"Post Christian" (Gene Edward Veith Jr.)

TITLE: Post-Christian: A Guide to Contemporary Thought and Culture
AUTHOR: Gene Edward Veith Jr.
PUBLISHER: Wheaton, IL: Crossway Publishers, 2020, (320 pages).

There has been lots of talk about postmodernism, so much so that it has become a catchphrase to simply represent anything after modernism. While the theologian Thomas Oden sees modernism as post-Communism and "hyper modernism," and the rise of relativism thought, the author feels that it is more about the loss of moral clarity in an increasingly "spiritual but not religious" climate. In this context, author Gene Edward Veith Jr has chosen to discuss the shape of Christianity in the midst of this postmodern atmosphere. Using the term "Post-Christian," he is careful to explain that it is not the end of Christianity per se, but a "new Christian guide to contemporary thought and culture." With great care and astute observation, Veith highlights the nature of the "universal wolf" having the tripartite of "power, will, and appetite":

• POWER: Many institutions and movements have become "masks" for power; The fight for power is shrouded as a form of resistance against any form of transgression; (eg. push-backs by LGBTQ against traditionalists, racial minorities against whites, pro-choice against opponents, etc)
• WILL: The will is higher than "moral meaning." Choice is the ultimate over all other things, feeding on the legislation of human rights.
• APPETITE: We all have a right to what we want, what we feel, and what we desire.

In this book, he goes further to show us the extent of Postmodern reach. Part One is about the REALITY of our present state, on how the present cultural mood construct reality, especially in the world of science and technology. He notes how the public have drifted toward a more gnostic worldview, where the spirit of deconstructionism has even "interrogated" science. In other words, science is no longer an independent factual entity, but something subjected to the mercies of a constructionist and relativistic mindset. Veith helpfully traces the progression of thought from the Enlightenment's "Age of Reason" to the Romanticism's "exaltation of the self" and to our present state of rationalization and experienced reality as the final arbiter of truth. Man has become the center of the world. In science, Veith compares and contrasts the false reality of relativism against the objective truth. He distinguishes science from technology by saying that the former refers to "knowledge" while the latter is about "art or craft." He notes how the technological advances have given man the confidence to deify himself. We have substituted virtual reality in exchange for what is real. Veith concludes with Johann Georg Hamann's legacy to say that "truth is not necessary as clear and lucid as the rationalists wanted to make it seem."

Part Two is about the way people see their physical bodies with a focus on sex and having children. While the Bible teaches us the truth of "one flesh" union between a man and a woman, the postmodern construct expands the nature of sex to all kinds of combinations and unions. So much so that sex has pervaded politics, technology, and worldview. Veith gives several interesting observations which readers would be intrigued. He also observes the evolution of sex from the dangers of premarital sex, and the adulterous renditions of sexual relationships, and the evolution of same-sex preferences. He calls gay marriage as the "template" of postmodern construct. Sex has become divorced from childbearing. Man has substituted natural sex to engineering children. Such engineering prowess makes the term LGBTQ2 not as inclusive as it ought to be. Veith even proposed a new term "LGBTQQICAPF2K+"! He rightly observes that if the LGBT group wants to be truly inclusive, they ought to include heterosexuals as well. Interesting thought.

Part Three looks at the moods of SOCIETY in general with a focus on culture, politics, and civilization. Veith argues that this postmodern deconstruction has undermined community and the family. He even says that the rise of multiculturalism is a result of an arrogant desire to see different races represented. In other words, the goal is not cultural diversity, but to see different colors of people but all having the "same thoughts and values." In other words, they may look different on the outside, but inside they are similar, that is, they are race-discriminative. A deconstructionist mind takes control in the pursuit of power and politics. Veith also takes a look at Richard Niebuhr's "Christ and Culture" proposals and concludes that none of the five proposals are effective in this present postmodern climate. Veith proposes "rebuilding from the ground up," like how the Early Church rebuilds the Church in the midst of a disastrous Dark Ages era. It can be a new "Benedict option," or as Veith prefers, a "Luther option."

Part Four deals with RELIGION with a particular look at spiritual matters especially with regard to the future of Christianity. After discussing the spirituality awareness situation among people, even atheists, Veith feels that there is much hope because the age of secularization will not last. More likely there will be a new form of "New Age Movement." He also looks at the rise of the NONES, who will eventually feel that even though they trumpet the personal and private forms of faith, they lack the community that is so critical to the health of any spiritual person. Even atheists who may claim to have no religion, have religious rhythms in their thinking and behaving. As far as the Church is concerned, the need is to "desecularize the Church" rather than to be distracted by the outside secularizing world.

My Thoughts
There are three reasons why I like this book.

First, he gives us a good overview of the historical contexts of each movements. Starting from the Enlightenment era, he explains how the present world is not particularly different from past revolutions. In doing so, learning the history of cultural developments is a powerful way to determine how to approach the challenges posed by our present age. For instance, the way that he suggests on how Church can approach culture, he brings together the historical happenings of Benedict, Luther, and Niebuhr's to give us a possible route toward redemption.

Second, Veith is an authority in observing postmodern trends. As a writer of Postmodern Times which began in 1994, Gene Edward Veith Jr has seen the different trajectories of the postmodern movement(s). If there is a way to generalize what Postmodern effects are, it would be deconstructionism. Marriages have been deconstructed to include all other forms of marriage. Feminism have moved to include transgenderism. Multiculturalism and trans humanism have grown popular. We learn of how the sexual revolution has led to the pervasiveness of LGBT movements; and how so many sectors in society have become politicized.

Third, some of Veith's observations are arguable, which makes this book appears like an invitation to a conversation. His arguments can be dense and multilayered, which requires more careful reading or re-reading. Context is key before concluding anything. For instance, when he mentions the way the new deconstructionist mindset has undermined community and family, I find it curious because many secular groups have been strongly promoting the importance of community and family. Then I realize that Veith observation reaches beyond what meets the eye. The very reason for secular groups in promoting the importance of community and family is because they are experiencing first-hand alienation of individuals. Without addressing the underlying problems of society and postmodern constructionist philosophies, any efforts to promote community would achieve limited success. The way Veith invites us to consider the various points helps keep this matter an open book discussion rather than some dogmatic statement. Through questions and incisive probes, readers are welcome to offer their own critiques and questions too.

I enjoy reading the many perceptive observations in this book that shows me that things are not what they seem to be. Many of them are powerful critiques of what many people would deem as norm. The biggest danger of it all is the deconstructionist mindset that seeks to unravel everything to the detriment of the natural makeup of creation. Man has become so arrogant of his ability to rationalize everything that he has manipulated everything to become what he is rationalizing. In his introduction to the book, Veith notes how the constructionist mind has upended the traditional views of everything. Be warned. This book is no easy read but richly enlightening.

Gene Edward Veith Jr is provost and professor of literature emeritus at Patrick Henry College. He previously worked as the culture editor of World magazine. Veith and his wife, Jackquelyn, have three grown children and seven grandchildren.

Rating: 5 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of Crossway Publishers and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.