Lessons in postmodernism, 1.1

"A generation raised on channel surfing has lost the capacity for linear thinking and analytical reasoning." - Chuck Colson.

My hope is that this post is neither too academic, nor too philosophical for the average reader, but rather an exploratory journey into the way the collective American psyche is affected by the media - my outlet.

Who is Chuck Colson, and why does this quote have a significance? Let us consider the source. Wiki, our favorite public encyclopdia - which in and of itself is a postmodern creation - tells us that Colson is one of the Watergate Seven. Colson spent four years in prison for his participation in the presidential campaign fundraising scam. He emerged with a hardline evangelical Christian message and a mission to promote prisoner rehabilitation (which, I feel, is an excellent cause).

However, Colson's efforts are destined to fall on deaf ears, because he does not understand the minds of the generation to which he is speaking. He has spoken out against same-sex marriage, argued that Darwinism is an attack on the sanctity of Christianity and the ability of God to create, and he has said that postmodernism is anti-Christian because it preaches a message that is void of hope.

This is where the quote becomes relevant.

The postmodern mind is one that pieces thoughts and belief systems from a collection of pre-existing ones. For example, the postmodern musician crafts music from a compilation of other works. The creativity of form is derived from the way in which the pieces are compiled, thus making it new and original. George Barna, a sociologist and postmodern theorists out of Santa Barbara, CA, calls this the "mosaic."

Postmodern creation is non-linear in its construct, just as Colson described.

The reason why this is threatening to people of Colson's belief is that it implies the need for unique approach for every individual. The message is recieved in a unique way, therefore it must be tailored in a unique way for "salvation". The development of a personal understanding of God leaves the Christian faith with a dilemma. How does a pastor or a preacher address such an audience?

Not buying it yet? Allow me to pose another example.

Postmodernism opposes the concept of the meta-narrative, a cultural schema which defines experience and knowledge. In other words, Postmodernism rejects the idea that every person within a culture will have a specific worldview as a derivative of the culture itself. One more time. Everyone in America does not define their cultural identity on the basis of football, cheeseburgers and George Orwell's Animal Farm, simply because those were part of the common American adolesence. Have you ever known an American who was also a vegetarian, pacifist and a communist? I have. He was my sociology teacher freshman year at Pierce College in Los Angeles. But, he was as American as they get. Fact of the matter is, Postmodernism recognizes the beauty in all of the differences in people. It elevates the importance of the individual experience, and it breaks down the limitations imposed by grand narratives.

Convinced?

Colson claims that he was not, but let us revisit his statement.

"A generation raised on channel surfing has lost the capacity for linear thinking and analytical reasoning."

I would like to introduce Chuck Colson to this amazing new invention called the Internet. Members of this generation that lacks the ability to reason are developing it and using it for new and amazing was to communicate, non-linearly.