The Christian Century

Postmodern Philosophy and Christian Thought (Indiana Series in the Philosophy of Religion), edited by Merold Westphal

Some years ago, the Modern-day Dictionary of Re­ceived Ideas described the term "postmodernism": "This word has no meaning. Use it as often as possible." While there is a widespread sense that the age of modernity is passing or has passed, there is as yet little consensus on how to characterize and evaluate the pres­ent situation and its implications for theology and philosophy. Is postmodernism a nihilistic swirl of relativism, unmasking all intellectual and moral judgments as the subtle stratagems of competing wills to power? Or has it ushered in a new period of humility more receptive to religious perspectives? Is it an implacable enemy of Christian faith or a potential resource for it?