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
