Sincerity vs. Irony in Modern Culture

“A period of cultural change is commencing.” That’s what Paul Anleitner recently posted on X. But what cultural vibe shift is he referencing? Have we come to the end of postmodernism? Paul joins Patrick on the pod today to discuss our new metamodernism moment. Paul is a writer, theologian of culture, podcast host, and pastor. He begins by explaining the progression from modernism to postmodernism, and how the 1990s ushered in a level of cynicism and suspicion that’s remained until just recently. He then explains how he’s observed a newer metamodern vibe shift: the exhaustion of cynicism, the failure of postmodernism, the myth of secular progressivism, and the crisis of meaning that’s led to a sincere desire for authenticity. Providing examples such as Creed and Ted Lasso, he explains why he believes our culture is ready to “embrace the cringe.” But what does a new metamodern era look like? And what opportunities does this metamodern moment open up for Christians? Listen now!

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Note: This episode is from our previous podcast, Truth Over Tribe. We’ve kept a few of these conversations on our feed because they're worth revisiting, but the tone and focus have shifted from what we’re doing now on Not Just Sunday. For new episodes focused on how Christians can live out a full-time faith, check out Not Just Sunday, right here on the same feed.