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Postmodern
Christianity in America
Introduction
Twenty-first century Christianity has been experiencing a structural
transformation in the United States: the historical mainline denominations
characterized by ancient hymns, formulaic worship services, and layers
of bureaucracy are gradually declining; in their place are emerging
a variety of independent churches and new Christian movements, which
utilize stylistic and organizational elements from our postmodern culture.
This revolution is transforming not the doctrine of Christianity, but
the medium through which the message of Christianity is articulated.
My personal knowledge about postmodern Christianity is limited to my
own church-going experience: at my home church, the gospel being preached
has always been biblical and rooted in the first century, but the medium
of presentation is contemporary and postmodern. Instead of organs and
choirs, we have worship bands and singers. The ancient eighteenth-century
hymns are replaced by song melodies inspired from pop music, rock and
roll, and jazz. All our Sunday sermons, small group bible studies, and
church programs address biblical topics in a contemporary context. The
main goal is for our church members to have a relationship with Jesus,
not to pledge allegiance to a particular doctrinal statement. Instead
of encountering apologetic arguments in defense of the faith, a church
visitor will notice our focus on “inviting Jesus into your heart”
and experiencing his transforming love.
The continuous changes of my home church in parallel with the postmodern
movement have spurned me to investigate the issues of Christianity in
the twenty-first century further. Specifically, I hope to research the
following questions:
• How did
the postmodern Christianity movement initially evolve?
• What are the distinguishing characteristics and philosophies
of postmodern Christianity in comparison with its preceding modern
movement?
• How is postmodern Christianity affecting churches in America?
• How is postmodern Christianity affecting college students
in America – both Christian and non-Christian?
My intended audience
is high school and college students in the United States. At this point,
postmodern Christianity appears to be a movement that is shaped by and
intended for this demographic group – thus, I am confident that
this issue would be intriguing for them. Today’s high school and
college students may be searching for deeper significance in their life
and seeking this significance in the context of contemporary culture
– postmodern Christianity may offer them answers that are resonant
and relevant.
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Non
Internet sources
Print sources:
(1) Lundin, Roger. The culture of interpretation: Christian faith and
the postmodern world. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 1993. (Call Number:
BT83.8.L86 1993)
(2) Lyon, David.
Jesus in Disneyland: Religion in postmodern times. Cambridge: Blackwell
Publishers, 2000. (Call Number: BR115.P74 L96 2000)
(3) Phillips, Timothy
R., and Dennis L. Olkholm. Christian apologetics in the postmodern world.
Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1995. (Call Number: BT1102.C48 1995)
(4) Van Gelder, Craig.
Confident witness – Changing world: Rediscovering the gospel in
North America. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1999. (Call Number BV2760.C53
1999)
Non-print
source:
(5) Gene Gauntier, From the Manger to the Cross, dir. By Sidney Olcott,
71 min. The Kalem Company, 1994, videorecording
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Internet
sources
(1) Title of Web page: What the heck is Postmodernism?
Web address: http://www.freewaybr.com/pomoessay.htm
Brief Description: Excellent web site explaining the
basics of postmodernism in layman terms. This page contains information
explaining the core values of postmodern Christianity, the manifestations
of postmodernism in the church, and different perspectives of postmodernism
from the experts. Lists of applicable terminology definitions and useful
primary resources are also provided for the web page visitors.
Source of Web site: Freeway Baton Rouge
(2) Title
of Web page: Postmodern Religion
Web address: http://www.etdiocese.net/postmodern/
Brief Description: formal definition of postmodernism,
in the context of the twentieth century church. This website offers
some great resources about Generation X churches, postmodern Christian
publications, and links to other postmodern-related websites. This site
also offers useful links and information about postmodern Christian
trends in the twenty-first century.
Source of Web site: The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee
(3) Title
of Web page: Traits of Modern Worship
Web address: http://www.phuture.org/s01_Articles/article.asp?ArticleID=66
Brief Description: Describes the trends of Christian
worship in a postmodern setting. This page provides a detailed listing
that illustrates different manifestations of the postmodern philosophy
in today’s worship services. A useful site for people interested
in understanding how the postmodern movement is affecting twenty-first
century churches.
Source of Web site: Phuture
(4) Title
of Web page: Christian workers struggle to reach postmodern
mindset
Web address: http://www.christianweek.org/stories/vol14/no15/story5.html
Brief Description: Excellent article from a Christian
newspaper addressing the struggles of Christian leaders in a postmodern
era. This page contains insight from Leonard Sweet, a prevalent leader
in the postmodern Christian movement, who discusses the distinguishing
characteristics of the postmodern church body. A credible site for students
seeking to find the key challenges facing postmodern Christians today.
Source of Web site: Christian Week Online
(5) Title
of Web page: Comparison of Traditional, Pragmatic, and Younger
Evangelicals
Web address: http://www.jordoncooper.sk.ca/postmodern/comparison.html
Brief Description: Cross-comparison between the moderns
(traditional and pragmatic evangelicals) and the postmoderns (the younger
evangelicals). This page offers a chart detailing the distinguishing
theologies, apologetics, church styles, leadership styles, and youth
ministries among modern and postmodern church leaders. A useful visual
illustration for people interested in how the differences between moderns
and postmoderns translate into their religious practices.
Source of Web site: Jordon Cooper, pastor at a church
in Canada; known as a postmodern expert
(6) Title
of Web page: The Epistemology of Religion
Web address: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/religion-epistemology/
Brief Description: Lengthy essay describing the science
of religious knowledge, in the context of postmodern faith. The information
in this page is considerably dense, but provides a detailed philosophical
description of how postmodern Christianity evolved as a rejection of
Enlightened evidentialism. A solid philosophical resource for those
who are scientifically-inclined.
Source of Web site: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
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Internet
Mini-Essay
Supreme Court Examines Online Sex-Offender Lists
In November 2002,
the Supreme Court examined two similar cases involving the notification
of convicted sexual offenders in the community through an online sex offender
database. Through what’s known as Megan’s Law, any paroled
sex offender is required to register their name, offense, and current
whereabouts in a database available on the Web. While both cases addressed
the same legislation, each case raised different constitutional questions.
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit charged that
Connecticut violated the offenders’ constitutional right to due
process by posting names and personal information on a Web site that did
not distinguish between those who no longer present a danger to the community
and those who still may be dangerous. The United States Court of Appeals
for the Ninth Circuit ruled that Alaska’s statute imposed an additional
punishment on those who were convicted before the law’s 1994 enactment,
thus a violation of laws prohibiting ex post facto legislation. The key
argument applied in both cases appeared to be whether the database served
to inform the public or ultimately shame the offender (who may no longer
pose a danger). As Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg pointed out, the database
did not differentiate between which group of offenders was more dangerous
than the other. Although the justices did not make a final ruling, they
intensely scrutinized the cases from various constitutional angles. (1)
Megan’s Law
is named after Megan Kanka, a 7-year-old girl from New Jersey who was
raped and killed in 1994 by a convicted sex offender who lived across
the street from her home. Although all 50 states have adopted Megan’s
Law, each state has assumed varying definitions of who is included in
the public database of sex offenders and how the database information
is accessed by the public. (2)
NOTES:
(1) Linda Greenhouse, “Court Looks at Sex-Offender Lists,”
The New York Times, 14 November
2002, p. A24, col. 01. Also Available [Online]: General Business File
ASAP [Accessed: 1 February 2003].
(2) David G. Savage, “High Court Takes Megan’s Law Case,”
Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2002,
pA-14. Also Available [Online]: General Business File ASAP [Accessed:
1 February 2003].
WEB SOURCES:
(1) Title of Web page: Megan’s Law Title 2C:7-1
through 7-11
Web address: http://www.njlawnet.com/title2c_7-1.html
Brief Description: Formal legislative language from
Megan’s Law. From New Jersey, the state where the law was originally
enacted.
Source of Web site: New Jersey Law Network
(2)
Title of Web page: Klaaskids – Megan’s
Law Legislation in All 50 States
Web address: http://www.meganslaw.org
Brief Description: One-stop resource for Megan’s
Law policy in all 50 states. Includes an interactive United States map
that allows comparison of law application between the states.
Source of Web site: KlaasKids Foundation
(3)
Title of Web page: All about Megan’s Law
Web address: http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/predators/kanka/1.html
Brief Description: The narrative story behind Megan
Kanka’s death and how Megan’s Law evolved. Picture of Megan’s
mother and rapist.
Source of Web site: Courtroom Television Network, LLC.
(4) Title
of Web page: Supreme Court of the United States – Smith
vs. Doe
Web address: http://www.supremecourtus.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/01-729.pdf
Brief Description: Transcript of oral arguments in
the Supreme Court case number 01-729, Delbert Smith and Bruce Botelho
vs. John Doe.
Source of Web site: The Supreme Court of the United
States
(5)
Title of Web page: Supreme Court of the United States
– Connecticut Dept. of Public Safety vs. Doe
Web address: http://www.supremecourtus.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/01-1231.pdf
Brief Description: Transcript of oral arguments in
the Supreme Court case number 01-1231, Connecticut Dept. of Public Safety
vs. John Doe
Source of Web site: The Supreme Court of the United
States
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