth of a sexual assault is undoubtedly personal: it is in an important sense “your truth.” But if that truth is not also objective, it is a lie.”[2]
What is Postmodernism?
In listening to and reading Stephen’s Hicks’ work, Explaining Postmodernism: Skepticism and Socialism from Rousseau to Foucalult, I learned that his favorite definition of postmodernism is, “skepticism toward meta narratives.”[3] He believes that the academic world and culture are being attacked by the philosophies of Postmodernism:
- Skepticism
- Values are Subjective to individuals or groups
- Power can be amoral
- Postmoderns don’t have connections to words.
What is Postmodernism? Postmodernism is, “a comprehensive philosophical and cultural movement. It identifies its target–modernism and its realization in the Enlightenment and its legacy–and it mounts powerful arguments against all of the essential elements of modernism.”[4]
Hicks’ concern is that Postmodernism asks is there any truth at all? Think about the women who have spoken out about the sexual harassment and abuse. Ultimately, they are honored for speaking up about THE TRUTH, not just their truth. Or, conversely, the danger of when our university students are told there is no truth rather than being taught to challenge historical truth–just like their own professors experienced when they were learning. Postmodernism challenges us to ask the question, Am I looking for truth?
What is Postmodernism’s Relationship to Literature and the Creative?
Even though Hicks believes that the greatest current threats to free speech in relation to Postmodernism come from within our colleges and universities, I am surprised by the courageous authors who rise up against the powerful forces and voices and speak about the truth. Take for instance, Beth Allison Barr’s The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth. Barr is a professor at Baylor University. Her book moves the conversation about biblical womanhood being submissive wives, virtuous homemakers and joyous mothers beyond Greek grammar and into ancient, medieval and modern church history. Rather than writing with a postmodern mentality about women’s roles and identity from a “values are subjective” interpretation, Barr flips the Christian narrative about Patriarchy on its head. She writes, “Patriarchy wasn’t what God wanted; patriarchy was a result of human sin.”[5] Her work takes on opposing traditions by taking her readers through history, all of history, and argues that biblical womanhood isn’t biblical but arises from clearly defined historical moments.
Beth Allison Barr’s book is an example of a modern day Christian thinker who uses a deconstructive approach[6] to her argument by constructing a new narrative based on truth. Hicks claims that deconstructionists level all meaning and value but from the many Christian or Christian seeking books published since 2007[7], I would argue there is value when an author reconstructs their belief systems–rather than just deconstructing. When authors and thinkers approach issues with intellectual questions and curiosity with great difficulty, ultimately reason and faith tell them (and us) that the world in which we live reflects a coherent ordering. What have been your experiences with reading books like these?
How Might Postmodernism Poison Our Conscience?
In quoting Nietzsche, Stephen Hicks captures the heart of the confrontation when it comes to words:
“When would they [the men of ressentiment] achieve the ultimate, subtlest, sublimest triumph of revenge? Undoubtedly if they succeeded in poisoning the consciences of the fortunate with their own misery, with all misery, so that one day the fortunate began to be ashamed of their good fortune and perhaps said one to another, ‘it is disgraceful to be fortunate: there is too much misery!’ But no greater or more calamitous misunderstanding is possible than for the happy, well-constituted, powerful in soul and body, to begin to doubt their right to happiness in this fashion.”[8]
What light does this shed on THE truth, not just YOUR truth?
The central claim of truth on which our faith in Christ is solid or weak is that Jesus was physically raised from death. We actually have historical evidence for this truth. The problem with postmodern authors who use words to deconstruct Christianity or their own faith stories is the fruit it is bearing from such philosophies: people beginning to doubt their right to happiness. In using the word “happiness”, I am referring to our restorative relationship to God. Too much skepticism, despair and confusion might be what is threatening culture and the academic world on a quest for The truth. What writers do you read who are wanderers and seekers whose journeys end with their hearts saying Yes to God? As I finished the book by Stephen Hicks, I found myself thinking about Romans 1: 21, “For although they know God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and their foolish hearts were darkened.” As leaders and writers of words, may we never exchange the Truth about God for a lie.
[1] “Post-Truth Adjective – Definition, Pictures, Pronunciation and Usage Notes | Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.Com.” Accessed March 5, 2024. https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/post-truth?q=posttruth.
[2] McLaughlin, Rebecca. Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion. Crossway, 2019. P. 51.
[3] Hicks quotes Jean-Francois Lyotard in Jordan B. Peterson & Stephen Hicks: Philosophy and Postmodernism, 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiOkf2Mn7iA.
[4] Hicks, Stephen Ronald Craig. “Explaining Postmodernism: Skepticism and Socialism from Rousseau to Foucault.” Roscoe, Illinois: Ockham’s Razor Publishing, 2011.
[5] Barr, Beth Allison. The Making of Biblical Womanhood. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Brazos Press, 2021. P. 5.
[6] According to Stephen Hicks, deconstruction theory says that no work has meaning. Any apparent meaning can be transformed into its opposite, into nothing, or revealed to be a mask for something distasteful. The postmodern movement contains many people who like the idea of deconstructing other people’s creative work. P. 199
[7] I am thinking of Rachel Held Evans, Peter Enns, Sarah Bessey, Jackie Hill-Perry. Who I question are authors like Peter Rollins, Rob Bell, and at times, Diedre Riggs. This is something I would like to explore when there’s time.
[8] Nietzsche, Friedrich. The Will to Power. Edited by Walter Kaufman and translated by Walter Kaufman and R. J. Hollingdale. Vintage 1968. Genealogy of Morals, 3:14.
About the Author
Pam Lau
Pamela Havey Lau brings more than 25 years of experience in speaking, teaching, writing and mediating. She has led a variety of groups, both small and large, in seminars, trainings, conferences and teachings. Pam’s passion is to see each person communicate with their most authentic voice with a transparent faith in Jesus Christ. With more than 10, 000 hours of writing, researching, and teaching the heart and soul of Pam’s calling comes from decades of walking alongside those who have experienced healing through pain and peace through conflict. As a professor and author, Pam deeply understands the role of mentoring and building bridges from one generation to another. She has developed a wisdom in how to connect leaders with their teams. Her skill in facilitating conversations extends across differences in families, businesses, schools, universities, and nonprofits. Pam specializes in simplifying complex issues and as a business owner, has helped numerous CEOs and leaders communicate effectively. She is the author of Soul Strength (Random House) and A Friend in Me (David C. Cook) and is a frequent contributor to online and print publications. You can hear Pam’s podcast on Real Life with Pamela Lau on itunes. Currently, Pam is a mediator for families, churches, and nonprofits. You can contact Pam through her website: PamelaLau.com. Brad and Pam live in Newberg, Oregon; they have three adult daughters and one son-in-law. One small, vocal dog, Cali lives in the family home where she tries to be the boss! As a family they enjoy worshiping God, tennis, good food and spending time with family and friends.2 responses to “Confronting Postmodernism”
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Pam-
I really enjoyed reading your connection between post-modernism and deconstruction. You asked for other writers who are also using deconstruction as an effort to find truth, and I would reply that I really appreciated AJ Swoboda’s After Doubt. I found that he encouraged his readers bravely assess their beliefs while maintaining faith that there would be truth at the other side.
Jen~ I would like to read A.J Swoboda’s book. I have heard him preach at Fox and surrounding churches. Thanks for mentioning this author!