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Title: Postmodern Times: A Christian Guide to Contemporary Thought and Culture by Gene Edward, Jr. Veith, Gene Edward Veith Jr. ISBN: 0-89107-768-5 Publisher: Crossway Books Pub. Date: 01 February, 1994 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $15.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.28 (18 reviews)
Rating: 2
Summary: A modernist tries (but fails) to understand postmodernism
Comment: The first few chapters of this book are great. They provide a down-to-earth introduction to postmodernism and how it is shaping culture. But throughout I just got the feeling that Veith was an alien to postmodern culture, trying to analyse it, yet trying to stay on the outside; trying to understand it, yet trying not to be "tainted" by it. The further I read, the more this perception appeared to be justified.
His message is that the church failed to respond to rationalistic modernism, and we should be grateful for the fact that postmodernism is now shutting up those who would question Christianity. However, he sees a real threat ahead, as people stop attacking, and just start ignoring Christianity. Although I disagree with his analysis of the church vs. modernism issue, I think he is correct here.
However, the remainder of the book is a total bemoaning the fate of the world if left in postmodernist hands. From about half way thorugh the book, he didn't seem to have anything new to say, and I really had to drag myself to the end of the book.
The last section of the book was supposed to be an application to Christians. But I found it had nothing to offer in the practical approach we should be taking to postmodernism. It just warns us to be a confronting and countering force. Veith is a modernist, stuck in modernist ways, and although he has a theoretical understanding of postmodernism, does not have a personal understanding of its approach nor of its goals.
I personally believe that the postmodern era holds an incredible amount for Christians, and that we should not shy away from it.
Rating: 4
Summary: The rise and influence of postmodernism today
Comment: An important history of thought is provided in the first part of this book, which briefly outlines the transistion from Modernism to Postmodernism. Essentially the modern era began with the Enlightenment, and claimed human reason and science could determine all truth. Postmodernism does not have such a clearcut starting point in history, although Veith gives examples of when various stages of postmodernism began. Postmodernism essentially abandons the modernist ideology of rationalism, and the existence of objective truths. He then makes an important distinction between the postmodern era and postmodernISM. He identifies postmodernism primarily as relativism, which is the philosophy that truth is relative to the individual, and therefore there are no objective truths.
Although few people are conscious of this belief system in today's society, it is subtly pervasive. Veith's four part analysis of Postmodern Thought, Art, Society, and Religion ranges from interesting to startling to mildly cynical. While I found his discussion of postmodernism to be very revealing and largely accurate, I question whether modernism is as "dead" as he suspects. Perhaps the best example I see of an extant modernist philosophy is that of methodological naturalism: a necessity for evolution. (Philip Johnson does a great job of explaining methodological naturalism in his book "The Wedge of Truth).
However, for the most part, Veith hits the nail on the head in his diagnosis of postmodernism, especially with recognizing the trend in Christianity (but perhaps in religion in general) toward consumerism and empty spirituality (lack of truth). At times the book is repetitive and somewhat pessimistic, yet Veith also has hope for the postmodern age. Christians can build their thinking and live their lives on the foundation of Christ, and share this with society, as the postmodernism's self-contradictory relativism will inevitably collapse.
Rating: 4
Summary: Optimistic Outlook in Postmodern Times
Comment: I learned from his interesting summaries and commentary on modern and postmodern thought, art, society, and religion. The author is optimistic on Christianity surviving and flourishing in postmodern times, after Christians fought their greatest battle of the 20th century and won against the oppressive Soviet puppet masters. In the conclusion, I was pleased to read the brief quotes from Solzhenitsyn's 1978 critique, delivered at Harvard, on the spiritual emptiness of Western culture civilization and how he implores Christians to begin a "spiritual blaze."
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Title: A Primer on Postmodernism by Stanley J. Grenz ISBN: 0802808646 Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company Pub. Date: 01 February, 1996 List Price(USD): $18.00 |
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Title: Loving God With All Your Mind: Thinking as a Christian in the Postmodern World by Gene Edward, Jr. Veith ISBN: 1581345127 Publisher: Crossway Books Pub. Date: 01 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.99 |
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Title: Modern Fascism: Liquidating the Judeo-Christian Worldview by Gene Edward Veith ISBN: 0570046033 Publisher: Concordia Publishing House Pub. Date: 01 February, 1993 List Price(USD): $17.99 |
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Title: Reading Between the Lines: A Christian Guide to Literature by Gene Edward, Jr. Veith ISBN: 0891075828 Publisher: Crossway Books Pub. Date: September, 1990 List Price(USD): $15.99 |
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Title: God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life by Gene Edward, Jr. Veith ISBN: 1581344031 Publisher: Crossway Books Pub. Date: 01 April, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.99 |
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