Are You "Modern," "Postmodern," or Something Else? Are you sure? Take this brief test and see.
Select which statement in each of the following groups that mostly shares your opinion. At the end of five groups, we will reveal whether you are working with or against history.
A. The Church will be ready for the future if it retains its vision of progress . . . if it continually improves what it is already doing.
B. The modern idea of progress is an illusion. The Church can’t move into the future by simply improving itself.
C. Postmodernism is mostly about the death of modern thinking and offers few plans for the future. Meanwhile, a completely new and positive way of thinking is emerging.
A. Scripture is a storehouse of facts that accurately describes reality, so our challenge is to figure out the facts.
B. Scripture does not contain facts. It is a relative truth, because its writers and readers never escaped their subjectivity or the inadequacy of their language.
C. Scripture speaks only through the voice of the Spirit and transcends both interpreters and interpretations. We must learn, though, how to let Scripture speak for itself.
A. The most persuasive sermons build logical lines of thought which arrive at sound theological doctrines.
B. "Logical lines of thought" have never proven what the modern world promised. Since these overly ambitious ideas are now outmoded, it’s time to wipe the slate clean.
C. "Wiping the slate clean" removes neither God nor His Universal Truth. Contrary to postmodern opinion, "truth" is not something we subjectively invent. It is a reality we encounter.
A. The language skills of rhetoric and oratory prove the best hope for spreading the "Word."
B. All languages reflect our manipulating self-interest and subjectivity. So we will never bring objective honesty to the Word or anything else.
C. Postmodernism wrongly calls every language a "failed language." The Church knows a spiritual language that transcends us, the language itself, and the culture that gives rise to it. This language is the language of the Word.
A. A true and clear interpretation of the Gospel requires setting aside our emotions and feelings.
B. All interpretations of the Gospel are subjective in the first place, so we should avoid telling others what to believe. The only reality is one’s own thinking and feeling.
C. The Church has long known a "knowing of the heart" that transcends our subjectivity . . . our intellect . . . and our differences. This "knowing" is essential to the Gospel.
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If you selected mostly "A" statements, you are firmly stuck in the modern period. If you selected mostly "B" statements, consider yourself a postmodernist. However, if you selected mostly "C" statements, you are living victoriously in a POST-postmodern world.
Select which statement in each of the following groups that mostly shares your opinion. At the end of five groups, we will reveal whether you are working with or against history.
A. The Church will be ready for the future if it retains its vision of progress . . . if it continually improves what it is already doing.
B. The modern idea of progress is an illusion. The Church can’t move into the future by simply improving itself.
C. Postmodernism is mostly about the death of modern thinking and offers few plans for the future. Meanwhile, a completely new and positive way of thinking is emerging.
A. Scripture is a storehouse of facts that accurately describes reality, so our challenge is to figure out the facts.
B. Scripture does not contain facts. It is a relative truth, because its writers and readers never escaped their subjectivity or the inadequacy of their language.
C. Scripture speaks only through the voice of the Spirit and transcends both interpreters and interpretations. We must learn, though, how to let Scripture speak for itself.
A. The most persuasive sermons build logical lines of thought which arrive at sound theological doctrines.
B. "Logical lines of thought" have never proven what the modern world promised. Since these overly ambitious ideas are now outmoded, it’s time to wipe the slate clean.
C. "Wiping the slate clean" removes neither God nor His Universal Truth. Contrary to postmodern opinion, "truth" is not something we subjectively invent. It is a reality we encounter.
A. The language skills of rhetoric and oratory prove the best hope for spreading the "Word."
B. All languages reflect our manipulating self-interest and subjectivity. So we will never bring objective honesty to the Word or anything else.
C. Postmodernism wrongly calls every language a "failed language." The Church knows a spiritual language that transcends us, the language itself, and the culture that gives rise to it. This language is the language of the Word.
A. A true and clear interpretation of the Gospel requires setting aside our emotions and feelings.
B. All interpretations of the Gospel are subjective in the first place, so we should avoid telling others what to believe. The only reality is one’s own thinking and feeling.
C. The Church has long known a "knowing of the heart" that transcends our subjectivity . . . our intellect . . . and our differences. This "knowing" is essential to the Gospel.
<<<>>>
If you selected mostly "A" statements, you are firmly stuck in the modern period. If you selected mostly "B" statements, consider yourself a postmodernist. However, if you selected mostly "C" statements, you are living victoriously in a POST-postmodern world.
I'm glad I am a "C" student ... I thought I would never be satisfied in that category!:):) But, I am!
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