christian identity in a postmodern worldpostmodern world
TRANSCRIPT
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Christian Identity
in a
Postmodern World
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Postmodern World
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Hurricane Mitch, 1998
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6
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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 BC 500 AD
Sumerian, Akkadian, Egyptian, Hittite, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman empires
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2500 BC - 500 AD
Ancient World
1 AD500 BC 500 AD
Sumerian, Akkadian, Egyptian, Hittite, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman empires
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2500 BC - 500 AD
Ancient World
1 AD500 BC 500 AD
Medieval World
500 AD - 1500 AD
1500 AD
Printing/GutenbergCaravel/TransportGuns/Infantry/ArtilleryNew EconomyCopernicus/GalileoReformation/Luther
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2500 BC - 500 AD
Ancient World
1 AD500 BC 500 AD
Medieval World
500 AD - 1500 AD
1500 AD
Printing/GutenbergCaravel/TransportGuns/Infantry/ArtilleryNew EconomyCopernicus/GalileoReformation/Luther
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1500 AD - 2000 AD
Modern World
1750 AD1500 AD 2000 AD
Postmodern World
1950 AD - ???
Medieval World
Print/Screen/InternetNew ScienceNew WeaponsNew TransportationNew EconomyNew Spirituality
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1500 AD - 2000 AD
Modern World
1750 AD1500 AD 2000 AD
Postmodern World
1950 AD - ???
Medieval World
Print/Screen/InternetNew ScienceNew WeaponsNew TransportationNew EconomyNew Spirituality
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Modern to Postmodern1. 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. KuhnThe 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 Identity4 “identity crises”
Postmodern World
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Identity Crisis 1:
Modernity values exclusivity:Exclusive salvationfor 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 BibleInerrant 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 methodologyin an unchanging quest ...
provable truth
Postmodern World
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Can we re-imagine the church?changing conclusions/models
consistent methodologyin an unchanging quest ...
saving the world.
Postmodern 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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spiritu
al e
mp
tiness co
rrup
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ad
ersh
ip p
overty
dise
ase
ig
nora
nce
hu
ng
er a
nd
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chan
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Insta
bility
Wate
r/San
itatio
n
sub
sidie
s/trad
e b
arrie
rs pop
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/ m
igra
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h
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ineq
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child
morta
lity
mate
rnal h
ealth
en
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nm
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ility e
thn
ic con
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ate
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au
thorita
rian
reg
imes
FOUR GLOBAL CRISES
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Conventional View Emerging View
The HumanSituation: Whatis the story thatwe findourselves in?
God created the world as perfect,but because our primalancestors, Adam and Eve, didnot maintain the absoluteperfection demanded by God,God has irrevocably determinedthat the entire universe and all itcontains will be destroyed, andthe souls of all human beings –except for those specificallyexempted – will be foreverpunished for their imperfectionin hell.1
God created the world as good, buthuman beings – as individuals, and asgroups – have rebelled against God andfilled the world with evil and injusticelike a terrible disease. God wants to savehumanity and heal it from its sickness,but humanity is hopelessly lost andconfused, like sheep without a shepherd,wandering farther and farther intolostness and danger. Left to themselves,human beings will spiral downward insickness and evil.
BasicQuestions: Whatquestions didJesus come toanswer?
Since everyone is doomed tohell, Jesus seeks to answer thesequestions: how can individualsbe saved from eternalpunishment in hell and insteadgo to heaven after they die? Howcan God help individuals behappy and successful until then?
Since the human race is in such desperatetrouble, Jesus seeks to answer thisquestion: what must be done about themess we’re in? The mess refers both tothe general human condition and itsspecific outworking among hiscontemporaries: living under dominationby the Roman empire, and divided intovarious competing sects.
Jesus’ message:How did Jesusrespond to thecrisis?
Jesus says, in essence, “If youwant to be among thosespecifically qualified to escapebeing forever punished for yoursins in hell, you must repent ofyour individual sins and believethat my Father punished me onthe cross so He won’t have topunish you in hell. Only if youbelieve this will you go toheaven when everyone else isbanished to hell.”2 This is thegood news.
Jesus says, in essence, “Other people andgroups – including your own religiousleaders - are leading you farther andfarther astray. I have been sent by Godwith this good news – that God loveshumanity, even in its lostness and sin.God graciously invites everyone andanyone to question and reject what theyhave been told and instead follow a newpath. Trust me and become my disciple,and you will be transformed, and you willparticipate in the transformation of theworld, which is possible, beginning rightnow.”3 This is the good news.
1 Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.2 This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular RomanCatholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow itsinstructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
4 Crises ...1. Planet2. Poverty3. Peace4. Religion
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Societal Machine
Equity Security
Prosperity
The Ecosystem
Heat
Solar Energy
ResourcesWaste
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Societal Machine
Equity Security
Prosperity
The Ecosystem
Heat
Solar Energy
ResourcesWaste
Framing Story
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Societal Machine
Equity Security
Prosperity
Heat
Solar Energy
ResourcesWaste
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
Equity Security
Prosperity
The Ecosystem
Heat
Solar Energy
ResourcesWaste
framing story = “good* news”
*healing, freeing, reconciling, empowering
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QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
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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51
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We already know how to do 2 things quite well:
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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.
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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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Conventional View Emerging View
The HumanSituation: Whatis the story thatwe findourselves in?
God created the world as perfect,but because our primalancestors, Adam and Eve, didnot maintain the absoluteperfection demanded by God,God has irrevocably determinedthat the entire universe and all itcontains will be destroyed, andthe souls of all human beings –except for those specificallyexempted – will be foreverpunished for their imperfectionin hell.1
God created the world as good, buthuman beings – as individuals, and asgroups – have rebelled against God andfilled the world with evil and injusticelike a terrible disease. God wants to savehumanity and heal it from its sickness,but humanity is hopelessly lost andconfused, like sheep without a shepherd,wandering farther and farther intolostness and danger. Left to themselves,human beings will spiral downward insickness and evil.
BasicQuestions: Whatquestions didJesus come toanswer?
Since everyone is doomed tohell, Jesus seeks to answer thesequestions: how can individualsbe saved from eternalpunishment in hell and insteadgo to heaven after they die? Howcan God help individuals behappy and successful until then?
Since the human race is in such desperatetrouble, Jesus seeks to answer thisquestion: what must be done about themess we’re in? The mess refers both tothe general human condition and itsspecific outworking among hiscontemporaries: living under dominationby the Roman empire, and divided intovarious competing sects.
Jesus’ message:How did Jesusrespond to thecrisis?
Jesus says, in essence, “If youwant to be among thosespecifically qualified to escapebeing forever punished for yoursins in hell, you must repent ofyour individual sins and believethat my Father punished me onthe cross so He won’t have topunish you in hell. Only if youbelieve this will you go toheaven when everyone else isbanished to hell.”2 This is thegood news.
Jesus says, in essence, “Other people andgroups – including your own religiousleaders - are leading you farther andfarther astray. I have been sent by Godwith this good news – that God loveshumanity, even in its lostness and sin.God graciously invites everyone andanyone to question and reject what theyhave been told and instead follow a newpath. Trust me and become my disciple,and you will be transformed, and you willparticipate in the transformation of theworld, which is possible, beginning rightnow.”3 This is the good news.
1 Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.2 This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular RomanCatholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow itsinstructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
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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Conventional View Emerging View
The HumanSituation: Whatis the story thatwe findourselves in?
God created the world as perfect,but because our primalancestors, Adam and Eve, didnot maintain the absoluteperfection demanded by God,God has irrevocably determinedthat the entire universe and all itcontains will be destroyed, andthe souls of all human beings –except for those specificallyexempted – will be foreverpunished for their imperfectionin hell.1
God created the world as good, buthuman beings – as individuals, and asgroups – have rebelled against God andfilled the world with evil and injusticelike a terrible disease. God wants to savehumanity and heal it from its sickness,but humanity is hopelessly lost andconfused, like sheep without a shepherd,wandering farther and farther intolostness and danger. Left to themselves,human beings will spiral downward insickness and evil.
BasicQuestions: Whatquestions didJesus come toanswer?
Since everyone is doomed tohell, Jesus seeks to answer thesequestions: how can individualsbe saved from eternalpunishment in hell and insteadgo to heaven after they die? Howcan God help individuals behappy and successful until then?
Since the human race is in such desperatetrouble, Jesus seeks to answer thisquestion: what must be done about themess we’re in? The mess refers both tothe general human condition and itsspecific outworking among hiscontemporaries: living under dominationby the Roman empire, and divided intovarious competing sects.
Jesus’ message:How did Jesusrespond to thecrisis?
Jesus says, in essence, “If youwant to be among thosespecifically qualified to escapebeing forever punished for yoursins in hell, you must repent ofyour individual sins and believethat my Father punished me onthe cross so He won’t have topunish you in hell. Only if youbelieve this will you go toheaven when everyone else isbanished to hell.”2 This is thegood news.
Jesus says, in essence, “Other people andgroups – including your own religiousleaders - are leading you farther andfarther astray. I have been sent by Godwith this good news – that God loveshumanity, even in its lostness and sin.God graciously invites everyone andanyone to question and reject what theyhave been told and instead follow a newpath. Trust me and become my disciple,and you will be transformed, and you willparticipate in the transformation of theworld, which is possible, beginning rightnow.”3 This is the good news.
1 Of course, there are many modern western non-religious ontologies and framing stories too,plus Eastern ontologies and framing stories – both religious and irreligious.2 This reflects a Calvinistic Evangelical protestant version of the message. The popular RomanCatholic version might say, “You must believe in the teachings of the church and follow itsinstructions, especially those regarding sacraments.” The popular mainline or liberal Protestant
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 World
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