Modernism (doctrine)
Liberal or humanist approach to Scripture authority.
Lesson 3 · Course 62
New Attacks on Christianity from Postmodernism
Modernism emptied the well; postmodernism reacted — and the church was not ready.
At a glance
Summary
We live in a culture that is no longer Christian. Modernism treated Scripture with a liberal/humanist approach; postmodernism rose as a reaction to modernism’s emptiness. The church was not well prepared. Towns’s best response: present the true church — communicate the gospel without compromise, and distinguish cultural from hostile academic postmodernism.
Quiz 3: 10/10 (100%) on attempt 1 (7m 24s). Essays not graded yet. Moodle uses this same section title again for Lesson 4.
Big ideas
What to teach and remember
- World culture is no longer Christian.
- Modernism in doctrine = liberal/humanist approach to Scripture authority.
- Postmodernism reacted to the emptiness of modernism; the church was not well prepared.
- Postmodernism: religion as the bane of public life; only politically correct viewpoints tolerated; conviction becomes “discontent”; no need for a Savior.
- Best response (Towns): present the true church.
- Scientific demonstration order: gather info → analyze → hypothesis → test → announce (hypothesis is NOT first).
- Communicate the gospel without compromise; distinguish cultural vs hostile academic postmodernism.
Key terms
People, places, and words that matter
Postmodernism
Reaction to modernism’s emptiness; often treats religion as a public problem and denies need for a Savior.
Discontent
The new word for “conviction” in the postmodern mindset (Moodle).
True church (Towns)
Best response to the postmodern mindset — present the true church.
Scientific demonstration
Gather → analyze → hypothesize → test → announce — hypothesis is not step one.
Cultural vs academic postmodernism
Distinguish everyday cultural mood from hostile academic theory when communicating the gospel.
Structure
Outline / timeline
- Modernism’s empty promises and liberal Scripture approach
- Postmodernism’s reaction and the church’s unreadiness
- Ten presuppositions of modernism
- Seven cultural expressions of postmodernism
- Five steps of scientific demonstration of truth
- Pastoral response: present the true church without compromise
Must remember
Facts to keep straight
| Quiz 3 | 100% (10/10), attempt 1, cmid 1091 |
|---|---|
| Culture | No longer Christian |
| Modernism | Liberal/humanist approach to Scripture authority |
| Postmodernism origin | Reaction to emptiness of modernism |
| Church readiness | Not well prepared (Moodle: False that it was) |
| Towns’s response | Present the true church |
| Science order | Gather → analyze → hypothesis → test → announce |
Compare
Side-by-side contrasts
Modernism’s ten presuppositions (summary)
- Naturalism, humanism, scientific method, reductionism, progress
- Nature (evolution over Creator), certainty, determinism
- Individualism and anti-authoritarianism — person as final arbiter of truth
Seven cultural expressions of postmodernism
- Denial of personal objectivity; uncertainty of knowledge
- Death of any all-inclusive explanation; denial of knowledge’s inherent goodness
- Rejection of progress; supremacy of community-based knowledge; disbelief in objective inquiry
Scientific demonstration — order matters
- NOT: create a hypothesis first
- YES: gather → analyze → hypothesize → test → announce
For the pulpit
Sermon hooks
- Name the glasses: modernism emptied authority; postmodernism filled the vacuum with mood and tribe.
- Conviction is not “discontent” — the church must recover holy certainty without cruelty.
- Present the true church: holy, gospel-clear, uncompromised — not a brand-managed spirituality.
- Teach people how truth is tested: gather and analyze before you hypothesise a trendy answer.
Quiz drill
Quiz drill / review · open to practice · 10 items
Quiz score: 100% · 1 attempt
1. We live in a world culture that is no longer Christian.
TrueThe cultural default is no longer Christian.
2. Modernism in doctrine refers to a liberal or humanist approach to scripture authority.
TrueModernism relocates authority away from Scripture toward liberal/humanist norms.
3. The first step in the scientific demonstration of truth is to create a hypothesis.
FalseFirst gather information, then analyze — hypothesis is third.
4. The church saw postmodernity coming and was well prepared for it.
FalseThe church was not well prepared.
5. Postmodernism developed as a reaction to the emptiness of modernism.
TrueEmpty modernism birthed the postmodern reaction.
6. Postmodernism argues that religion is the bane of public life.
TrueReligion treated as a public problem.
7. Postmodernism argues that only those viewpoints deemed politically correct should be tolerated.
TrueTolerance narrows to the politically correct.
8. The new word for "conviction" is "discontent."
TrueConviction is rebranded as discontent.
9. Dr. Towns recommends that the best response to the postmodern mindset is to present the true church.
TruePresent the true church — Towns’s pastoral answer.
10. Postmodernism sees no need for a Savior.
TrueNo felt need for a Savior in that mindset.
Essay themes
If you preach or review
List and discuss the five points of scientific demonstration of truth.
The five points move from observation to a tested conclusion:
1. Gather information concerning a problem. We begin by collecting the relevant facts rather than assuming an answer.
2. Analyze the facts and data. The information has to be examined carefully so that important evidence is not overlooked.
3. Create a hypothesis—a proposed or suggested solution to the problem.
4. Test the proposed solution. The lesson mentions testing its logic, correspondence to the reality of life, analysis of the data, consistency, comprehensiveness (whether relevant questions have been answered), and public acceptance or consensus.
5. Announce a solution, principle, or law. Only after the proposed answer has been examined and tested should it be presented as a conclusion.
List and discuss the ten presuppositions of modernism.
1. Naturalism: reality is restricted to what can be observed or proved.
2. Humanism: humanity is viewed as the pinnacle of the universe.
3. The scientific method: knowledge is inherently good and attainable through a reliable method.
4. Reductionism: humans are understood as highly developed animals.
5. Progress: because knowledge is good, gaining more knowledge is expected to produce progress.
6. Nature: evolution, rather than a Creator, is held responsible for life and its development.
7. Certainty: because knowledge is objective, people can know things with certainty.
8. Determinism: events happen because of fixed causes.
9. Individualism: the individual and the individual's ability to discern truth are supreme.
10. Anti-authoritarianism: each person is the final arbiter of truth.
Together these assumptions place confidence in observable reality, human reason, progress, and individual judgment rather than in God's revealed authority.
List and discuss the seven cultural expressions of postmodernism.
The seven cultural expressions of postmodernism are:
1. Denial of personal objectivity. People say that their beliefs are shaped by their parents or background and that nobody can know for sure.
2. Uncertainty of knowledge. Even when a government or expert makes a claim, the response is often, "Who really knows if it is true?"
3. Death of any all-inclusive explanation. People resist neat explanations and believe that life does not fit one complete, orderly account.
4. Denial of knowledge's inherent goodness. More knowledge and technology are seen as potentially making the world more dangerous, not automatically better.
5. Rejection of progress. Having technology and material advancement does not guarantee happiness or fulfillment.
6. Supremacy of community-based knowledge. It is considered arrogant for one individual to claim that he or she alone has discovered spiritual truth; knowledge is shaped by one's community.
7. Disbelief in objective inquiry. Even when reading Scripture, a person may say, "This is what I think it means, but I could be wrong—what is your interpretation?"
In everyday life these ideas are usually expressed as attitudes rather than as a formal philosophy. They show why Christians need humility and patient conversation while still presenting the objective truth of the gospel.