Wednesday, December 17

Chuck Colson nailed by David Hopkins

David Hopkins writes:

"From Chuck Colson (with Anne Morse), his article The Postmodern Crackup:
"Is postmodernism, the philosophy that claims there is no transcendent truth, on life support?"

Thank you, Mr. Colson, for completely misunderstanding (or, at best, grossly simplifying) a concept to fit your own agenda and worldview. You have proved to me, three things:
1.) People cannot see outside of their own perspective
2.) Yes, some perspectives do not deserve the priviledge they are given.
3.) You are not as well-informed as I hoped.

"The philosophy that claims there is no transcendent truth"? Nearly every word in that statement is wrong. Have you read any text from a postmodern theorist? Any? One?

Does it scare anyone that Colson is considered an influential thinker within American Christianity?

Troy Dyer from Reality Bites said it best:
"You are the reason Cliffnotes were invented."

more from Chuck---

"I spoke at my alma mater, Brown University, in June, arguing that without acknowledging moral truth, it's impossible for colleges to teach ethics. I've been saying this since the late 1980s, all over America, and I've yet to be successfully contradicted."
Um, you're also a prick.

"Postmodernists claim we can have no "grand metanarrative" that makes sense of reality. Since there's no such thing as truth, all principles are merely personal preferences."
Moving from grand metanarrative to truth is terribly simplistic. The grand metanarrative is a little more complex than a 1:1 with your favorite word: truth.

Your personal preference for defending a keyword within your theology is ironic.

"But then came September 11, the day terrorists imposed their preferences, murdering 3,000 innocent Americans."
Are you suggesting that postmodernism killed 3,000 Americans? I'd think those terrorists do not believe in multiple narratives that are equally valid. They seem fairly convinced in the truth of their cause. Chuck, the terrorists might endorse your own philosophy and disdain for forward thinking.

"Christianity offers a belief system that is, as Paul tells Festus, 'true and reasonable.' "
C.S. Lewis stated that the believability of the Christian story comes from it being so wonderfully unreasonable. Just a thought.

"It would be the supreme irony, and a terrible tragedy, if we found ourselves slipping into postmodernity just when the broader culture has figured out it's a dead end."
Broader culture? Soccer moms? But HOW is it a dead end? Because the postmodern philosophy does not acknowledge truth? Why does everything fall apart? Maybe for you... or maybe you just need a villain in order to continue your own form of Christian imperialism?

Maybe I need a villain?"


posted by Charlie Wear | 9:55 PM | |