Postmodernist Views Flashcards
Lyotard
there has been three major changes in religious beliefs in society:
1. decline in traditional meta-narratives of the truth
2.the growth of religious fundamentalism - fundamentalists rejects claims that multiple truths exist, they believe the freedoms and choices people have to “pick and choose” what religion they follow must be challenged
characteristics of fundamentalists:
> strict moral codes of behaviour are expected
> a desire to return to a past, golden age of religiosity
> an intolerance to other religions.
> absolute views that their beliefs are right
EXAMPLE - Jehovah witnesses saw their numbers increases from 44k in 1928 to 6 million in 2000! They consider other religions and people believing in them are destined for hell.
EVALUATION - there is nothing overly new about fundamentalism at all, there is evidence in the historical record of fundamentalist views, undermining claims that its something that has formed due to changes in postmodern society taking place.
3. Spread of new types of religious organisations - a number of sects and cults have grown over the years, there is now a “pick and mix” available to choose what beliefs you want to follow due to the “spiritual supermarket” in society.
> new ageism is an example of how religion decline as less traditional beliefs grow. New agers accept that “truth” is relative and makes no claim of “monopoly of the truth”
EVALUATION - is new ageism really that new? new age practices can be centuries old, such as witchcraft and astrology.
David Lyon - Jesus in Disneyland
one key characteristic of religion in postmodern society is that it has become “dislocated” from its previously rigid position in society, and has “re-located to the private the sphere” - this means in the west even though religion is not as important as it once was, it still remains strong.
> Lyon refers to religious services held in Disneyland as an example of how rather than going to church, the church comes to the people.
> technology has unlocked new opportunities to worship, such as church services online (the electronic church)
EVALUATION - Lyon accused of confusing changing religion with declining religion, he mis-interprets the very real decline in religion.
Madeleine Bunting - religion as a DIY cocktail
religious belief is becoming a do-it yourself cocktail for people.
> people are “dipping into” different beliefs and taking from them what appeals most.
> churches has responded by offering services which appeal to younger people.
> the quality of experience rather than the belief is more important in postmodern society.
> in todays world there is a greater freedom to explore things.
EVALUATION - postmodernists over-estimate the relativity of beliefs today - post-modernists over-exaggerate the extent to which there really is a “relativity of the truth” people are more aware of and more supportive of traditional beliefs than the new age beliefs.
