Understanding postmodernism : a Christian perspective / Stewart E. Kelly with James K. Dew Jr.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kelly, Stewart E. (Stewart Emmett), 1955- author.

Dew, James K., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Postmodernism--Religious aspects--Christianity.

Postmodernism.

Physical Description:

1 online resource.

Place of Publication:

Downers Grove, Illinois : IVP Academic, 2017.

Summary:

Postmodernity has matured. But the challenge of navigating our contemporary culture remains. In order for Christians to make wise decisions, we first need to understand the many facets of our postmodern context.If René Descartes is often identified as the first truly modern philosopher in light of his confidence in human reason, then postmodernism has taken Descartes to the woodshed. Stewart Kelly and James Dew detail the litany of concerns that postmodernism has raised: overconfidence in human reason, the limitations of language, the relativity of truth, the lack of a truly objective view, the inherently oppressive nature of metanarratives, the instability of the human self, and the absence any moral superiority.With wisdom and care, Kelly and Dew compare these postmodern principles with the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Christian faith. What emerges is neither a rejection of everything postmodernism is concerned with nor a wholesale embrace of all that it affirms. Instead, we are encouraged to understand the postmodern world as we seek to mature spiritually in Christ.

Contents:

Introducing postmodernism

Criteria for evaluating postmodernism

The demise of enlightenment modernism

The observer as situated

Philosophy of language

Truth and social construction

Postmodernism and the self

Realism and antirealism, objectivity and subjectivity

On metanarratives and oppression

Doubts about metanarratives

Truth, faith, and postmodernism

Postmodernism and the critique of Enlightenment rationalism

The hope of the Gospel

Where do we go from here?

Chart on modernism and postmodernism.

Notes:

Includes index.

Description based on print version record.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

ISBN:

9780830889082

0830889086