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“Apologetic Cartography in a Postmodern World: Does Anyone Have a Compass?

“Apologetic Cartography in a Postmodern World: Does Anyone Have a Compass?. Rich Knopp, Ph.D. Director, WorldViewEyes Prof. of Philosophy & Apologetics Lincoln Christian College & Seminary www.worldvieweyes.org E-Mail: rknopp@lccs.edu. 34 Years’ Difference. 1970: Long hair

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“Apologetic Cartography in a Postmodern World: Does Anyone Have a Compass?

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  1. “Apologetic Cartography in a Postmodern World:Does Anyone Have a Compass? Rich Knopp, Ph.D. Director, WorldViewEyes Prof. of Philosophy & Apologetics Lincoln Christian College & Seminary www.worldvieweyes.org E-Mail: rknopp@lccs.edu

  2. 34 Years’ Difference 1970: Long hair 2004: Longing for hair 1970: KEG 2004: EKG 1970: Growing pot 2004: Growing pot belly 1970: Hoping for a BMW 2004: Hoping for a ?? 1970: Rolling Stones 2004: Kidney stones 1970: “Whatever” 2004: “Depends”

  3. “Apologetic Cartography in a Postmodern World:Does Anyone Have a Compass? Rich Knopp, Ph.D. Director, WorldViewEyes Prof. of Philosophy & Apologetics Lincoln Christian College & Seminary www.worldvieweyes.org E-Mail: rknopp@lccs.edu

  4. Why are You Here? Modernism Postmodernism Deconstructionism Foundationalism Anti-foundationalism

  5. What do you Prefer? Modernist T P e s r o s o i t d m N

  6. “Christian” Approaches to Postmodernism

  7. Apologetic Cartography in a Postmodern World: Does Anyone Have a Compass?

  8. Robert Greer,Mapping Postmodernism: A Survey of Christian Options(2003)

  9. Leonard Sweet,Aqua Church(1999) Part One:“The Traps of Maps”

  10. Apologetic Cartography in a Postmodern World

  11. ? ? The Church’s Mission ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

  12. The Church’s Mission Christians ? Destination ? Truth ?  You are here.

  13. The Church’sMission • “the pillar and the support of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15) • “speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15) • Jesus: “the way, the truth, & the life” (Jn. 14:6)

  14. Session Overview The Condition of our ‘Postmodern’ World. The Constructive Contributions of PM for the Church. The Destructive Capabilities of PM for the Church. The Restrictive but Adequate Nature of the Church’s Map and Compass.

  15. (1) The Condition of Our PostmodernWorld

  16. “Cultural”Postmodernism Vs.“Philosophical”Postmodernism

  17. A Changing Culture Pre-Modern Modern Post-Modern 17th Century 18th Century 1960s Today

  18. A “Pre-Modern” Culture • Manual economy • Little diversity or social change • Religious/Social Authority • Pre-scientific Pre-Modern 17th Century 18th Century 1960s Today

  19. A “Modern” Culture Pre-Modern • Industrial & machine • Western • Consensus & Conformity • Word-based & Linear Modern 17th Century 18th Century 1960s Today

  20. Pre-Modern Modern A “Postmodern” Culture Post-Modern • Service • Electronic/Digital • Global (Non-Western) • Diversity • Image-based & Random • Industrial • Machine • Western • Consensus & Conformity • Word-based & Linear 17th Century 18th Century 1960s Today

  21. “Cultural”Postmodernism Vs.“Philosophical”Postmodernism

  22. Cultural vs. PhilosophicalPostmodernism Pre-Modernism Modernism “Cultural” Post-Modernism “Philosophical” 17th Century 18th Century 1960s Today Just because we live in a “Postmodern” world does NOT mean that we are (or should be) “Postmodernists.”

  23. Philosophical Umpires “There are strikes and there are balls, and I call ’em as they are.” Pre-Modern “I call ’em the way I see ’em.”” Modern “They ain’t nothin’ ’til I call ’em.”.” Post-Modern Walter Truett Anderson, Reality Isn’t What It Used to Be.

  24. Pre-Modern Modern Philosophical Contrasts Post-Modern • Everybody has a truth • Can’t know THE truth • Whatever works • No single foundation • Subjective / Community • Absolute Truth • Can discover Truth • Reason & Science • Certain Foundation • Total Objectivity 17th Century 18th Century 1960s Today

  25. Modernism

  26. Postmodernism

  27. (2) The Constructive Contributions of P.M. for the Church

  28. The Contributions of “Cultural”Postmodernismto the Church

  29. Chuck SmithThe End of the World … As We Know It:Clear Direction for Bold and InnovativeMinistry in a Postmodern World(2001)

  30. Robert Webber,Ancient-Future Faith:Rethinking Evangelicalism for aPostmodern World(1999)

  31. D.A. Carson, ed.Telling the Truth:Evangelizing Postmoderns(2000)

  32. 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 “Unchurched” AdultsBarna Research Group 1991 Today Only 15%increaseinAdultpopulation 92%increaseinUnchurched 39Mil. 75Mil.

  33. Worship ? Teaching methods ? Leadership ? Diversity ? Creativity ? Relationships ? Architecture ? Pop Culture ? Evangelism ? Music ? Prayer ? Experience ? Women Leaders ? Image Oriented ? Technology ? Apologetics ? “Cultural” Postmodernismand the Church

  34. “Fishers of Men”

  35. The Contributions of “Philosophical”Postmodernismto the Church

  36. Modernism Individualism Rationalism Factualism Objectivism Church “We alone have it.” “We can explain it all.” “Just the facts.” “Interpret it right.” Over-Reliance of the Church on Modernism

  37. Insights of Philosophical Postmodernism for Our Faith • Not all ‘rational’ • Not just ‘facts’ • Not simplistically ‘proven’ • Not exhausted in a ‘book’ • Not without community bias

  38. Curtis & Eldredge “We have lived so long with a ‘propositional’ approach to Christianity, we have nearly lost its true meaning…. Our rationalistic approach to life … is barely more than mere fact-telling. Modern evangelicalism reads like an IRS 1040 form: it’s true, all the data is there, but it doesn’t take your breath away” (The Sacred Romance, pp. 44-45).

  39. (3) The Destructive Capabilities of P.M. for the Church

  40. “Destructive” Postmodernism • No absolute truth • “Truth” is just what the community says it is. • No universal Reason • No knowledge of the “real” world • No moral absolutes

  41. Millard Erickson,Postmodernizingthe Faith:Evangelical Responses to the Challenge of Postmodernism(1998)

  42. Millard Erickson,Truth or Consequences: The Promise & Perilsof Postmodernism(2001)

  43. Douglas Groothuis,Truth Decay:Defending ChristianityAgainst the Challenges of Postmodernism(2000)

  44. Stanley Fish [deconstruction] “… relieves me of the obligation to be right … and demands only that I be interesting.”

  45. PotentialDangers for the Church • Renouncing Truth for Trust • Relinquishing Reason for Relevance • Rejecting Logic for Love

  46. Alister McGrath “We … need to realize that it is now bad tactics to major on the truth question. If we’re going to get a hearing in today’s culture, we need to be able to show that Christianity has something relevant and attractive to offer” (Evangelicalism and the Future of Christianity, p. 103).

  47. Douglas Groothuis “Our operative term ought to be engagement, not relevance” (Truth Decay, 163-164).

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