Western Story and

Worldview
Michael Goheen
IDIS 102, TWU

Romans 12.1-2
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in
view of Gods mercy, to offer your bodies as
a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is true worship. Do not conform any
longer to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve
what Gods will is--his good, pleasing, and
perfect will.

Living at the Crossroads

Overview of Western worldview

Last 200 years or so Western culture
shaped by modern humanism (modernity)
Recent developments:
Challenged by postmodern humanism
(postmodernity)
Modern humanism as global phenomenon
(globalization)

Overview of lectures on modernity

Examine modern humanism
Deweys confession
Two diagrams
Way we label historical eras
Brief definition

Look at western story and development of

modern humanism
Examine postmodern humanist challenge
and global spread of modern humanism

Incomparably the most urgent

missionary task for the next few
decades is the mission to modernity...
It calls for the use of sharp intellectual
tools, to probe behind the unquestioned
assumptions of modernity and uncover
the hidden credo which supports them...
- Lesslie Newbigin

Deweys Confession: Secular

affirmation

First, there is a transfer of interest from the

eternal and universal to what is changing and
specific, concretea movement that showed
itself practically in carrying over of attention
and thought from another world to this, from
the supernaturalism characteristic of the
Middle Ages to delight in natural science,
natural activity and natural intercourse.

Deweys Confession: Affirmation

concerning science
Secondly, there is the gradual decay of
authority . . . and a growing belief in
the power of individual minds guided
by methods of observation,
experiment, and reflection, to attain the
truths needed for the guidance of life.

Deweys Confession: Progress

affirmation
In the third place, great store is set upon the
idea of progress. The future rather than the
past dominates the imagination. The Golden
Age lies ahead of us not behind us.
Everywhere new possibilities beckon and
arouse courage and effort. . . Man is
capable, if he will but exercise the required
courage, intelligence and effort, of shaping
his own fate.

Deweys Confession: Affirmation

concerning technology
In the fourth place, the patient and
experimental study of nature, bearing
fruit in inventions which control
nature and subdue her forces to social
uses, is the method by which
progress is made. Knowledge is
power . . .

Eurocentric
Globalizing
Humanism

Autonomous
Science
Reason

Technology
(Non-human)

New world
!

Rational organization of
society (Human)
!

Economics

Politics
Education
Society

!
!

!
!
!

Freedom
Material
prosperity
Justice
Truth

Gods of our age (Walsh and Middleton)

Economism: The Golden Head

Technicism: Silver of profit

Technicism: Bronze of Power

Scientism: Legs of Iron

Where did these terms come from?

Middle ages (5th-14th century)

Renaissance (14th century)
Enlightenment (18th century)
What is the hero of the story?

1750

1350

Middle Ages Renaissance E n l i g h t e n m e n t

s o m e th in g
su p p re sse d

s o m e th in g
b o rn a g a in

so m e th in g
b e c o m e s lig h t
o f th e w o rld

What? Rationalistic humanism

Eras of Western story

Classical Medieval
7th c. BC - 5th c. AD

5th-14th c. AD

Modern
14thc.-today

P o s tm o d e rn
Emerged 20th c.

Dictionary definitions: Positive or

negative designations?
Classic: of the highest class; most
representative of the excellence of its
kind; having recognized worth
Modern: up to date; not old fashioned,
antiquated, obsolete
Medieval: historical era; outdated

Another way to designate eras:

What if the gospel were the hero of the story?

Synthesis A n t i t h e s i s N e o - p a g a n
Pagan
Classical Medieval Modern P o s t m o d e r n

Western Faith:
Rationalistic (Modern) Humanism
Autonomous man is capable of
defining the world (Creator) and
solving problems of world and bring
about a new world of freedom,
prosperity, justice, and truth
(Redeemer) with his own rational
resources.

Idolatry
Idol:
Good part of creation
Makes into a kind of god
Brings rest of creation into service of invented
god

Western Idols in Modern Humanism

Humanism: Humans replace God as creator and
saviour
Rationalism: Capability of reason alone to know
the truth
Scientism: Only science can verify true
knowledge; enables us to control world to save us
Technicism: Technology can save us from our
problems
Economism: All other aspects of human life serve
the economic dimension
Secularism: Material world is all that exists

Historical Development of
Rationalistic Humanism
Roots in pagan/classical period (to 5th c.)
Preserved in medieval synthesis (5th-14th c.)
Re-emerged at Renaissance (14th-15th c.)
Salted by gospel at Reformation (15th c.)
Given tremendous thrust forward in Scientific
Revolution (16th-17th c.)
Came to mature expression in Enlightenment (18th c.)
Given social embodiment in social, industrial, and
political revolutions (19th, 20th c.)
Under attack today (late 20th, 21st c.)