A “Postmodern” World

FRI., MAR. 4, 1994, 3:02 AM
FARM, STUDY

Yesterday morning, at about this time I offered you a Teaching dealing with faith… in a postmodern world. You heard Me and wrote, and “postmodern” was never clearly defined, even as certain characteristics were implied. This morning I’ll try to clarify this concept, BUT… its nature makes it undefinable, in some ways.

Let’s first consider some “alternatives.” A “pre-modern” world is one of tradition, faith, little desire to improve life, no science (with its methods and its consequences), and only simple technologies. Human immunity was the main bulwark against disease, so the strong survived and the weak lived only shortened lives. Energy was transformed mainly from natural and renewable sources… like human and animal muscle power, wind, flowing water… Freedom was not a viable concept; neither was rights. Instead there was duty and responsibility.

The “modern world” developed from this “pre” reality… and still is developing throughout the earth today. What comes first? Usually the idea that life could be better… that tradition is not the supreme good. While the pre-modern world had people dependent upon Me, circumstances, and traditional ways, the modern world brought the concepts of freedom, independence, and thinking beyond the traditional. There was a way of knowing – science – that was more accurate and relevant than tradition… and than Scripture, and interpretations thereof.

New sources of energy were discovered, and technology brought improvements to life. This encouraged the feeling that machines should do hard work, and that much could be produced from the bounty of the earth. Knowledge began to increase, in all fields and directions. Faith in Me, for the time on this earth, was being joined by or supplanted by faith in science and in secular institutions. Mobility increased, meaning both that people could move geographically to better themselves and that you could, with education and adaptability, rise about the “station of your family” and “be what you want to be.” (Of course this also introduced the possibility of not achieving, according to relative cultural standards… and of failing, in your own eyes.)

Each generation could and should be an advancement over that of their parents. Science and technology should continue to produce more products to make life easier and safer. Government must serve the people, providing for those who cannot support themselves. Many crimes are defined, requiring a complex judicial system… and prisons… but little capital punishment. New knowledge is better than old knowledge. New things generally are preferred over old things. Security is transient rather than steady. Insecurities arise and dominate in many individuals and families. There is freedom of the press and of religion.

Those who stay in or seek relationship with Me, through My Body, the Church, must do so by compromising with science, technology, and secular institutions… consciously, unconsciously, or “some of each.” Churches compete with each other, as well as cooperating in common missions. Faith in science, in institutions, in human initiative and power tend to be more attractive than faith in Me and My Holy Scriptures.