Postmodernism and Religion

DISCLAIMER: This post is not an attempt to make religion and postmodernism compatible, but it is merely to show that the postmodern culture may be a positive thing for religion instead of a threat. Also I am saying "religion" to mean a system of beliefs and practices and not referring to a religious person - so think "Christianity" when I say religion and not your personal existence.

This post is stemming from a presentation I did in a class on postmodernism in grad school. I'm not an expert in this area of postmodernism but I have had over two months or about 30 hours of teaching under a postmodernist professor in a very small class. I say this just so I can have an ounce credibility walking forward.

In addressing religion in light of postmodernism, you have to understand that postmodernism is a critique of modernism. In short, while the Enlightenment was based on the rational search for truth and certainty, the moral progress of humanity, and the belief in a grand narrative account of reality (all of reality can fit under and be explained by a single system of beliefs), postmodernism rejects all of this (Borrowed from Pamela Sue Anderson in The Routledge Companion to Postmodernism pg. 45). So Postmodernism, as defined by a postmodernist herself, is the rejection of a grand narrative, moral progress, and certainty through rationality or any other means. In its place you have moral relativism, uncertainty, and no system of beliefs that can explain the world. As you can imagine this is exactly opposite of religion as well.

THis should show that I am not trying to find compatibility in which these two ideas - postmodernism and religion - can meld into one. I am want to show, however, that postmodernism, as a idea living side-by-side with religion in the same culture, can be positive for religion.

First of all, postmodernism's rejection of the Enlightenment ideal of reason and scientific method is much needed. Modernism sucked the life or soul out of the human being by making him/her a subject to speculative thought and scientific method. Moreover, the battle religion has been fighting for centuries is starting to ease up - it is no longer having to give strict, reasonable, and scientific justifications. This is not saying that religion cannot do so, but religion is much more than this by definition. Religion wants the whole human being, the Enlightenment just wanted the body and intellect. Postmodernism is ushering in a time where this game does not have to be played anymore by religion. Postmodernism can move this dialogue to a more constructive level.

You can argue that postmodernism sucks the life out of the soul as well, and I would agree. What is left is a descriptive idea of the human being based on title, occupation, race, gender, and so on. Postmodernism's skepticism of metaphysics brings human being to the surface and leaves the soul to suffocate.

However, this is under the assumption that postmodernism can effect religion at this level - I do not think it can without at one point destroying the very nature of religion and at the other side destroying its very nature of relativism. As you will see throughout this, postmodernism's relativism and disgust for imperialism (culturally or personally) does not allow itself to take over and make absolute statements. It is forever bound by its own rules and will self-destruct if it goes outside of them.

Secondly, postmodernism's can bridge the gap between religions by creating an atmosphere in the culture that requires it. Postmodernists hate religious wars and hostility. It's moral relativism requires that people respect one another, and this can create an atmosphere that is needed between religions. If you want to label it as tolerance you can but I want to stay away from that term because of its heavy stigma. Postmodernism believes in a culture, and really any idea, being in its pure form, and this is why you see a lot of them saying that they want Christians to be like Jesus and not like Christians. It's call for authenticity and respect can be a catalyst for change if it is widely held in the culture. We have already seen how Derrida's deconstruction of language has helped the study of the Scriptures by forcing us to look at it within the context.

I can say more, but I will leave it at here for now. All in all, religion and postmodernism are not compatible, but the influence they can have on each other can still be a positive thing. Am I saying that postmodernism should be held as a belief? No, it is untenable by its very nature. Religion will always have to fight its moral relativism, lack of certainty, and its disbelief in grand narratives. This whole post presupposes two things that I think can be presupposed.

Firstly, postmodernism cannot eradicate religion without it eradicating itself. Its moral and truth relativism will not allow it to make overarching judgements no matter how much a postmodernist wants to make a certain stance. I did this with my professor as he started talking about religious wars being horrible. After about a minute of conversation, he admitted that he cannot make that disgust a universal catalyst for changing it because, for him, all truth and morality is relative to the individual (which in and of itself is a universal stance). Postmodernism cannot maintain itself as a replacement for anything else and is therefore no real threat to any established idea. Modernism is still around, it has just been diminished. Religion is still around has actually flourished, I think in part of postmodernism's disenchantment with reason and science. Postmodernism will critique anything, but replace nothing.

Secondly, I am presupposing that we can operate and take truths from postmodernism without adopting it. While a Christian does not believe in relativism as a postmodernist does, he can still see the need for respect and authenticity through it. And even though a Christian does not believe where postmodernism has taken the human being, he can agree that modernism had it wrong and enjoy the looser chains. The postmodernist is open, and willing to listen and change. I would trade modernity for that culture any day of the week as a Christian and human being.

I hope this all makes sense, and I am not being disappointing. If you are looking for a duke-out between the two or a system that tries to meld the two, then you should be disappointed. My claim is only that postmodernism can be a positive thing for religion, and shouldn't be seen as such a threat to it. Individuals are still definitely threatened, but I think theology and beliefs are safe (although they may be tweaked some).