• The sixth characteristic of Postmodernism is the inevitable disorientation with reality that is created as a result of embracing this worldview.
• Because Postmodernism has created a culture which declares there is no absolute truth, there is no absolute meaning or purpose to life, there is no absolute morality—the obvious question becomes, “Then what?”
• And what we’re experiencing in our world today, particularly in Western cultures where Postmodernism has made its biggest impact, is that society is becoming increasingly characterized by a vacuum of truth, identity, meaning, and moral certitude; and we see a growing disillusionment among people.
• In the next two Fast Facts we’ll discuss some of the flawed ways in which people today are attempting to cope with this disorientation with reality that Postmodern thought has created.
• Ultimately, though, as believers we know that truth, hope, meaning, and moral certitude can only be found in a relationship with our Creator; and that comes through the saving grace of Jesus Christ alone.

For more information on responding to the challenges of Postmodernism, please check out Jason Carlson’s CD series titled, Answering the Postmodern Challenge, available in our online store.

• The fifth characteristic of the Postmodern worldview is its elevation of uncritical tolerance as the highest virtue in society.
• Because of the Postmodern belief that there is no objective truth and truth is relative, Postmodern culture declares that nobody has the right to criticize or condemn another person’s beliefs or lifestyle. We must be uncritically tolerant of all people.
• Within Postmodern thought, this uncritical tolerance is especially demanded in the areas of gender, race, sexual orientation, and religion; and if you do not uncritically accept someone in each of these four areas, you are given the label of “intolerant”.
• Of course, the areas of gender and race are intrinsic to who we are as human beings and part of our nature as being created in the image of God. However, the areas of sexual orientation and religion have been wrongly elevated by Postmodern thought to a status demanding uncritical tolerance.
• The uncritical tolerance of Postmodernism has created a situation where society today has become morally relativistic. Virtually anything goes when it comes to areas such as sexual activity, religious views, etc.
• Ironically, while Postmodernism elevates uncritical tolerance as the highest virtue in society, there is one group of people that Postmodernism simply cannot tolerate; and they are Christians who hold to a biblical worldview and its affirmation of absolute truth and God-given moral norms.

For more information on the Postmodern worldview and how we as Christians can give an informed response to it, please check out the Apologetics Study Bible for Students, available in our online store.

• The fourth characteristic of Postmodern thought is its deconstruction of traditional worldviews, especially Western worldviews that have historically held a position of prominence. Christianity would be the chief example of one such worldview.
• Postmodernism declares that traditional, Western worldviews led to violence and oppression; and because of this, Postmodern thought teaches that traditional worldviews must be overturned and in their place we must highlight and give preference to historically marginalized peoples and cultures.
• This is why in contemporary, Postmodern culture we see a growing fascination with indigenous 3rd world cultures, religions, and non-traditional forms of spirituality.
• When it comes to the Postmodernist’s critical deconstruction of Christianity, the Postmodern position generally fails to recognize the positive contributions the Christian worldview has made, while elevating extreme examples of abuse and injustice that have been committed in the name of Christianity, even though these actions have no connection to true, biblical Christianity whatsoever.

For more information on the Postmodern worldview and how we as Christians can give an informed response to it, please check out the Apologetics Study Bible for Students, available in our online store.

• Another key characteristic of the Postmodern worldview is its “attitude of suspicion” towards those in authority. This characteristic stems from Postmodernism’s reaction to abuses of power by those in positions of authority during the Modern era of the 16th-20th centuries.
• Within the Postmodern worldview there is a general assumption that those in authority have some agenda that they are trying to force on others. This gives rise to a tendency to disbelieve.
• This attitude of suspicion is most obvious in the areas of politics and religion, where the Postmodern mind is extremely skeptical.
• Next week we will highlight the consequence of this Postmodern attitude of suspicion- its deconstruction of traditional worldviews.

For more information on Postmodernism’s influence on the Church today, please check out the documentary DVD titled, The Submerging Church, available in our online store.

• The Postmodern belief that there is no absolute truth and that truth is purely a social construct (as discussed last week) inevitably gives rise to the second characteristic of the Postmodern worldview, the notion that truth is relative.
• Relativism can be summarized by the popular statement, “What’s true for you is true for you; and what’s true for me is true for me.”
• The view that truth is relative has many fundamental flaws. First and foremost, it is a self-defeating position. When you claim that truth is relative, you are actually making an absolute statement about reality.
• Another flaw with relativism is that it provides no basis for making moral value judgments. For example, were the terrorists of 9/11 evil? Were the atrocities of the Nazis evil? As a relativist, you cannot consistently answer ‘yes’ to these questions, for these people were simply following through with what they believed to be true for them.
• Contrary to the claims of Postmodernism, there is absolute, objective truth. God who is personal and rational has revealed His truth to us in Scripture; and we can know it and be confident in it (Psalm 119:160; John 17:6-8).

For more information on the Postmodern worldview and how to respond to it with God’s truth, please check out the Apologetics Study Bible For Students, available in our online store.

• One of the chief characteristics of Postmodernism is its social construction of reality.
• Postmodernism denies the reality of absolute, objective truth that can be discovered and known by all people.
• Because there is no absolute truth in the Postmodern worldview, societies, people groups, and individuals themselves determine what is true. Thus, the Postmodern view of truth is that it is simply a social construct (an idea determined by people).
• This basic premise of Postmodernism has significant consequences for the rest of the Postmodern worldview and those who embrace it. We’ll discuss those consequences more in the coming week’s Fast Facts.

For more information about the Postmodern Worldview, please check out Jason Carlson’s CD album entitled, Answering the Postmodern Challenge, available in our online store.

• Often times when witnessing to a Mormon they will ask the question, “Have you prayed about whether or not the Book of Mormon is true?” When asked this question, remember and point out the following…
• This question is a ploy on the part of the Mormon. Christians have no moral responsibility to seek God regarding whether lies and heresies are true.
• The Bible says to test all things (1 John 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:21). Ask the Mormon, “Have you tested the Book of Mormon?”
• Point out the numerous historical and theological errors and inconsistencies in the Book of Mormon.
• When you’re asked if you’ve prayed about the Book of Mormon, simply reply, “Yes I have; and God told me that it was a false revelation written by a false prophet.” Now you’ve created a dilemma for the Mormon where it’s your subjective testimony versus their subjective testimony. At this point you can challenge the Mormon to examine the historical and theological basis for the Book of Mormon.

• Mormons claim to hold the Bible as one of their sacred books. However, Mormons will tell you that the Bible has been corrupted and cannot be fully trusted; which is why they argue that additional (Mormon) revelation is needed. In response to this claim you might share the following…
• There is more historical documentation for the accuracy of the Bible than for any other ancient book. Today we know of over 24,000 partial and complete manuscripts of the New Testament dating from the first three centuries A.D. These manuscripts have consistently verified the accuracy of our modern day Bible.
• The Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in 1947 date from 200 B.C. They contain portions of every book in the Old Testament except for Esther. Our modern day O.T. has proven to be 99% consistent with what has been found in the Dead Sea Scrolls.
• History, archaeology, and geography all confirm the authenticity of the biblical record. The same cannot be said of the Book of Mormon.
• Jesus quoted from the Old Testament regularly. Would he have done so if its integrity could not be trusted?
• Ask the Mormon, “Have you ever read through the Bible?” Many Mormons know very little about what the Bible actually teaches. Most Mormons rarely read or study the Bible. Instead, what they know about it is primarily derived from their official Mormon sources, which distort its authority and teachings.

For more information on responding to the claims and teachings of Mormonism, please check out Dr. Carlson’s lecture titled, Mormonism: Christian or Cult?, available in CD or DVD in our online store.

• Mormons practice an unusual ritual in their temples called baptism for the dead. They believe it is possible to save non-Mormons who have died and are in “spirit prison” by having them baptized by proxy today. This is one of the reasons why Mormons are so interested in genealogies. When discussing this practice with a Mormon, point out the following…
• Mormons have formed this doctrine upon a single verse of Scripture, 1 Corinthians 15:29. Many Bible scholars disagree over the exact meaning of this reference and thus it is a highly questionable verse to build a major doctrine upon.
• Show the Mormon that the context of 1 Corinthians 15 has nothing to do with baptism for the dead. Rather, it is an argument for the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the future resurrection of believers.
• Ask the question, “If this is such a central doctrine of true Christianity, why is it not mentioned anywhere else in Scripture?”
• Read 1 Corinthians 15:29 and point out that this verse says nothing about the act of baptism for the dead producing salvation for the dead.
• Highlight the fact that there is no historical evidence that baptism for the dead was ever practiced by the Church in New Testament times.

For more information on witnessing to Mormons, please check out Dr. Carlson’s book Fast Facts On False Teachings, available in our online store.

• Mormons are polytheists, they believe in a pantheon of gods. To attempt to support their position from Scripture they will often cite 1 Corinthians 8:5 where Paul refers to “many ‘gods’”. In response to this argument point out the following:
• Mormons are taking 1 Corinthians 8:5 out of context. When read in the context of verses 4-6, this reference is not at all a defense of the type of polytheism Mormons embrace.
• Ask the Mormon, “What does Paul mean when he says in 1 Corinthians 8:4, ‘There is no God but one’?”
• Show the Mormon how the Bible uses the word “god” in other places such as Jeremiah 10:11, Psalm 82:6-7, or Exodus 7:1. From references like these it is obvious that the word “god” does not refer to “omni” or eternal beings.
• Throughout the Bible God clearly reveals that He alone is God and there are no others (e.g. Isaiah 43:10; 44:6; 44:8). This is in direct contradiction to Mormon doctrine.

For more information on the Mormon religion, please check out the documentary DVD, The Secret World of Mormonism, available in our online store.