Postmodernism 101: A First Course for the Curious Christian

by Heath White

Overview

Finally, here's a book about postmodernism that you don't need a philosophy degree to understand.

In Postmodernism 101: A First Course for the Curious Christian, Heath White offers a brief and accessible introduction to the ideas of postmodernism and its relationship to Christianity. White paints the historical and philosophical background underlying postmodernism in understandable, but not oversimplified, language. He then describes what postmodernism means to our view of self, language, thought, the search for knowledge, and culture.

White invites Christians who otherwise might have avoided postmodern theorizing into this important dialogue with questions for further thought after each chapter and suggestions for future reading. This book is ideal for students as well as curious pastors and lay readers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781441234780
Publisher:	Baker Publishing Group
Publication date:	07/01/2006
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	176
File size:	976 KB

About the Author

Heath White (Ph.D., Georgetown University) is a philosophy professor at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Editorial Reviews

While not among the first titles to present a Christian perspective on postmodern thought, this is among the best. White, who teaches philosophy at the University of North Carolina, offers an astute and highly readable analysis that demystifies without oversimplifying. As he escorts readers through characteristic postmodern perspectives on authority, the self, language, morality and history, White undertakes "to address these concerns with postmodernism in a faithful and loving way rather than a smug or defensive or panic-stricken one." The resulting discussion is well balanced between appreciation and criticism, or in White's terms, between conservatives who "get vertigo" when confronted by postmodern irony and "embracers" who adopt a "mix-and-match mentality" that fails to recognize the wider meaning of their choices. Unlike some of his fellow evangelicals, White does not view postmodernism principally as a threat; however, he is profoundly skeptical about the prospects of achieving "community without authority" or "seeking human freedom by eliminating constraints, whether the constraints are political, social, intellectual, or moral." Instead of engaging postmodernism as an opponent, White invites readers to consider how postmodernism might present "an opportunity to rethink both the presentation and the content of the good news about Christ." (July) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

White (philosophy, Univ. of North Carolina at Wilmington) presents a clear, accessible introduction to postmodern thought that should be easily digested by general readers. He details the track of human thought from the premodern to the modern to the emerging postmodern eras and through a range of topics that include views on truth, reason, ethics, the self, language, and history. Written in an enjoyable and pleasant style, the text builds upon itself to create a teacher/student-like relationship, with insightful "For Further Thought" questions ending each chapter. As noted in the subtitle, White's book is aimed at a Christian audience, but his stance is broad enough to be helpful to anyone curious about postmodern ideas. Suggestions for further reading are also provided. Recommended for most settings.-Jason Moore, Madison Cty. Lib. Syst., MS Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

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