Paul Lakeland on Postmodernity
April 21st, 2006
Paul Lakeland is Professor of Religious Studies at Fairfield University, Connecticut. In his 1997 book, “Postmodernity: Christian Identity in a Fragmented Age”, he explores a range of postmodern approaches to doctrines of God, Church and Christ.
He identifies three types of postmodern individual:
1. The product and consumer of popular postmodern culture.
2. Those who see modernism as the enemy.
3. Those who approach modernity and its critiques with a critical openness.
In terms of distinct approaches to postmodernism Lakeland identifies:
1. Radical Historicist Perspective
Rejection of theories of knowledge that involve traditional notion of subject at the centre.
Reason seen as a contextual and relative reality, rather than absolute or transcendental reality.
Examination of reason reveal dependence on something else, be it power relations or desire.
2. Postmodernism of Nostalgia
Neoconservative critique of modernism
3. Late Modernism
Commitment to unfinished character of project of modernity in a distinctly postmodern world.
When it comes to discussing doctrines of God, Church and Christ, Lakeland considers the responses of four groups of theologians.
Radical Postmodern - Post Christian
1. Mark C. Taylor, Thomas Altizer, Carol Christ, Sharon Welch - talk about importance of religion but discount the usefulness of the notion of God.
Radical Postmodern Christian
2. James Gustafson, Gordon Kaufman, Maurice Wiles - deeply critical of inherited understandings of God, use term ‘God’ in significantly different ways, expect a future for organised Christianity.
Late Moderns
3. David Tracey, Sallie McFague, Jurgen Moltmann, Peter Hodgson - draw on substantial elements of postmodern culture and thought but remain wedded to Biblical revelation.
Neoconservatives - Postliberals
4. George Lindbeck, Hans Frei, Ronald Thiemann, John Milbank - postliberal or neo-Augustinian standpoints use postmodern thought in tactical or pragmatic ways but resistant to wholesale dialogue with secular world.
Duncan
Peter Taubner and I presented a reading report on feminism and postmodernist approaches to doctrine. We were given the challenge of presenting the insights of Mary McClintock Fulkerson as outlined in her chapter in the Cambridge Guide to Postmodern Theology, edited by Kevin J. Vanhoozer.