Even the experts can't agree on a definition of Post-Modernism. It's a vague and shifting topic, that eats at your core like undetected cancer. At least it's eaten at mine for the last four plus years and I still struggle to put it into words, but here's an attempt. What follows are three psuedo definitions of what I believe will be the second biggest turning point in human history... the first of which was the act of God wrapping himself within the mortal coil.
Please note that I offer these only as springboards for others who may be struggling to grasp the concept of Post-Modernism. They are by no means intended to be absolute definitions... besides one of them is more poetry than definition. Here they are! Kent
Post-Modernism is... a term used to describe the transition from the modern era into a yet to be named time-period of human history. It is marked by the tearing down of absolute truth claims and a hunger for human experiences. It is the place where we find ourselves today in our North American culture. In and of itself, it is neither good nor evil, it simply is what it is. We should not be afraid of it, nor should we embrace it. Instead, we as followers of Christ should become increasingly diligent in learning to understand the post-modern mind, so that someway, somehow the Spirit of God will use us to reach post-moderns that Christ went to the cross and died for.
Post-Modernism is... an unbelievable opportunity for followers of Christ to live their faith in the streets, not hidden in some sanctuary, not veiled with airs of "holiness", but authentic, truth-driven, experiential faith that is marked and known by Christ's own summary of the gospel... to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind... and to simply, yet passionately, love your neighbor as yourself.
Post-Modernism is...
a seismic shift in cultural ideology
a sizable shifting of values
a lack of pursuing virtues
a lack of "virtues" to pursue
a moral degeneration
a generation without morale
a looking forward to where we've never been
a forgetting from where we've come
an absolute lack of absolutes
a defiance to be defied
a purposelessness to behold
a yearning for more of nothing
a belief in ourselves over God
a look in the mirror seeing emptiness
a forgetting of where the soul resides
a forgery of the spirit
a longing for authenticity
a cringing at the superficial
a dose of experience
a lethal injection of "experiences"
a self-gratifying worldview
a self-grandizing whirlpool
a dominance of ego
a dormant orthodoxy
a relative outlook on life
a life of relatively no introspection
a nonsensical twist of faith
a non-stick gospel in a non-prophet world
a simple life gone haywire
a heinous sinful gonorrhea of the soul
an opportunity like none before
a privilege like none ever seen
a belief in taking chances
a chance to live your beliefs
a seizing of the moment
a monumental need for truth serum
an occasion to be Christ
an occasional glimpse of Christ your neighbors will watch
an invitation to love those who hate you
a proposal to dance with "sinners"
a heart transplant - yours for Christ's
a transubstantiation of the mind
a hope where none should grow
a growth of spirit in a stagnant soul
a juncture for the pewsitter
a purpose beyond the program
a freedom for the faithful
a faith for the fearful
a connection for faith in the world around it
a contortion of the world from the faith within it
a predicament to ponder
an uncertainty to ascertain
a turning point in the history of the Church
a crossroads of how you'll live your faith
