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Christian Identity in a Postmodern WorldPostmodern World
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Postmodern WorldPostmodern World
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Hurricane Mitch, 1998
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“normal” incremental evolutionary change: slow, predictable, gradual epochal, profound, revolutionary change: fast, unpredictable, sudden
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2500+ BC Prehistoric World
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2500+ BC Prehistoric World
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2500 BC - 500 AD Ancient World 1 AD500 BC500 AD Sumerian, Akkadian, Egyptian, Hittite, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman empires
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2500 BC - 500 AD Ancient World 1 AD500 BC500 AD Sumerian, Akkadian, Egyptian, Hittite, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman empires
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2500 BC - 500 AD Ancient World 1 AD500 BC500 AD Medieval World 500 AD - 1500 AD 1500 AD Printing/Gutenberg Caravel/Transport Guns/Infantry/Artillery New Economy Copernicus/Galileo Reformation/Luther
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2500 BC - 500 AD Ancient World 1 AD500 BC500 AD Medieval World 500 AD - 1500 AD 1500 AD Printing/Gutenberg Caravel/Transport Guns/Infantry/Artillery New Economy Copernicus/Galileo Reformation/Luther
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1500 AD - 2000 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
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1500 AD - 2000 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
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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
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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
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Postmodernity Post-Holocaust Post-Hiroshima Post-colonialist Post-secularist Post-rationalist Post-communist Post-capitalist Post-nationalist Post-institutionalist Post-patriarchal Post-Christendom
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Consider that we live in at least three worlds. Pre-modern world Non-modern world Modern world Emerging world today
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Old Paradigm/ Model Early Transition Late Transition
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Old Paradigm/ Model Early Transition Late Transition
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Old Paradigm/ Model Early Transition Late Transition New Paradigm/ Model
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Old Paradigm/ Model Early Transition Late Transition New Paradigm/ Model
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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
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“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
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Christian Identity 4 “identity crises” Postmodern WorldPostmodern World
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Identity Crisis 1: Modernity values exclusivity: Exclusive salvation for Members Only
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people distrust exclusivity; they value connectivity. Purposeful inclusivity. in a Postmodern World
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Identity Crisis 2: Modernity values inerrancy: Inerrant Bible Inerrant Pope
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people distrust claims of inerrancy; they value possibility of correction and improvement (like science) in a Postmodern World
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A lesson from science: Changing conclusions/models Consistent methodology in an unchanging quest... provable truth Postmodern WorldPostmodern World
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Can we re-imagine the church? changing conclusions/models consistent methodology in an unchanging quest... saving the world. Postmodern WorldPostmodern World
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Identity Crisis 3: Modernity respects timeless truths - universal and absolute theories.
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people seek timely wisdom to address contemporary crises in a Postmodern World
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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
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FOUR GLOBAL CRISES
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4 Crises... 1. Planet 2. Poverty 3. Peace 4. Religion
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Societal Machine EquitySecurity Prosperity The Ecosystem Heat Solar Energy Resources Waste
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Societal Machine EquitySecurity Prosperity The Ecosystem Heat Solar Energy Resources Waste Framing Story
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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.
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Societal Machine EquitySecurity Prosperity The Ecosystem Heat Solar Energy Resources Waste framing story = “good* news” *healing, freeing, reconciling, empowering
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Ivan Illich (Austrian former priest, philosopher, social critic, 1926-2002)
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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 …
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… 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, 1926-2002)
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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.
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Identity Crisis 4: Modernity conquers the other.
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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:
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1. how to have a strong Christian identity that is hostile toward people of other religions.
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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.
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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. 2. how to have a weak Christian identity that is tolerant (benign) toward people of other religions.
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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.
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We haven’t yet learned... to have a strong Christian identity that is benevolent toward other religions.
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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.
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Can Christians today build a new kind of identity... based on hospitality and solidarity, not hostility, to the other? strong- benevolent
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Five Challenges 1. Historical 2. Doctrinal 3. Liturgical 4. Missional 5. Spiritual
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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
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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.
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Christian Identity in a Postmodern WorldPostmodern World
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