| I learned from his interesting summaries and commentary on modern and postmodern thought, art, society, and religion. The author is optimistic on Christianity surviving and flourishing in postmodern times, after Christians fought their greatest battle of the 20th century and won against the oppressive Soviet puppet masters. In the conclusion, I was pleased to read the brief quotes from Solzhenitsyn's 1978 critique, delivered at Harvard, on the spiritual emptiness of Western culture civilization and how he implores Christians to begin a "spiritual blaze." |
| In this book, Gene Edward Veith offers a readable and insightful look at the worldview and effects of postmodernism, which dominates much of American culture. After first explaining the origins and characteristics of modernism, Mr. Veith then shows its decline and demise, leading to the fresh position of postmodernism. He highlights the heavy influence literary criticism had in the development of postmodernism, with deconstructionist theories reformulating how people thought about truth. This section I found particularly interesting, since I hadn't had much exposure to deconstructionism before. Having outlined the fundamental principles of postmodernism, Mr. Veith spends the rest of the book explaining how postmodernism is revealed in our culture and what to look out for. He explains the difference between modernist and postmodernist art and architecture. He observes the explosion of postmodernism in books, music, and television. He describes postmodernism's influence on politics, spirituality, and Christianity. Pretty much every sphere of life has fallen under some segment of postmodernism's shadow, and Gene Edward Veith exposes this fact in no uncertain terms. Mr. Veith closes his book with some practical suggestions on how Christians should interact with postmodernism. He notes that there is a degree of truth in what deconstructionists say, and it should be embraced as such. Christians should seize the true benefits postmodernism has brought in overturning modernism, and not throw them away with the system. But we must also watch for the negative effects of postmodernism, and the ways it subverts the gospel. This system of thinking is indeed quite dangerous, and Christians must be watchful, and cognizant of the peril. Do you want to understand contemporary American culture? its overriding philosophy? its danger? If so, this is the book for you. |
