Term
| 5 Enlightenment principles of the Modern period (1700-c. 2000+) |
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Definition
A. Naturalism: reality is physical and material. Its orderly, its mechanistic, it’s governed by the laws of nature.
B. Rationalism: Therefore it is able to be understood by reason.
C. Universal truth: Overarching order. All parts of universe somehow relate.
D. Pure objectivity: Key to understanding
E. Progress: if we discover the universal laws then science will help us understand. |
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Term
| 6 Post-modern trends in popular culture |
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Definition
1. Architecture: from modern “uniformity of style” to display of “incompatabilities” of
style, form, and texture
2. Art: from stylistic unity to stylistic diversity
3. Literature and Theatre: from single narrative expressing timeless ideals, to an
assemblage of intersecting narratives about separate, autonomous worlds; from
meaning embedded in language to meaning embedded in the reader/community.
4. Film: blurring distinction between “truth” and “fiction”, between “reality” and
“fantasy”
5. Television and Pop Culture: Live television of facts (an actual event, like news or sports coverage) juxtaposed with fantasy (commercials)
6. Computers and the Internet: Rapid spread of information as well as misinformation |
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Term
| 3 20th c. phenomena (they pave the way) |
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Definition
1. Globalization: one universal reality vs. many realities inhabit the globe.
2. Pluralism: acceptance of many forms of truth
3. Relativism: all claims to truth are valid |
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Term
Postmodernism and the Christian Faith
4 Points of agreement |
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Definition
· Rejection of philosophical naturalism (world as closed system, etc.)
· Reluctance to make reason the primary epistemology
· Reluctance to make scientific method the sole arbiter of truth
· Distrust of knowledge as always good or benevolent |
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Term
Postmodernism and the Christian Faith
Points of disagreement |
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Definition
· Rejection of a meta-narrative
· Rejection of relativism |
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Term
A Christian Worldview in a postmodern culture will be…
4 things |
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Definition
1. Post-individualistic—Faith is social and stresses the importance of the
individual in community
2. Post-rationalistic—if God is transcendent, He is not limited to intellectual.
3. Post-dualistic (mind v. matter)—Christian creation places humans in relationship
with God and with nature.
4. Post-noeticentric (post-knowledge-centered faith)
Noetic =
According to scripture, the purpose of humans is not simply knowledge but wisdom. |
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Term
| MODERNISM (naturalism, post-enlightenment)- what is the nature of God |
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Definition
| · non-existent; physical matter is the only reality |
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Term
| Modernism (Naturalism) - what is the nature of the world? |
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Definition
· Simple, single ‘universe’
· closed system: autonomous; no divine creation, ordering or intervention
· static: in constant normal state
· laws of nature: cause-and-effect mechanistic uniformity |
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Term
| Modernism (Naturalism)- what is the nature of humanity |
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Definition
· anthropocentric perspective
· one part of the natural order (chemical and physical properties)
· autonomous subject of natural law and self-determination
· objective, rational ‘spectator’ of the universe
· world (humanity) has a history; is a linear stream of cause-and-effect events; no overarching purpose |
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Term
| Modernism (Post-Enlightenment, Naturalism)- how do we know about God? |
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Definition
· No God
· Science as the ‘replacement’ of faith |
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Term
| Modernism (Post-Enlightenment, Naturalism)- how do we know about the world? |
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Definition
· Reason/empiricism: science
· Pure objectivity of science
· scientific certainty (argument and proof) as basis of truth
· Science as the ‘replacement’ of faith |
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Term
| Modernism (Post-Enlightenment, Naturalism)- how do we know about humanity? |
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Definition
· Reason/empiricism: science
· Human nature viewed according to universal ‘meta-narrative’ |
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Term
| Modernism (Post-Enlighenment Naturalism)- how should we act in response to God? |
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Definition
| · No God to which one can respond |
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Term
| Modernism (Post-Enlighenment Naturalism)- how should we act in response to the world? |
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Definition
· Seek objective facts about universal reality through scientific investigation; control and alter conditions of natural environment.
· Ask ‘Is the theory or proposition correct?’ |
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Term
| Modernism (Post-Enlighenment Naturalism)- how should we act in response to humanity? |
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Definition
· Ethical “values” determined by laws of nature
· Ethical behavior in ‘uniformity’ with natural law
· Ethics are personal and chosen. |
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Term
| Postmodernism - what is the nature of God? |
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Definition
| · Depends on the particular religion |
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Term
| Postmodernism- what is the nature of the world |
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Definition
· Complex, collection of systems; multiverse
· Open collection of systems
· Dynamic
· Chaotic processes |
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Term
| Postmodernism- what is the nature of humanity? |
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Definition
· No one human nature; varies from culture to culture
· Part of a particular culture/community
· Subjective, relative participant in world
· World is a history |
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Term
| postmodernism- how do we know about God? |
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Definition
· Personal experiences and cultural influence (faith community)
· Faith informs understanding of the world |
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Term
| postmodernism- how do we know about the world? |
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Definition
· Innate, intuitive, and affective faculties, as well as reason
· Relative objectivity of science
· No universal truth; conflicting truths
· Science replaced by shifting areas of inquiry |
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Term
| postmodernism- how do we know about humanity? |
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Definition
| · No meta-narrative about human nature; rather multiple, equally valid narratives |
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Term
| postmodernism- how should we act in response to God? |
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Definition
· Influenced by personal experience and culture
· No one way to God; many ways to God |
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Term
| postmodernism- how should we act in response to the world? |
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Definition
· End of science; instead, conflicting constructions of reality
· Accept pluralism of “multiple local realities”
· Ask “What does the theory do? What is the outcome?” |
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Term
| postmodernism- how should we act in response to humanity? |
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Definition
· Ethical values vary according to culture
· Diversity is valued
· There is no universal ethic |
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