Postmodernism is a concept that gained popularity after World War two and deviated from the modernism thinking approach. It emphasizes the need for self-consciousness and insists that truth is subjective. Furthermore, it points out that language is a tool used by the powerful to force the weak to accept their culture (Sire 222). Postmodernism questions most of the ideologies in the modernism view as it insists that there is no absolute truth about anything in the world. Contemporary governments have incorporated such aspects into legislative and judicial practices as the society seeks to rebalance culture. Ideally, the government aims to restructure the social order and ensure that the minority communities are well represented.
Assumptions
Several assumptions form the foundation of the postmodernism approach and explain the rationale for its application. First, proponents of the concept believe that there is no truth and encourage scholars to stop searching for universal theories. As Sire (223) recalls, many of the historians would recount stories from their perspectives, and this creates bias. People have different experiences because they come from different backgrounds. Hence the reality of one person does not necessarily represent the truth as witnessed by everyone else. Postmodernism insists that everyone has a different culture which dictates how they view the world and understand different concepts. Therefore, people should not impose their lifestyle on others and must remain open-minded to diversity.
Another assumption is that language and knowledge are tools used to promote oppression because they determine possesses power in the society. Education is not objective because everyone gets a chance to tell their own story and “when they are believed, give the storyteller power over others” (Sire 226). Under such circumstances, every other story except that of the individual is said to be oppressive. Consequently, society cannot avoid oppression because this would lead to anarchy. Postmodernism, therefore, encourages people to be tolerant of others and respect their beliefs because the existence of different perspectives promotes peace.
Christianity and Postmodernism
Postmodernism has changed the way Christians understand various concepts because it seems to disagree with most of the metanarratives of the church. Since postmodernists believe that there is no absolute reality, they rule out the existence of God (Sire 226). The scripture depicts God as the universal symbol of truth and the foundation of spirituality. Christianity continues to adopt the changes suggested by postmodernism, and this has changed the outlook of the church. Modern theologists argue that there are limits to how the mind believes the truth about God (Sire 237). However, some sections of the church reject the postmodernism view and insist that Christianity should remain as it was during the modernist era. Theologists who express such views value the existence of human reasoning and hope to maintain the Church in its primitive form.
The postmodernism approach has now penetrated all forms of life and dictates how society operates. Scholars have different opinions about the effects of postmodernism and Sire (221) insists that postmodernism has invalidated the existence of truth. People have become more considerate of others, but the overemphasis on tolerance has contributed to increased conflicts within society. Sire (223) points out that humans can determine the usefulness of language but cannot point out how it relates to truth, and this is the most convincing argument presented by postmodernism.
Work Cited
Sire, James. "Chapter 9: The Vanished Horizons; Postmodernism." The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog. InterVarsity P, 2009, pp. 214-243.
