dissertation

CHAPTER 4. DISCERNING THE TIMES:
THE ‘POSTMODERN’, ‘POST-CHRISTENDOM’ CONTEXT
IN THE EMERGING-MISSIONAL CONVERSATION 89
4.1 Introduction 89
4.2 Postmodernism and Postmodernity in the EMC 90
4.2.1 Stanley Grenz and John Franke on the Postmodern Turn 91
4.2.2 Brian McLaren’s Criticisms of Modernity 92
4.2.3 Mark Driscoll and the Postmodern Turn 93
4.2.4 Alan Hirsch and Michael Frost and the Postmodern Turn 94
4.3 Critical Discussion 96
4.3.1 ‘Enlightenment’ as Stereotype 97
4.3.2 ‘Enlightenment’ as Grand Narrative 98
4.3.3 ‘Modernity’ within Revisionist Discourse 99
4.3.4 Postmodernity 100
4.3.5 The Postmodern Turn: Conclusions 103
4.4 ‘Post-Christendom’ and the Emerging-Missional Conversation 105
4.4.1 ‘(Post-)Christendom’ in the EMC 105
4.4.2 On the Label ‘Post-Christendom’ 107
4.4.3 ‘Post-Christendom’ and Alternative Labels 108
4.5 Insights from Historical and Sociological Scholarship 110
4.5.1 The Decline of Christendom in Western Europe 110
4.5.2 ‘Secularization’ and the Transformation of Religion 112
4.5.3 Religious Transformation in the Netherlands 113
4.6 Summary and Concluding Reflections 115
4.6.1 Postmodernity 116
4.6.2 Post-Christendom 117
CHAPTER 5. DANCING DINOSAURS: METAPHORS
WITHIN THE EMERGING-MISSIONAL CONVERSATION 121
5.1 Introduction 121
5.2 Metaphorical Language in Relation to Mission and Epistemology 123
5.2.1 Metaphors and Epistemology 125
5.5.2 Metaphors and Change 128
5.3 Heuristic Metaphors in the EMC 129
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