{"id":41317,"date":"2025-03-20T19:33:15","date_gmt":"2025-03-21T02:33:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=41317"},"modified":"2025-03-20T19:33:15","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T02:33:15","slug":"whats-acceptable-and-whats-not-apa-yang-diterima-dan-apa-yang-tidak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/whats-acceptable-and-whats-not-apa-yang-diterima-dan-apa-yang-tidak\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s Acceptable and What\u2019s Not? [Apa yang Diterima dan Apa yang Tidak?]"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In a world where reason and truth are under constant scrutiny, Postmodernism emerges as both a critic and a challenger to the Enlightenment&#8217;s legacy.<a href=\"#_ftn1\" name=\"_ftnref1\">[1]<\/a> In <em>Explaining Postmodernism: Skepticism and Socialism from Rousseau to Foucault<\/em>, Stephen R.C. Hicks debates that Postmodernism developed as a reaction to the failures of earlier ideas like the Enlightenment and socialism.<a href=\"#_ftn2\" name=\"_ftnref2\">[2]<\/a> He explains that Postmodernism is based on doubting reason, objective truth, and universal values. According to Hicks, when modern systems of thought did not work as expected, thinkers turned to Postmodernism to critique those systems. Postmodernism focuses on ideas like subjectivity, relativism, and how society shapes what we think of as &#8220;truth.&#8221;<a href=\"#_ftn3\" name=\"_ftnref3\">[3]<\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>Subjectivity<\/em> means that people&#8217;s experiences, feelings, and perspectives influence how they see and understand the world.<a href=\"#_ftn4\" name=\"_ftnref4\">[4]<\/a> For example, two people might watch the same movie but interpret its meaning differently based on their personal experiences. In Postmodernism, this highlights that truth, or meaning isn&#8217;t the same for everyone; it&#8217;s shaped by individual points of view.<\/li>\n<li><em>Relativism<\/em> goes a step further and suggests that there\u2019s no absolute or universal truth\u2014what&#8217;s true or right depends on the context, culture, or individual beliefs.<a href=\"#_ftn5\" name=\"_ftnref5\">[5]<\/a> For instance, something considered morally acceptable in one culture might be unacceptable in another. Postmodernists use relativism to argue that ideas like morality, knowledge, or truth aren\u2019t fixed but vary across different societies and situations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Explaining Postmodernism<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A movie that shares similar ideas with Stephen R.C. Hicks&#8217; <em>Explaining Postmodernism<\/em> is <em>The Matrix<\/em> (1999).<a href=\"#_ftn6\" name=\"_ftnref6\">[6]<\/a> The movie explores ideas about what is real, doubts about absolute truth, and how those in power shape what people believe\u2014all of which relate to Postmodernist themes in Hicks&#8217; book. In my opinion, here is how the movie reflects key themes from Hicks\u2019 book: ** The lead male actor in <em>The Matrix<\/em> (1999) is Keanu Reeves, who plays Neo, and the lead actress is <strong>Carrie-<\/strong>Anne Moss, who portrays Trinity. **<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Reality as a Construct: In <em>The Matrix<\/em>, the world people believe is real is actually a computer-generated simulation created by machines. This reflects Postmodernist ideas, as discussed in Hicks&#8217; book, about skepticism toward objective reality. Postmodernism argues that what we perceive as &#8220;truth&#8221; or &#8220;reality&#8221; is often constructed by social or cultural systems, just as the Matrix constructs the characters\u2019 perceived world.<\/li>\n<li>Skepticism of Truth and Reason: Hicks explains that Postmodernism is built on doubting universal truths and questioning whether reason can uncover absolute reality. In <em>The Matrix<\/em>, Neo&#8217;s journey is about challenging his belief in the reality he\u2019s always known, echoing the Postmodernist skepticism that Hicks critiques.<\/li>\n<li>Power and Control: The machines in <em>The Matrix<\/em> serve as a metaphor for the power structures that Postmodernists, as described by Hicks, examine and critique. Postmodernists often argue that those in power shape knowledge and &#8220;truth&#8221; to maintain their dominance. Similarly, the machines manipulate the simulated reality to control humanity.<\/li>\n<li>Identity and Subjectivity: Neo\u2019s transformation from an average individual into &#8220;The One&#8221; reflects the Postmodernist idea of identity as fluid and shaped by personal and external influences. Hicks discusses how Postmodernism views identity as constructive influenced by subjective experiences and societal forces.<\/li>\n<li>Rejection of Grand Narratives: Postmodernists, as described by Hicks, reject &#8220;grand narratives&#8221;\u2014overarching stories or ideologies that claim to explain everything. In <em>The Matrix<\/em>, Neo&#8217;s journey represents a rejection of the grand narrative imposed by the Matrix\u2019s simulation and an embrace of individual liberation and questioning.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>A Christian Perspective<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The book <em>Understanding Postmodernism: A Christian Perspective<\/em> by Stewart E. Kelly and James K. Dew Jr., contrasts Postmodernism with Christianity, emphasizing, that while Postmodernism questions truth and morality, Christianity provides a stable foundation in the eternal truth of Jesus Christ.<a href=\"#_ftn7\" name=\"_ftnref7\">[7]<\/a> The authors advocate for a balanced approach, acknowledging some valid critiques of Postmodernism, such as its concerns about oppressive narratives and human limitations. They explain that Postmodernism emerged as a reaction to the Enlightenment&#8217;s overconfidence in reason and objective truth, highlighting the challenges of language and achieving absolute perspective, while encouraging Christians to thoughtfully engage with these issues.<a href=\"#_ftn8\" name=\"_ftnref8\">[8]<\/a><\/p>\n<p>To a certain extent, I believe that there is an opportunity to engage Postmodernist culture by emphasizing personal experience, authenticity, and relational ministry in presenting the Gospel. <em>The Restaurant of Mistaken Orders<\/em> in Japan is an example of an initiative that challenges societal norms, celebrates human connection, and values empathy and diversity. The restaurant, which employs staff with dementia, focuses on joy and acceptance over rigid standards, demonstrating the importance of embracing diverse experiences and fostering understanding. While not strictly Postmodernist, it aligns with themes of challenging conventions and celebrating humanity. John 13:34-35 (NIV), <em>&#8220;A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.&#8221;<a href=\"#_ftn9\" name=\"_ftnref9\"><strong>[9]<\/strong><\/a><\/em> A powerful call to embody love as a sign of faith and connection.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Postmodernism invites us to question established truths and societal norms, presenting both challenges and opportunities for individuals and communities.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref1\" name=\"_ftn1\">[1]<\/a> Stephen R.C. Hicks, Explaining Postmodernism, Skepticism and Socialism from Rousseau to Foucault (Orlando, FL: Ockham\u2019s Razor Publishing, 2014), 37-38.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref2\" name=\"_ftn2\">[2]<\/a> Hicks, 23-24.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref3\" name=\"_ftn3\">[3]<\/a> Hicks,16.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref4\" name=\"_ftn4\">[4]<\/a> Hicks, 94.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref5\" name=\"_ftn5\">[5]<\/a> Hicks, 202.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref6\" name=\"_ftn6\">[6]<\/a> <em>The Matrix<\/em>. Directed by Lana Wachowski and Lilly Wachowski. Burbank, CA: Warner Bros., 1999. Film.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref7\" name=\"_ftn7\">[7]<\/a> Stewart E. Kelly and James K. Dew Jr., <em>Understanding Postmodernism: A Christian Perspective<\/em> (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2017).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref8\" name=\"_ftn8\">[8]<\/a> Kelly, Dew. 887.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"#_ftnref9\" name=\"_ftn9\">[9]<\/a> The Bible. John 13:34-35 (NIV).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction In a world where reason and truth are under constant scrutiny, Postmodernism emerges as both a critic and a challenger to the Enlightenment&#8217;s legacy.[1] In Explaining Postmodernism: Skepticism and Socialism from Rousseau to Foucault, Stephen R.C. Hicks debates that Postmodernism developed as a reaction to the failures of earlier ideas like the Enlightenment and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":198,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3437],"class_list":["post-41317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-hicks-dlgp03","cohort-dlgp03"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41317","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/198"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41317"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41317\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41319,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41317\/revisions\/41319"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}