Christian Identity in a Postmodern WorldPostmodern World

Postmodern WorldPostmodern World

Hurricane Mitch, 1998

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“normal” incremental evolutionary change: slow, predictable, gradual epochal, profound, revolutionary change: fast, unpredictable, sudden

2500+ BC Prehistoric World

2500+ BC Prehistoric World

2500 BC AD Ancient World 1 AD500 BC500 AD Sumerian, Akkadian, Egyptian, Hittite, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman empires

2500 BC AD Ancient World 1 AD500 BC500 AD Sumerian, Akkadian, Egyptian, Hittite, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman empires

2500 BC AD Ancient World 1 AD500 BC500 AD Medieval World 500 AD AD 1500 AD Printing/Gutenberg Caravel/Transport Guns/Infantry/Artillery New Economy Copernicus/Galileo Reformation/Luther

2500 BC AD Ancient World 1 AD500 BC500 AD Medieval World 500 AD AD 1500 AD Printing/Gutenberg Caravel/Transport Guns/Infantry/Artillery New Economy Copernicus/Galileo Reformation/Luther

1500 AD AD Modern World 1750 AD1500 AD2000 AD Postmodern World 1950 AD - ??? Medieval World Print/Screen/Internet New Science New Weapons New Transportation New Economy New Spirituality

1500 AD AD Modern World 1750 AD1500 AD2000 AD Postmodern World 1950 AD - ??? Medieval World Print/Screen/Internet New Science New Weapons New Transportation New Economy New Spirituality

Modern to Postmodern 1. Conquest, Control, Progress … Conservation 2. Mechanistic/reductionist … holistic/systemic 3. Analytical … post-analytical 4. Secular/scientific … spiritual/scientific 5. Objective … Intersubjective 6. Critical … Post-critical 7. Organization … alliance, network

8. Individualism … community, tradition, tribe 9. Protestant/polemical … Post-protestant 10. Consumerism … Sustainability 11. Print literacy …layered fluency 12. National … global/migratory 13. Ideology... narrative Modern to Postmodern

Postmodernity Post-Holocaust Post-Hiroshima Post-colonialist Post-secularist Post-rationalist Post-communist Post-capitalist Post-nationalist Post-institutionalist Post-patriarchal Post-Christendom

Consider that we live in at least three worlds. Pre-modern world Non-modern world Modern world Emerging world today

Old Paradigm/ Model Early Transition Late Transition

Old Paradigm/ Model Early Transition Late Transition

Old Paradigm/ Model Early Transition Late Transition New Paradigm/ Model

Old Paradigm/ Model Early Transition Late Transition New Paradigm/ Model

Paradigm Shifts Almost always the [people] who achieve these fundamental inventions of a new paradigm have been either very young or very new to the field whose paradigm they change. Thomas S. Kuhn The Structure of Scientific Revolutions

“A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.” Max Planck, Scientific Autobiography

Christian Identity 4 “identity crises” Postmodern WorldPostmodern World

Identity Crisis 1: Modernity values exclusivity: Exclusive salvation for Members Only

people distrust exclusivity; they value connectivity. Purposeful inclusivity. in a Postmodern World

Identity Crisis 2: Modernity values inerrancy: Inerrant Bible Inerrant Pope

people distrust claims of inerrancy; they value possibility of correction and improvement (like science) in a Postmodern World

A lesson from science: Changing conclusions/models Consistent methodology in an unchanging quest... provable truth Postmodern WorldPostmodern World

Can we re-imagine the church? changing conclusions/models consistent methodology in an unchanging quest... saving the world. Postmodern WorldPostmodern World

Identity Crisis 3: Modernity respects timeless truths - universal and absolute theories.

people seek timely wisdom to address contemporary crises in a Postmodern World

spiritual emptiness corrupt leadership poverty disease ignorance hunger and malnutrition climate change conflicts Financial Instability Water/Sanitation subsidies/trade barriers population/ migration communicable diseases education governance/corruption hunger education gender inequality child mortality maternal health environmental sustainability ethnic conflicts terrorism weapons of mass destruction organized crime networks energy demands clean water population growth authoritarian regimes

FOUR GLOBAL CRISES

4 Crises Planet 2. Poverty 3. Peace 4. Religion

Societal Machine EquitySecurity Prosperity The Ecosystem Heat Solar Energy Resources Waste

Societal Machine EquitySecurity Prosperity The Ecosystem Heat Solar Energy Resources Waste Framing Story

Societal Machine EquitySecurity Prosperity Heat Solar Energy Resources Waste Framing Story The World’s Religions are failing provide a framing story capable of addressing our current crises - i.e. Good News.

Societal Machine EquitySecurity Prosperity The Ecosystem Heat Solar Energy Resources Waste framing story = “good* news” *healing, freeing, reconciling, empowering

Ivan Illich (Austrian former priest, philosopher, social critic, )

Neither [violent] revolution nor [political] reformation can ultimately change a society; rather you must tell a new powerful tale, one so persuasive that it sweeps away the old myths and becomes the preferred story …

… one so inclusive that it gathers all the bits of our past and our present into a coherent whole, one that even shines some light into the future so that we can take the next step…. If you want to change a society, then you have to tell an alternative story. - attributed to Ivan Illich (Austrian former priest, philosopher, social critic, )

PLANET - through re-joining creation, pursuing common good, learning from birds & flowers POVERTY - through concern for the least of these, seeking justice for all PEACE - through reconciliation, love for the other, turning other cheek, walking second mile PERSONAL WHOLENESS - through loving God - linked with love of neighbor, stranger, outsider, and enemy.

Identity Crisis 4: Modernity conquers the other.

people move toward the other in solidarity. in a Postmodern World

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We already know how to do 2 things quite well:

1. how to have a strong Christian identity that is hostile toward people of other religions.

STRONG-HOSTILE We have the only way. You are going to hell. We are God’s chosen. You worship false gods. resistance is futile. you will be assimilated - or eliminated.

We already know how to do 2 things quite well: 1. how to have a strong Christian identity that is hostile toward people of other religions. 2. how to have a weak Christian identity that is tolerant (benign) toward people of other religions.

weak-benign it doesn’t matter what you believe. all religions are the same. all roads lead to god. only sincerity matters. doctrines divide. keep religion private.

We haven’t yet learned... to have a strong Christian identity that is benevolent toward other religions.

strong- benevolent Because I Follow Jesus, I love you. I move toward “the other.” I break down walls of hostility. i stand with you in solidarity. you are made in God’s image. i am your servant. I practice human-kindness.

Can Christians today build a new kind of identity... based on hospitality and solidarity, not hostility, to the other? strong- benevolent

Five Challenges 1. Historical 2. Doctrinal 3. Liturgical 4. Missional 5. Spiritual

4 Identity Crises 1. Moving from exclusivity to connectivity. 2. Moving from inerrancy to ability to learn, change, grow 3. Moving from timeless truths to timely wisdom 4. Moving from competition/conquest to collaboration for common good

The choice for religious leaders: 1. Serve the people who still attend, with modern sensibilities... OR 2. Learn to serve two kinds of people; develop two different approaches to ministry - pay attention to those who do not attend.

Christian Identity in a Postmodern WorldPostmodern World