The blogsphere is not postmodernism

Part the problem, I think, is the way that the stuff of "emerging" has been equated with postmodernism, and that itself has been equated with the phenomenon which is the world-wide-web, and more particularly, Web 2.0 and the interactive world-wide conversation.

But these are all different things. Postmodernism, strictly. is a rather academic notion, some would say something of a spent force, a self-limiting somewhat over-ironic commentary on 20th century self-importance. Now, I tend to see some of its themes impacting on wider society: the lack of a privileged metanarrative; the preoccupation with the medium as much as the message; an aggressive kind of relativism, and so on. Whether these are properly described as postmodern is perhaps moot. Undoubtedly, society is undergoing (or has undergone) some profound changes: but how far-reaching are they? I don't think anyone can say.

On the other hand, I think there is a consensus that the creation of the web is on a par with the invention of the printing press. The effect on society, in the long run, is probably as profound. And it is a truly global phenomenon, though it has to be admitted that language barriers (and to some extent, cultural barriers) mean that much of the interaction is actually limited to a collection of largely non-overlapping (albeit very large, in some cases) online communities.

What does all this have to do with the emerging church? Well, it's evident that there is an emerging, community, web 2.0, kind-of spirituality (if not theology). And it's easy to make over-blown claims about the stuff you are at the centre of. But does it add up to a whole heap of beans?

Emerging hubris

So, I've been trying to make sense of what people mean by "emerging" and "emergent"; what my Anglican friends call "new expressions of church", whether post-modernity has anything interesting to say to faith, whether post-evangelical is a category, and so on.

I guess it's often hard to see, from the middle of a sea-change, the impact and repercussions of the changes taking place. Are we looking at a 1-in-30-year movement, on a par with the Charismatic movement at its height in the 70s and 80s? Are we looking at a 1-in-100-year movement, like the rise of modern evangelicalism to be a dominant force in the British church? Are we looking at a 1-in-400-year movement, on a par with the Reformation or the Great Schism?

My first reaction - egged on by reading the likes of Maclaren - was the latter. Or if not 400 years, then certainly something on a par with the rise of the Enlightenment, at least. But,

• perhaps because MacLaren and Rollins are really "out there",
• because there is a real lack of coherency within the big tent called "emerging", and
• because I keep reading stuff about how we need to rediscover the joy of being a Christian community uncluttered by man-made structures - which all sounds so reminiscent of the Brethren movement (1840 and afterwards),

I really do wonder. To much, too, seems caught up with a 30-year shift in American politics, to the ascendancy for the time being of the Democratic Party, and the espousement (is that a word?) of green issues because they seem trendy.

Being part of something new and radical is exciting. And Christian faith desperately needs to reconnect with western society - and, all the more, with Jesus' way of life. And that means re-thinking a lot of things that too many have taken for granted.

But how much, and how important it all is ... I'm just not sure yet.

I have more reading to do.

Random Thought

I've heard it said that Richard Dawkins would like to see the University stop teaching theology. On the grounds that it's the study of made-up stuff. I'd have to agree with the idea - but not the reason - since academic theology has always struck me as amiss. It seems to lead in entirely the wrong direction.

Motivation

Hmm. Long time since the last blog. It's all about getting started, isn'it. Probably no one knows this blog is here. But that's partly good. I get to practice writing blogs without pressure. But it's bad, too, because it makes me lazy about recording my thoughts. And the point of this blog was definitely to post some thoughts about emerging things.

So, note to self: time to post comments on the books you claimed to read on holiday, Andrew.

Don Carson : Becoming conversant with the emerging church.
I can see why this upset a lot of people. It's more about Don than about the emerging church.

Donald Miller Blue like Jazz Awesome book. A kind of Christian Generation-X. Must read more Miller.

Steve Chalke The lost message of Jesus. What's controversial about that (other than that there's a lot of living up to it to be done)?

Peter Rollins How (not) to speak of God. Wow. Really out there.

Douglas Coupland Jpod. Very very odd mix of postmodern genius and clawing cuteness. Having Coupland appear as a character in the story could have worked, but didn't.

Proper reviews must follow.