Empty Oration

I have spoken in previous posts about my struggles with being a post-modernist, but the reality is that I am one. Often, I wonder whether peoples in the past struggled to accept their Worldview (though, seeing as how the concept is not very old, it is doubtful). My generation is confronted with so many books and views about post-modernity, but so few of these speak accurately of my experience. Although they are often fairly insightful, I am continually walking away feeling misunderstood and misrepresented. However, I believe, as most do about themselves, that I am in a unique position to comment on my generation. I am in a somewhat unique position for one reason only, I do not think that my experience is unique. Keeping in mind that my experiences have obviously had a significant influence on my identity, I realize that most of what I could say on the matter is deeply affected by events which are not relevant to most; but I still think that my feelings toward these subjects are not held by myself alone. So, what follows is my seeking to set out a few truths which I believe are relevant to many of my generation and may shed light on our experience, particularly in relation to the estuary of modern-post-modernity that I believe characterizes the generations preceding us:


We believe in Truth, just not as you give it.
Within my lifetime we have seen Sweet’n Low said to be both a carcinogen and then not, we have seen that Iraq most certainly had WMDs and then did not, we have seen hundreds if not thousands of toys, cars, and foods marketed and then recalled as unsafe and even deadly. In history we learned that the atom used to be thought of as the smallest particle in the universe and that sub-atomic particles behave irregularly when observed. In recent years we watched the TNIV recall their bible because “they got it wrong.” These events, though, have not destroyed our notion that on some level truth exists. Even our most cynical advocates believe in truth, despite what they are willing to admit. However, what we have lost is our faith in knowledge. Within this world of post-enlightenment, surrounded by historically corrupt governments and mass-media, we have lost our faith in the ability to tell and even to comprehend the truth. We are manipulated on such a daily basis that cynicism and distrust easily win the day, and we quickly shun anything that appears inauthentic.We are not, as we are often accused of being, haters of truth or reason. On the contrary, we deeply long for truth and for some logic that will cut through the double-tongued talking heads, and this longing carries over into our faith. We long for an authentic experience of Christianity, one that isn’t seeking to fulfill any agenda. We are incurably attracted to the man Jesus, but we are invariably turned off when we feel that we are being forced and expected to participate in what we would consider hypocritical.


You think our tolerance is insanity, We think yours is insecurity“Tolerance respects the existence of other ideas but it doesn’t deem them equally correct.” Touché. But it is difficult to assert rightness when we are uncertain of it ourselves. We often struggle to know what is true, and so it would be grossly immoral to try and propagate our beliefs. What we believe is tolerance is often an attempt at epistemological humility. We often simply don’t know. It is also an attempt at courtesy. In a diverse world, when truth is so uncertain, few things are less appealing than telling liberals/conservatives, homosexuals, Muslims/Buddhists/Hindus, and secularists that they are wrong and need to adopt our ideas to be happy. First, we lack enough understanding of truth to offer them much. Secondly, we do not want to be forced to adopt anyone else’s beliefs without sufficient cause, why subject them to ours?

We often, no doubt incorrectly, feel that the need to convince others of your beliefs stems from an insecurity. We are caught in the tension of seeing our elder’s hold ideas that we (ideally) respectfully disagree with but see as their Worldview, while feeling that our beliefs (and often lack their of) will not be reciprocally appreciated as our own to rightfully believe. All of this certainly affects the way we understand the church and evangelism in particular. Growing up passing out tracts and asking the “if you were to die tonights” we again are at a loss as to what to do with evangelism. How do you go about sharing the good news without betraying the notions discussed above? We believe that the world needs Jesus, but they believe we need a lot of things, and we can’t simply agree to disagree.


This isn’t easy for us.
Lastly, let us simply add that post-modernity is often a struggle for us. We are said to be okay with uncertainty and pluralism but we are left with few alternatives but insanity. Having been born into a worldview that we could not help but adopt, uncertainty often seems our only option if we wish to really understand ourselves and interpret the events around us. Please, do not dismiss us as hardhearted and irredeemably shallow, we are doing the best we can.This post could not possibly be representative of all of my generation, but my hope is that in some small way I might speak to, if nothing else, the reality of what few are like me. We may often simply be I, but regardless this is where I am and it is all I have to offer.