A Christian Perspective of Postmodern Existentialism

A Christian Perspective of Postmodern Existentialism PDF Author: John D. Carter
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 1725292637
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 176

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Book Description
The Western Humanism originating in classical Greek philosophy—where the capacity of human reason became the dominant means for perceiving a worldview based in reality—reigned in Western philosophy until the onset of Postmodern Existentialism in the mid-twentieth century. Plato’s Theory of Forms prepared the Western gentile mind to accept the rationality of a transcendent ultimate reality, and in so doing steered the gentile mind from its bent to pantheistic deities. The apostle Paul boldly proclaimed to the Athenians that their “unknown god” was indeed the transcendent God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Christianity prevailed in Western philosophy until the Enlightenment—which was the result of the unprecedented success of the scientific method—began to turn the Western mind to the existentialistic idea of the relativity of moral truth.

A Christian Perspective of Postmodern Existentialism

A Christian Perspective of Postmodern Existentialism PDF Author: John D. Carter
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 1725292637
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 176

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Book Description
The Western Humanism originating in classical Greek philosophy—where the capacity of human reason became the dominant means for perceiving a worldview based in reality—reigned in Western philosophy until the onset of Postmodern Existentialism in the mid-twentieth century. Plato’s Theory of Forms prepared the Western gentile mind to accept the rationality of a transcendent ultimate reality, and in so doing steered the gentile mind from its bent to pantheistic deities. The apostle Paul boldly proclaimed to the Athenians that their “unknown god” was indeed the transcendent God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Christianity prevailed in Western philosophy until the Enlightenment—which was the result of the unprecedented success of the scientific method—began to turn the Western mind to the existentialistic idea of the relativity of moral truth.

Understanding Postmodernism

Understanding Postmodernism PDF Author: Stewart E. Kelly
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
ISBN: 0830889086
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 270

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Book Description
Most introductions to postmodernism are either wholly negative or wholly positive. Stewart Kelly and James Dew present a balanced introduction and assessment of postmodernism that corrects misunderstandings and examines its shortcomings. This is a clear, accessible text for Christian students of philosophy.

Postmodern Times

Postmodern Times PDF Author: Gene Edward Veith (Jr.)
Publisher: Crossway
ISBN: 0891077685
Category : Christian sociology
Languages : en
Pages : 155

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Book Description
The cultural landscape is now made up of diverse "communities"--feminists, gays, neo-conservatists, African-Americans, pro-lifers--who seem to have no common frame of reference by which to communicate with each other. Veith offers Christians instructions as to how they can respond to these varied groups.

Postmodern Existentialism in Mervyn Peake's Titus Books

Postmodern Existentialism in Mervyn Peake's Titus Books PDF Author: Lauren R. Moss
Publisher: Universal-Publishers
ISBN: 1599423413
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Much of the discussion about Peake's Titus Books has been about how to place them in the lexicon of English literature. I am proposing that these books should be read as works of postmodern existentialism. Both postmodern theory and existential theory are interested in the same issues, such as the loss of grand narratives, the rejection of totalizing world views, the subjectivity of truth, the nature of one's existence, and the search for meaning in an increasingly incomprehensible world. Societal issues, such as political upheaval, the growth of major cities, war, and advances in science and technology have led both postmodern and existentialist thinkers to view the world as chaotic and intrinsically unknowable and man's place within that world as increasingly unstable. All of these concerns are addressed in Peake's texts. Peake's novels reflect the existential struggle of its hero, Titus Groan, to break free of the Hegelian world view represented by Gormenghast and its traditions, and into a world in which he is free to be an individual and to find his own truth. Peake uses images of solitude and extreme isolation to represent the essential human condition as conceived by existentialist philosophers like Kierkegaard and Nietzsche. It is when they are alone that his characters are truly free to be themselves, without the social constraints imposed by the history and traditions of the castle. Titus's rebellion against Gormenghast represents the rejection of totalizing world views, a rejection found at the heart of postmodernism and existentialism. Incredulity toward mass society and culture are also central issues in postmodernism and existentialism. Nietzsche, who is claimed by both existentialists and postmodernists as a forerunner of their respective philosophies, claimed that God is dead, a belief reflected in the distinct absence of God from the Titus books; instead God is replaced by the ritual of Gormenghast. In Titus Alone He is replaced by technology. This also demonstrates the distrust felt by existentialists and postmodernists alike of a mass society in which the individual is consumed and becomes simply a part of the faceless crowd. Peake expresses a deep suspicion of technology and scientific advancement, a distinctly postmodern suspicion, that was not uncommon among writers after the second World War. By examining closely the concepts and themes associated with both postmodern and existential theory, it is clear that Peake's Titus Books are deeply concerned with both philosophies. Though Peake does not successfully answer the philosophical questions his novels pose, it is significant that his work attempts to do so.

Postmodern Times

Postmodern Times PDF Author: Gene Edward Veith Jr.
Publisher: Crossway
ISBN: 1433529335
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 134

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Book Description
The modern era is over. Assumptions that shaped twentieth-century thought and culture, the bridges we crossed to this present moment, have blown up. The postmodern age has begun. Just what is postmodernism? The average person would be shocked by its creed: Truth, meaning, and individual identity do not exist. These are social constructs. Human life has no special significance, no more value than animal or plant life. All social relationships, all institutions, all moral values are expressions and masks of the primal will to power. Alarmingly, these ideas have gripped the nation's universities, which turn out today's lawyers, judges, writers, journalists, teachers, and other culture-shapers. Through society's influences, postmodernist ideas have seeped into films, television, art, literature, politics; and, without his knowing it, into the head of the average person on the street. Christ has called us to proclaim the gospel to a culture grappling with postmodernism. We must understand our times. Then, through the power that Christ gives, we can counter the prevailing culture and proclaim His sufficiency to our society's very points of need.

Christianity after Christendom

Christianity after Christendom PDF Author: Martin Koci
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1350322644
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 249

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Book Description
What comes after the end of Christendom? Christianity has ceased to function as the dominant force in society and yet the Christian faith continues. How are we to understand Christianity in this 'after'? Bringing into conversation seven unorthodox or 'heretical' continental philosophers, including Jan Patocka, Jean-Luc Nancy, Gianni Vattimo and John D. Caputo, Martin Koci re-centres the debates around philosophy's so-called return to religion to address the current 'not-Christian, but not yet non-Christian' culture. In the modern context of increasing secularization and pluralization, Christianity after Christendom boldly proposes that Christians must embrace the demise of Christianity as a meta-narrative and see their faith as an existential mode of being-in-the-world. Whilst not denying the religion's history, this 'after' of Christianity emancipates the discourse from the socio-historical focus on Christendom and introduces new perspectives on Christianity as an embodied religious tradition, as a way of being, even as a faithfulness to the world. In dialogue with a broad range of philosophical movements, including deconstruction, phenomenology, hermeneutics and postmodern critiques of religion, this is a timely examination of the present and future of post-Christendom Christianity.

Mapping Postmodernism

Mapping Postmodernism PDF Author: Robert C. Greer
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
ISBN: 9780830827336
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 298

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Book Description
Helping you navigate the complex debate among Christians over postmodernism, Robert C. Greer maps four different paths marked out by Francis Schaeffer, Karl Barth, John Hick and George Lindbeck. Ultimately, he points to the true Subject who makes knowledge possible through the language of revelation and relationship with God.

Foundations of Christian Thought

Foundations of Christian Thought PDF Author: Mark P. Cosgrove
Publisher: Kregel Academic
ISBN: 0825495474
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 98

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Book Description
Written by a veteran Christian educator, this readable book describes the relationship between the Christian faith and the world of learning by looking at the five modern worldviews competing with Christian theism.

The Committed Self

The Committed Self PDF Author: Victor A. Shepherd
Publisher: BPS Books
ISBN: 1772360007
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 356

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Book Description
The Committed Self is a clear and compelling introduction to Existentialism, the root of Postmodernism and, according to Victor A. Shepherd, still the most significant philosophy of our times. Focusing on Hegel, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Buber, Heidegger, and Sartre and their passionate commitment to the authenticity of the self, Shepherd maintains that Existentialism has much to say to Christians with its understanding of: What it is to be a human being, How diverse forces operative in the world and in the psyche shape human self-awareness, The manner in which radical commitment forges and forms that "self," which is nothing less than a new birth. Shepherd believes that an acquaintance with Existentialism will aid Christians in negotiating the minefield they think life has become. And he persistently draws attention to the manner in which Existentialism recalls theology to its proper vocation whenever theology appears to be in danger of becoming a species of rationalism that uses religious vocabulary

Existential Reasons for Belief in God

Existential Reasons for Belief in God PDF Author: Clifford Williams
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
ISBN: 1725264692
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 186

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Book Description
Lived faith involves doctrines, evidences and rational coherence—but it includes much more. Philosopher Clifford Williams puts forth an argument as to why certain needs, desires and emotions have a legitimate place in drawing people into faith in God. Addressing the strongest objections to these types of grounds for faith, he shows how the personal and experiential aspects of belief play an important part in coming to faith and in remaining a believing person.