Theology: Postmodern Epistemology

Question 1

Epistemology

Answer 1

The theory or science of the method or grounds of knowledge

It is an inquiry into the nature and source of
knowledge, the bounds of knowledge, and the justification of
claims to knowledge.

Question 2

Relativism

Answer 2

The belief that all truth is relative, being determined by some group.

Question 3

Subjectivism

Answer 3

The belief that all truth is subjective, being defined

by the perspective of the individual.

Question 4

Skepticism

Answer 4

The belief that truth cannot be known with certainty

Question 5

Perspectivism

Answer 5

The belief that truth is found in the combined

perspectives of many.

Question 6

Pragmatism

Answer 6

The belief that truth is ultimately defined by that
which works to accomplish the best outcome.

“The end justifies the means.”

“Whatever can get me there is the truth”

“whatever makes me happy”

Question 7

Objectivism

Answer 7

The belief that truth is an objective reality that

exist whether someone believes it or not.

Question 8

Postmodernism

Answer 8

A movement that devalues truth, by conflating truth with perspective.

postmodern thought is broadly characterized by tendencies to self-consciousness, self-referentiality, epistemological and moral relativism, pluralism, and irreverence.

Criticisms of postmodernism include arguments that postmodernism promotes obscurantism, is meaningless, and that it adds nothing to analytical or empirical knowledge.

A general and wide-ranging term which is applied to literature, art, philosophy, architecture, fiction, and cultural and literary criticism, among others. Postmodernism is largely a reaction to the assumed certainty of scientific, or objective, efforts to explain reality. In essence, it stems from a recognition that reality is not simply mirrored in human understanding of it, but rather, is constructed as the mind tries to understand its own particular and personal reality. For this reason, postmodernism is highly skeptical of explanations which claim to be valid for all groups, cultures, traditions, or races, and instead focuses on the relative truths of each

person. In the postmodern understanding, interpretation is everything; reality only comes into being through our interpretations of what the world means to us individually. Postmodernism relies on concrete experience over abstract principles, knowing always that the outcome of one’s own experience will necessarily be fallible and relative, rather than certain and universal.

Postmodernism is “post” because it is denies the existence of any ultimate principles, and it lacks the optimism of there being a scientific, philosophical, or religious truth which will explain everything for everybody - a characterisitic of the so-called “modern” mind. The paradox of the postmodern position is that, in placing all principles under the scrutiny of its skepticism, it must realize that even its own principles are not beyond questioning. As the philospher Richard Tarnas states, postmodernism “cannot on its own principles ultimately justify itself any more than can the various metaphysical overviews against which the postmodern mind has defined itself.”

Ultimately it is self-refuting.

Question 9

Obscurantism

Answer 9

describe the practice of deliberately presenting information in an imprecise, abstruse manner designed to limit further inquiry and understanding

Question 10

Protagoras and relativism

Answer 10

Protagoras: Truth is relative. It is only a matter of opinion.

Socrates: You mean that truth is mere subjective opinion?

Protagoras: Exactly. What is true for you is true for you, and what is true for me is true for me. Truth is subjective.

Socrates: Do you really mean that? That my opinion is true by virtue of its being my opinion?

Protagoras: Indeed I do.

Socrates: My opinion is: Truth is absolute, not opinion, and that you, Mr. Protagoras, are absolutely in error.

Since this is my opinion, you must grant that it is true according to your philosophy.

Protagoras: You are quite correct, Socrates.

Question 11

Self-defeating statement

Answer 11

A statement that negates itself

“Truth cannot be known with certainty”

““I cannot speak a word in English.”

“My wife has never been married.”

“We cannot know anything about God.”

“There is no such thing as truth.”

“Truth cannot be known with certainty.””

Question 12

Obscurantism

Answer 12

describe the practice of deliberately presenting information in an imprecise, abstruse manner designed to limit further inquiry and understanding

Question 13

Protagoras and relativism

Answer 13

Protagoras: Truth is relative. It is only a matter of opinion.

Socrates: You mean that truth is mere subjective opinion?

Protagoras: Exactly. What is true for you is true for you, and what is true for me is true for me. Truth is subjective.

Socrates: Do you really mean that? That my opinion is true by virtue of its being my opinion?

Protagoras: Indeed I do.

Socrates: My opinion is: Truth is absolute, not opinion, and that you, Mr. Protagoras, are absolutely in error.

Since this is my opinion, you must grant that it is true according to your philosophy.

Protagoras: You are quite correct, Socrates.

Question 14

Self-defeating statement

Answer 14

A statement that negates itself

“I cannot speak a word in English.”

“My wife has never been married.”

“We cannot know anything about God.”

“There is no such thing as truth.”

“Truth cannot be known with certainty.”

Question 15

Three periods o western civilization

Answer 15

Three periods:

1. Premodern (400-1600 A.D.)
2. Modern (1600-1900 A.D.)
3. Postmodern (1960-present)

Question 16

What was meant by “solo Scriptura”

Answer 16

It emphasizes the role of scripture over tradition and reason.

Question 17

modernism vs Post modernism

Answer 17

Intellectual vs anti-intellectual

Reason vs feeling

Optimism vs Pessimism

Hope for the future vs despair for the present

Objectivism vs Subjectivism/relativism

Exclusivism vs Pluralism/inclusivism

Scientific method vs distrust in science (ways of knowing)

Man is evolving vs Man is devolving

Question 18

Difference between premodern, modern, and post-modern, using the analogy of baseball

Answer 18

• Premodern: “There’s balls
and there’s strikes and I call
them as they are.”

• Modern: “There’s balls and
there’s strikes and I call
them as I see them.”

• Postmodern: “They ain’t
nothing ‘til I call ‘em.”

Question 19

Some argue that those who say they believe that all truth is relative don’t
actually live this way. Explain why it is virtually impossible to live out a
relativistic worldview.

Answer 19

Because their beliefs are self refuting.

One can believe that fire doesn’t burn, but one cannot act on this believe with good results.

Question 20

Discuss the validity of this statement: “People are only relativistic when it
comes to the issues of morals and metaphysics (God, spiritual things, etc.).
They are not relativistic when it comes to the mundane.”

Answer 20

They talk the talk, but cannot walk the walk, meaning their everyday life contradicts their stated beliefs.

What people truly believe is what they act out in the world, not what they say they believe.

Question 21

What is refered to when we talk about the “failed claims of modernism”

Answer 21

Science, without God, was supposed to create a utopia, where all suffering would seize and everyone would live the right way and do the right thing, however that did not happen.

Question 22

modernism vs Post modernism

Answer 22

Intellectual vs anti-intellectual

Reason vs feeling

Optimism vs Pessimism

Hope for the future vs despair for the present

Objectivism vs Subjectivism/relativism

Exclusivism vs Pluralism/inclusivism

Scientific method vs distrust in science (ways of knowing)

Man is evolving vs Man is devolving

Question 23

Difference between premodern, modern, and post-modern, using the analogy of baseball

Answer 23

• Premodern: “There’s balls
and there’s strikes and I call
them as they are.”

• Modern: “There’s balls and
there’s strikes and I call
them as I see them.”

• Postmodern: “They ain’t
nothing ‘til I call ‘em.”

Question 24

Some argue that those who say they believe that all truth is relative don’t
actually live this way. Explain why it is virtually impossible to live out a
relativistic worldview.

Answer 24

Because their beliefs are self refuting.

One can believe that fire doesn’t burn, but one cannot act on this believe with good results.

Question 25

Discuss the validity of this statement: “People are only relativistic when it
comes to the issues of morals and metaphysics (God, spiritual things, etc.).
They are not relativistic when it comes to the mundane.”

Answer 25

They talk the talk, but cannot walk the walk, meaning their everyday life contradicts their stated beliefs.

What people truly believe is what they act out in the world, not what they say they believe.

Question 26

What is refered to when we talk about the “failed claims of modernism”

Answer 26

Science, without God, was supposed to create a utopia, where all suffering would seize and everyone would live the right way and do the right thing, however that did not happen.

Question 27

modernism vs Post modernism

Answer 27

Intellectual vs anti-intellectual

Reason vs feeling

Optimism vs Pessimism

Hope for the future vs despair for the present

Objectivism vs Subjectivism/relativism

Exclusivism vs Pluralism/inclusivism

Scientific method vs distrust in science (ways of knowing)

Man is evolving vs Man is devolving

Question 28

Difference between premodern, modern, and post-modern, using the analogy of baseball

Answer 28

• Premodern: “There’s balls
and there’s strikes and I call
them as they are.”

• Modern: “There’s balls and
there’s strikes and I call
them as I see them.”

• Postmodern: “They ain’t
nothing ‘til I call ‘em.”

Question 29

Some argue that those who say they believe that all truth is relative don’t
actually live this way. Explain why it is virtually impossible to live out a
relativistic worldview.

Answer 29

Because their beliefs are self refuting.

One can believe that fire doesn’t burn, but one cannot act on this believe with good results.

Question 30

Discuss the validity of this statement: “People are only relativistic when it
comes to the issues of morals and metaphysics (God, spiritual things, etc.).
They are not relativistic when it comes to the mundane.”

Answer 30

They talk the talk, but cannot walk the walk, meaning their everyday life contradicts their stated beliefs.

What people truly believe is what they act out in the world, not what they say they believe.

Question 31

What is the ultimate Postmodernist taboo

Answer 31

The Postmodernist creed is “ thou shalt tolerate one another, no exception shall be tollerated”.

person may have his or her religion, and may believe it, but he or she has no right to try to persuade another of his or her belief. Why? Because what you are saying is that your belief is superior to their belief. This is the supreme act of intolerance, the primary postmodern taboo.

Question 32

Why should we be careful in responding to false believes

Answer 32

Often times it is human nature to counter false beliefs by promoting equally false beliefs of the opposite extreme.

Postmodernism states that all truth is subjective, and relative, it would be easy to overreact to this by stating that NO truth is subjective and that All truth is objective, and in so doing ignore the role of our subjective experience.

It is through these overreactions to false ideas,like when the catholic church overreacted to Pelagius’ false view of anthropology, in order to defend the doctrine of depravity (as they should have done), went to the opposite extreme and promoted the doctrines of purgatory and limbo to account for the children who, although depraved, could not exercise faith. Which in itself is a false idea or doctrine.

Question 33

What do post modernist mean when they say we should be more tolerant?

Answer 33

Christians should join hands with the postmodern in this cry for tolerance if tolerance means that we live at peace with those of other faiths, not prohibiting them from believing something unbiblical—that is God’s job.

But, of course, this is not what they are asking. By tolerance, the postmodern means that we compromise the objectivity of God’s Word. By tolerance, the postmodern cries for us to stop reaching out to others with the Gospel. By tolerance, the postmodern demands that we approve of their lifestyles. By tolerance, the postmodern is essentially asking us to give up our faith. This we cannot do.

it is not tolerance that they want, but compromise.

Question 34

What is the Creed of relativism

Answer 34

“It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere.” To the relative postmodern, all truth is contingent upon the situation, culture, or language of the person

Question 35

What is the law of non-contradiction and what role does it play in relativism.

Answer 35

A cannot be NOT A at the same time.
Something cannot be True and False at the same time

To the relativist, one person may claim that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and another could claim that He is not the Son of God. To the postmodern, both of these statements could be true at the same time.

The law of non-contradiction is not binding to the relativist.

A new law has taken its place, the law of relativism.

Question 36

Absolute Objectivism

Answer 36

Absolute objectivism believes that all truths are objective in the same way absolute relativism believes that all truths are relative. Objective truths are just the opposite of relative truths. They do not depend upon the situation, culture, language, or any other variable

Question 37

Is all truth Objective?

Answer 37

Paul, writing to the Romans, deals with a situation that is relevant to our question. Young believers were often convinced that it was wrong to eat foods that were considered unclean. Paul emphatically states that all foods were clean: “I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself” (Rom. 14:14a). Paul was saying that it was OK to eat ham! This is the objective truth, right? Not quite. The objective reality was that all foods were clean, but there was a relative situation which determined whether or not it was right or wrong to eat these foods: “But to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean” (14:14b). Therefore, if someone thought that it was a sin to eat ham, but did it anyway, this was a sin to him. Not because God would be angry that the person ate what was unclean, but because he consciously believed it was wrong and therefore rebelled against his conscience and God. Not only this, but Paul goes on to state that whatever is done without full conviction that it is right is sin (v. 23). This means that if I believe that wearing brown slippers is a sin, but I do it anyway, it becomes sin for me. Not that wearing brown slippers is wrong, but because I am in conscious rebellion against God. Likewise, if I believe that listening to a certain type of music on the radio is wrong but I do it anyway, to me this is wrong. But while it is wrong for me, it may not be wrong for the person in the passenger seat next to me who has no conviction whatsoever that it is wrong. In this situation, the postmodern is correct—the truth, right or wrong, is relative. It is relative upon whether or not the person was acting against their conscience. For one person it was wrong to listen to the music, for the other it was not. For one person it may have been wrong to eat ham, for another it was not. There are many other situations like that just described which occur in our lives everyday. The point that I am trying to make is that truth is sometimes relative. We as Christians need to realize this if we are to speak intelligently to a postmodern world.

Question 38

sine qua non

Answer 38

The true essentials, (without which, not) something cannot exist

Question 39

Situational Relativity:

Answer 39

Situational Relativity: The right and the wrong of those in this category are dependent upon the culture, time, situation, or some other variable. Women not wearing a head covering (1 Cor. 11:5) is a good example. While the women who did not wear a head covering were expressing an underlying sinful principle, the wearing of the head covering itself was not right or wrong. Its sinfulness was dependent upon the cultural expression. The same sin may be expressed in our culture but in a different way.

Question 40

Autonomous Relativity:

Answer 40

Autonomous Relativity: This category contains those that are truly relative. There is no right or wrong. This category is filled primarily with opinions and autonomous customs that are not related to right or wrong. One’s opinion on the best song is an example of something that is autonomously relative. There is no one correct answer that exists by itself — it is always relative.

Question 41

Essential Objectivity

Answer 41

Essential Objectivity: This category contains only those that are essential for salvation. This should contain only those truths which you believe a person must accept to be considered a true Christian.

Question 42

Non-essential Objectivity

Answer 42

Non-Essential Objectivity: This category contains both doctrinal and non-doctrinal issues which are not necessary for one’s salvation. A good example might be whether one believes in the cessation of the gift of tongues. Tongues either ceased or they did not cease. The truth is objective. But at the same time, it is non-essential because it is not necessary to believe one way or the other as a prerequisite to salvation.

Question 43

What is the problem with arguing about the non-essentials

Answer 43

We express our opinions about having a glass of wine, rock-and-roll, or some other area just as emphatically as we would the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. We do so as if we believe that convincing someone that rock-and-roll is wrong is the same as convincing them of the Gospel. We must understand that convincing someone of any area outside of the objective essential will not save them. That is a big problem within the Church — we major in the minors. We will argue all day long with the unbeliever about the theory of evolution and never tell them about Christ. We never even give them a chance to believe what is most important. Let me make this clear: There is nothing wrong with discussing or even debating the non-essentials, but we must keep in mind that the non-essentials do not save.

Question 44

How do we know that Christ’s death and resurrection is essential for salvation?

Answer 44

Eleven of the twelve sermons in Acts contain the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. The only one that did not was Stephen’s, and if it were not cut short, he surely would have presented the risen Christ to the Sanhedrin. It is imperative that we emphasize the Gospel; it is the only message that contains eternal life

Question 45

Why is over-emphasizing the non-essentials problematic

Answer 45

If too much emphasis is placed on the non-essentials, this does not make the non-essentials more important, but it makes the essentials less important. We end up destroying the “object of our enthusiasm”— the Gospel of Christ. Once this happens, the unbelieving postmodern may then accept the essentials only because they have taken on a lower status of relativity.

Question 46

How do we minister to post-modernist

Answer 46

If we are to evangelize in the world today, we need to be relevant. We do not panic when someone says that truth is relative, we explain that they are right, but only some truth is relative. When they cry for tolerance, we cry with them, and explain to them the difference between tolerance and compromise.