A Christian faith outside the modern mindset emphasizes humble action over certainty and is centered on others rather than oneself.
Faith is more about living in this world with wonder and enchantment, emphasizing humble action and the pursuit of love, rather than rigid doctrinal certainties.
Deep dives
The Limitations of the Modern Mindset
The podcast episode explores the limitations of the modern mindset and its impact on Christian faith. It emphasizes that certainty in knowledge and beliefs, a static and mechanical worldview, and the pursuit of absolute truth are not integral to Christianity. The episode highlights three influential thinkers: Friedrich Nietzsche, Jacques Derrida, and Søren Kierkegaard, and their critiques of the modern mindset. Nietzsche's proclamation that "God is dead" challenges the idea of absolute knowledge and certainty. Derrida's concept that "there is nothing outside the text" underscores the importance of context and the ever-changing nature of our understanding. Kierkegaard's statement that "truth is subjectivity" emphasizes the need for faith to be lived out in humble action and relational love. The episode concludes by suggesting that a Christian faith outside the modern mindset focuses on this world, emphasizes humble action over certainty, and is centered on others rather than oneself.
Christianity Beyond Beliefs
The episode explores Christianity beyond a belief-based framework. It questions the notion that Christianity is solely about affirming certain doctrinal beliefs. The episode highlights how faith is more about living in this world with wonder and enchantment, rather than focusing solely on the afterlife. It emphasizes the importance of humble action and the pursuit of love, rather than a rigid adherence to doctrinal certainties. The episode suggests that faith is not about amassing facts, but about engaging in the process of becoming and existing in relationship with others. It also notes that speaking the truth in love is about living honestly and authentically, rather than imposing a set of universal beliefs on others.
Context and Relativity
The podcast episode discusses the importance of context and the relativity of truth. It challenges the idea of an objective, static world with unchanging principles. The episode highlights Jacques Derrida's assertion that there is nothing outside context, emphasizing the influence of our individual and societal contexts on our understanding of truth. It suggests that our reading of texts, including the Bible, is influenced by our context, and that recognizing this relativity leads to humility. The episode emphasizes the need to approach truth with a process-oriented mindset, pursuing questions rather than seeking definitive answers. It also critiques the tendency to impose our understanding of truth on others, highlighting the value of diverse perspectives and recognizing the limitations of our own understanding.
Living Faith in the Modern World
The podcast episode explores living out faith in the modern world and moving beyond the modern mindset. It questions the belief that faith requires certainty and the focus on acquiring knowledge and beliefs. The episode highlights the importance of embracing uncertainty and being open to the process of becoming. It emphasizes that faith is not about reaching a final destination but engaging in a continual journey of growth and action. The episode suggests that faith should be focused on this world and the well-being of others, rather than an exclusive concern for personal salvation. It concludes by acknowledging that there are various expressions of faith outside of the modern mindset, encouraging individual exploration and discovery.
In this episode of The Bible for Normal People Podcast, Jared Byas concludes his four-part series exploring the shortcomings of evangelicalism’s ties to the modern mindset and how leaving the modern mindset behind can help us live out a more authentic faith.
