After Modernity...What?

by Thomas C. Oden, J.I. Packer (Foreword by)

This vigorous and incisive critique of modernity lights the path to recovering the revitalizing heritage of classical Christianity.

Genres: Theology, Religion, Church History, Cultural, Philosophy

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Thomas C. Oden was Henry Anson Buttz Professor of Theology and Ethics at Drew University in New Jersey from 1980 until his retirement in 2004. He remained faculty emeritus until his death. He was the general editor of the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture and the Ancient Christian Doctrine series as well as the author of Classic Christianity, a revision of his three-volume systematic theology.

Reviews

[Colby]

There were minor comments here and there I quibbled with. Some of Oden’s contexts seem foreign to me. Its interesting to have read this before the seeker-sensitive movement. But in general, I find Oden’s analysis of the academic/modernist landscape/milieu persuasive and depressing.

You start to cut the reality of something at its joints when you find truly disparate peoples (like fundamentalists and progressives) and show how they share the same basic structure for ordering reality—perhaps progressives and Trump aren’t quite as far apart as they think they are.

But for ancient, orthodox Christianity, modernity and postmodernity (which is simply a heightened version of modernity, an ultra-modernity) are seasons of Winter. Bundle up. Spring is coming but the season will be and is harsh.

This isn’t reactionary, but an honest assessment of the hubris of modernity—and the fall its likely to precipitate: one it feels we might be witnessing. Modernity sees the end of everything, except, and of course ironically, itself. This is to be expected I suppose.

“Say what you will about the tenets of [redacted] but at least it had an ethos”

[Ed Creedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heavy read but a worthwhile one. Plenty to chew over.

Oden's appeal to return to an embrace of Classical Christianity in a postmodern world was strong, and he offers some astute commentary on both the state of the church and the world. A particular challenge to anyone engaged in theology or church history in an academic way – how do we use our work to both safeguard and promote the orthodox truth of this historic faith? In a world desperate to erode the very things the Christian faith most values, this is a mighty challenge.

But struck the whole way through by the reality that as our world seeks to promote the new, offer the better and encourage the individual, a life of faith in Christ Jesus remains the only means of living out a sure and certain hope.

The Gospel is such good news for our self-obsessed, postmodern world. Oden's book is a challenge to remember that, foster that, and focus on that.

His use of dialogue and parable was also particularly refreshing, and something I really valued in the book. A bit different, but great. The argument at times can wander a little, and the book itself is a bit dated. But nonetheless the core cry of Oden, to embrace the historical roots of our faith and pursue orthodox Gospel teaching with a renewed vigour is a much-needed and worthwhile call.

[Aurora Grace · Rating 1 out of 5]

A classic attack on so-called "modern theology" and a call to go back to the premodern worldview of the early church fathers.

[Elijah Newcomb · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I had been an Episcopalian in the late ’80s, this book would have changed my life. Thankfully, Oden’s work has already shaped the Church in the way he hoped it would.

[Alex Strohschein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thomas Oden has long been an advocate for returning to the "classical Christian consensus" or "paleo-orthodoxy" and this book, significantly revised in its 1989, is as good an introduction to the movement as any. Oden's call to return to our Christian roots, while at the same time fostering an ecumenical ethos, reminds me of C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity," though Oden seems far more well-acquainted with classical Christian thinkers. Oden explores the impact of modernity and postmodernity and their relationship with Christianity and in particular its theology. Having been a former liberal himself, Oden draws on personal history in order to demonstrate how many were (and still are) being led astray by the products of modernity, whether it is purported cure-alls from psychotherapy or Christianity devoid of the supernatural as in Rudolf Bultmann's theology. Aside from the actual content of the book, Oden also writes exceptionally well.

The one drawback to this book is that, while it is tremendous at vision-casting for a return to the classical Christian consensus, it doesn't carry this vision over well into concrete expression. How will a Catholic, a Baptist and a Seventh-Day Adventist go about worshiping together (the Catholic would be shocked at the lack of liturgy among the Baptist and the Adventist, the Baptist would groan at the Catholic's "smells and bells" and the Adventist would wonder why the other two weren't worshiping with him on a Saturday)? Similarly, when is orthodoxy decided by the classical Christian consensus and when is reform necessary (for instance, on the issue of baptism)? Make no mistake though, as someone committed to ecumenism myself, I applaud and echo Oden's call. I believe for Oden, the fundamentals of the faith are the Cross and the Resurrection and so perhaps that is why he does not delve into other doctrinal issues as much. As long as Christians share a conviction in the power of the Cross and the physical Resurrection of Jesus, they can come together for fruitful and familial fellowship.

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, poor.

[Bradley]

This book goes of like a bomb in the liberal theology camp !

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Generally good work with an excellent point-- theology must be informed by its ancient roots. Recency and modernity are not a measure of quality. In general, essential points for theology and ministry in a post-modern context. The work suffers from unclear and verbose writing at times which distract from the core message. The argument also seems haphazard. It is a bit like driving around in the fog occasionally finding something of note or extreme importance.