Sleeman, Matthew

Sleeman explores Post-Modernism. He gives a re-cap of the previous talk, including comparing worldview to glue and glasses. Sleeman explores Ecclesiastes to explore the crisis, and the way post-modernism attempts to solve the crisis. He looks at the role of postmodernism 1. Where are we (in a cosmic sense)? - examining different views, about both men and women and blurring genders. Not privileging one group above another. Modernism inflicts violence. 2. Who are we? - We have different types of ourselves, none of which show our true selves. 3. What's wrong? - Problems with modernity - big truth stories (men, leading race etc) Bible is a big truth story. We must recognise the right of authority, as there is violence in big truth stories 4. What's the remedy? - Little stories, but they are violent too. - the challenge to us is to have commitment to church, as the body of Christ. He looks at the temptations for believers, constraning the truth, and to only serving Christ in one area of our lives. There is real truth - God is God, the gospel is the gospel, and church is the church Positives - Christians can speak, but as can other marginalised voices. Negatives - no fixed truth, therefore no authority except post-modernism, no way of having clear communication. No accepted basis for rationality. No judgement. No freedom. We need to see God's kingdom grow, to his glory. Lecture is followed by questions., Cassette label reads : "St Thomas' tape library Winter School 1996 'How this world ticks (away)' Talk 2 Matthew Sleeman 24.7.96"