#55: Engaging Postmodernism On Your Campus (Or In Your Church)

In this edition we are discussing a very prevalent philosophy on university campuses today (as well as in many churches): Postmodernism. My guest is Dr. Scott Smith, Professor of Christian Apologetics at Biola University’s Talbot School of Theology. Scott has written quite a few articles and well-received books on this topic and often speaks on postmodernism and its implications in churches, at conferences, and on podcasts like this one.   In this podcast we discuss: What postmodernism is, and how it developed out of modernity Why the theory of nominalism (the belief that there is no reality beyond the words we use for things) is the foundation of postmodernism Why Scott is so interested in this issue as a Christian Examples of where students will encounter postmodern thought Concerns about the rise in “expressive individualism” What we can learn from postmodern thought What we must reject in postmodern thought A practical suggestion for how to converse with someone who embraces postmodernism   Resources mentioned during our conversation: Scott Smith, Truth and the New Kind of Christian: The Emerging Effects of Postmodernism in the Church Scott Smith, Authentically Emergent: In Search of a Truly Progressive Christianity Scott Smith, Exposing the Roots of Constructivism: Nominalism and the Ontology of Knowledge Carl R. Trueman, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution Carl R. Trueman, Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution Douglas Groothuis, Truth Decay: Defending Christianity Against the Challenges of Postmodernism Scott Smith’s Website: The Dangers of Nominalism Making Sense of Morality: Problems with Naturalism Podcast discussing Scott’s book Exposing the Roots of Constructivism