Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Scraping The Surface of History

I am teaching this class on theology in a postmodern culture and in the first week, I raced through history to explain to some degree where we are as a culture. I recognize that this doesn't do justice to all the complexities of history, but it is a survey. It is vastly stereotypical and mostly focuses on Europe and America. Most of these notes are taken directly from three lectures I have heard on the subject and also some books that I have read on the subjec as well. People have asked me for these notes, so I thought I would put up here on the blog:

Premodern: called the Medieval World – 500-1500

Plato, Augustine, Aquinas

There is a comprehensive explanation for all of reality and history. Reality and history are comprehensible to humanity, at least to some degree. There is more to reality than what we can see, hear, smell, taste or touch. Human fulfillment requires a correct adjustment to these unseen realities.

The Priest – is a good representation of this period – The culture is bound together by the Priesthood’s divine authority, revealed beliefs, sanctioned customs, absolute rules and accepted rituals.

Theology of the premodern era – mystical. Read Augustine and they are not wrestling with the same questions that we were or are. There is no question of if there is a God. God was mystically changing their lives. No Quiet Times – you learned when the scripture was read and when the priest spoke. There is very little questioning of Catholicism or Tradition. No Questioning that the sun revolves around the earth.

Modern Era – 1500-2000

Things that bring about great change: Printing Press, Reformation, Descartes, Locke, Newton, Kant, Darwin. Decartes coined the phrase: "I think, therefore I am." In the modern era, there is great confidence in the value of knowledge and the belief in progress. Objectivity is both desirable and possible. All beliefs are justified with reference to a set of self-evident, foundational beliefs. The world’s order is usually believed to be intrinsic and immanent, rather than derived from a transcendent source.

The Enlightenment sought to replace faith in God with human reason. Science was assumed to be capable of revealing the whole truth about the universe. The Modern stressed the value of individual potential, achievement, freedom and fulfillment. Lets not forget this was when America was born! Ultimately the Modern believed that science could lead to morality.

A great representation of the Modern Era: The Scientist – clad in white lab coat represents modern culture, feeling skeptical of and superior to, premodern culture with its rules and superstitions. He stands erect and proud, confident in individualism (I am free to pursue my own happiness), rationalism (research and reason can find the truth), technology (we can control nature for our good), and progress (we are getting better).

Dr. Jeffrey Bingham from Dalla Seminary tells us about the gifts that the Modern Era gave us.

1. Rationalism – not appreciation of reason, it is the elevation of reason. Reason informs revelation, experience, tradition. Don’t stake your life on anything unless it is reasonable. Mathematics – formulas make sense.

2. Individualism – what I do w/ my mind now is the main determination of what is valid. Communities would be helpful to help individuals authority.

Christianity is communal, salvation is shared, we all have the same Holy Spirit. The Bible doesn’t talk nearly as much as we do about a person, private relationship with God. Relationship with God happens in the context of relationships of others.

3. Presentism – present over past – what I inherit from the past is not as valid as what I think now. Best thinking that has ever been done is done right now. Tradition has become a dirty word.

Dr. Bingham would say that nothing that is essential in Christianity – was not around at Pentecost or when Peter said that we have all we need for life and godliness. In many ways Postmodernity is finding more truth in the past rather than the present.

Bingham used to say that “ Tradition/Community is the chaperone when I am on a date with the bible – because I may not be gentlemanly with the bible.” I thought that was pretty funny, but also pretty true.

4. Secularism – existence is verified by our own thought not by anything outside. Natural over supernatural. The German Theologians in this era took everything supernatural out of the bible. In an attempt to make it relevant, they took the power out of the Scriptures.

The Modern church has led to some characteristics that fit with the modern way of thinking. For example: Apologetics – because it has to make sense and the argument has to be won; Systematic Theology – forumulaic, scientific approach to theology; Quiet Times – very individualistic; Commentaries – academic view of Scripture; Abandoning of Liturgy – because we can do it better now than anyone did it in the past; Secularization of the church - to make it more relevant; and finally the very individualistic view of scripture – we take plural “yous” and make them individual.

The Postmodern Era:

Postmoderns all of a sudden say that reason was no longer authoritative because look at where it has taken us. Civil War in the Great Enlightenment Country doesn’t add up, WW1, WW2. Science didn't make us more moral.

There is hardly any hope – still pursuing happiness, but there is no anchor to hold on to – no hope to find authentic happiness for everyone. I make me happy and you do it too. Human existence boils down to taste and tolerance.

In the postmodern era, we are confronted with new changes such as the Internet, wars, technology. In many ways the postmodern era is when rationalism fails, science fails and when we have given up the belief that there is a goal, a flow, or a meaning to history. There is little to no absolutism.

Postmodernity gives up on the idea that there is a truth that is both universal and eternal. Also it stops believing that their culture is the best (ethnocentrism, multiculturalism). A postmodern doesn't trust authority - why would they? All authority has let us down (the pastor, the teacher, the leader, the boy scout leader).

The Postmodern is the rock musician clad in almost anything. He is disappointed with disillusioned with, and suspicious of both priest and scientist.

Postmodern is the cultural outlook that puts faith in nothing that has not been shown by experience to work or be trustworthy. Relativism, syncretism, cultural pessimism.

Leonard Sweet: Author
From rational – experiential
From representative – to participatory
From word based to image driven
From individual to communal

Darrell Bock: DTS Professor
From propositions to stories
From theology aimed at preparing for death to preparing a theology for life
From church as a place where people come or attend to a mission outpost that sends people out.
From salvation as an event to a journey of salvation (process)
From a Western understanding of the gospel to a worldwide view.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Most of this comes from the lectures from Michael Gleghorn from Probe Ministries in Dallas, Brian Wallace to our FEFC elders, Dr. Jeffrey Bingham from DTS as well as Brian McLaren, Reggie McNeal and other authors who have helped me to understand this era better. Let me know what you notice in your world where you live. Also, the goal is to be ambassadors of Christ bringing the ministry of reconciliation to this generation. Lets pray that we can contextualize the gospel in creative, fresh ways that will reach our culture.

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