Western Story and Worldview

Michael Goheen

IDIS 102, TWU

Romans 12.1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this is true worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is--his good, pleasing, and perfect will.

Living at the Crossroads

Overview of Western worldview

Last 200 years or so Western culture shaped by modern humanism (modernity)

Recent developments:Challenged by postmodern humanism (postmodernity)

Modern humanism as global phenomenon (globalization)

Overview of lectures on modernity Examine modern humanism

Dewey’s ‘confession’

Two diagrams

Way we label historical eras

Brief definition

Look at western story and development of modern humanism

Examine postmodern humanist challenge and global spread of modern humanism

Incomparably the most urgent missionary task for the next few decades is the mission to ‘modernity’... It calls for the use of sharp intellectual tools, to probe behind the unquestioned assumptions of modernity and uncover the hidden credo which supports them...

- Lesslie Newbigin

Dewey’s Confession: Secular affirmation

First, there is a transfer of interest from the eternal and universal to what is changing and specific, concrete—a movement that showed itself practically in carrying over of attention and thought from another world to this, from the supernaturalism characteristic of the Middle Ages to delight in natural science, natural activity and natural intercourse.

Dewey’s Confession: Affirmation concerning science

Secondly, there is the gradual decay of authority . . . and a growing belief in the power of individual minds guided by methods of observation, experiment, and reflection, to attain the truths needed for the guidance of life.

Dewey’s Confession: Progress affirmation

In the third place, great store is set upon the idea of progress. The future rather than the past dominates the imagination. The Golden Age lies ahead of us not behind us. Everywhere new possibilities beckon and arouse courage and effort. . . Man is capable, if he will but exercise the required courage, intelligence and effort, of shaping his own fate.

Dewey’s Confession: Affirmation concerning technology

In the fourth place, the patient and experimental study of nature, bearing fruit in inventions which control nature and subdue her forces to social uses, is the method by which progress is made. Knowledge is power . . .

EurocentricGlobalizing

AutonomousReason Science Technology

(Non-human)

Rational organization ofsociety (Human)

New world

! Economics! Politics! Education! Society

! Freedom! Material

prosperity! Justice! Truth

Humanism

Gods of our age (Walsh and Middleton)

Scientism: Legs of Iron

Technicism: Bronze of Power

Technicism: Silver of profit

Economism: The Golden Head

Where did these terms come from?

Middle ages (5th-14th century)

Renaissance (14th century)

Enlightenment (18th century)

What is the hero of the story?

Renaissances o m e th in gb o rn a g a in

E n lig h te n m e n ts o m e th in g

b e c o m e s l ig h to f th e w o r ld

Middle Agess o m e th in gs u p p r e s s e d

1350 1750

What? Rationalistic humanism

Eras of Western story

Classical Medieval Modern P o stm o d ern7th c. BC - 5th c. AD 5th-14th c. AD 14thc.-today Emerged 20th c.

Dictionary definitions: Positive or negative designations?

Classic: of the highest class; most representative of the excellence of its kind; having recognized worth

Modern: up to date; not old fashioned, antiquated, obsolete

Medieval: historical era; outdated

Another way to designate eras:

Classical Medieval Modern P o stm o d ern

Pagan Synthesis A n tith es is N e o -p ag a n

What if the gospel were the hero of the story?

Western Faith:Rationalistic (Modern) Humanism

Autonomous man is capable of defining the world (Creator) and solving problems of world and bring about a new world of freedom, prosperity, justice, and truth (Redeemer) with his own rational resources.

Idolatry

Idol: Good part of creation

Makes into a kind of ‘god’

Brings rest of creation into service of invented ‘god’

Western Idols in Modern Humanism

Humanism: Humans replace God as creator and saviourRationalism: Capability of reason alone to know the truthScientism: Only science can verify true knowledge; enables us to control world to save usTechnicism: Technology can save us from our problemsEconomism: All other aspects of human life serve the economic dimension Secularism: Material world is all that exists

Historical Development ofRationalistic Humanism

Roots in pagan/classical period (to 5th c.)Preserved in medieval synthesis (5th-14th c.)Re-emerged at Renaissance (14th-15th c.)Salted by gospel at Reformation (15th c.)Given tremendous thrust forward in Scientific Revolution (16th-17th c.)Came to mature expression in Enlightenment (18th c.)Given social embodiment in social, industrial, and political revolutions (19th, 20th c.)Under attack today (late 20th, 21st c.)