Understanding Our Current Time : Globalisation, Postmodernity, and Consumerism Michael W. Goheen Acts 29 Regional Conference San Diego, March 2008.

Understanding Our Current Understanding Our Current Time : Globalisation, Time : Globalisation, Postmodernity, and Postmodernity, and

ConsumerismConsumerism

Michael W. GoheenMichael W. Goheen

Acts 29 Regional ConferenceActs 29 Regional Conference

San Diego, March 2008San Diego, March 2008

What time is it?What time is it?OverviewOverview

Modern story for two centuries: Faith Modern story for two centuries: Faith in science and technology to enable in science and technology to enable us to progress toward a better worldus to progress toward a better world

Today: Three tectonic plates:Today: Three tectonic plates:• Globalization: Global spread of modern Globalization: Global spread of modern

(liberal) story around world(liberal) story around world• Postmodernity: Challenge to the modern Postmodernity: Challenge to the modern

(liberal) story in West(liberal) story in West• Consumerism: The heart of our culture?Consumerism: The heart of our culture?

First Tectonic PlateFirst Tectonic Plate

Globalisation: Global spread Globalisation: Global spread of modern, liberal, humanist of modern, liberal, humanist

storystory

2020thth Century Background Century Background

20th Century: Bipolar—Two forms of 20th Century: Bipolar—Two forms of Enlightenment Humanism (US, USSR)Enlightenment Humanism (US, USSR)

2020thth Century Background Century Background

20th Century: Bipolar—Two forms of 20th Century: Bipolar—Two forms of Enlightenment Humanism (US, USSR)Enlightenment Humanism (US, USSR)

Fall of Communism (1989)Fall of Communism (1989) Global powers todayGlobal powers today

• Globalisation of liberal modern storyGlobalisation of liberal modern story• IslamIslam• ChinaChina• Third world church and PentecostalismThird world church and Pentecostalism

Why is it important to understand Why is it important to understand globalization?globalization?

The reality of our world is not the end of The reality of our world is not the end of grand narratives, but the increasing grand narratives, but the increasing dominance of the narrative of economic dominance of the narrative of economic globalization. . . . This is the new globalization. . . . This is the new imperialism . . . (Richard Bauckham)imperialism . . . (Richard Bauckham)

Economic globalization is the greatest Economic globalization is the greatest challenge that the Christian mission challenge that the Christian mission faces (Rene Padilla). faces (Rene Padilla).

Importance of Understanding Importance of Understanding GlobalizationGlobalization

‘ ‘This moment, at the turn of the millennium, This moment, at the turn of the millennium, appears to me to be one of the most critical appears to me to be one of the most critical points in human history. Powerful, points in human history. Powerful, untruthful, hypnotic ideologies corrupted untruthful, hypnotic ideologies corrupted societies and destroyed millions of people societies and destroyed millions of people throughout the twentieth century. Yet none throughout the twentieth century. Yet none of them had the instruments of of them had the instruments of communication available to it to infiltrate communication available to it to infiltrate the human mind the way the present the human mind the way the present ideology of limitless economic and ideology of limitless economic and technological expansion can do.’ technological expansion can do.’ (Goudzwaard)(Goudzwaard)

Enlightenment Vision: Seeds of Enlightenment Vision: Seeds of Economic GlobalizationEconomic Globalization

ProgressProgress Paradise imagesParadise images Material prosperityMaterial prosperity Reached by reasonReached by reason Discerning natural lawsDiscerning natural laws Translated into technologyTranslated into technology Society reorganized according to reasonSociety reorganized according to reason Exaggerated place of economicsExaggerated place of economics

Classical EconomicsClassical Economics Leading roleLeading role Mechanistic economic laws—analogy Mechanistic economic laws—analogy

with physicswith physics

‘‘Equilibrium theory in economics is based Equilibrium theory in economics is based on a false analogy with physics’ (Soros).on a false analogy with physics’ (Soros).

‘ ‘ . . . Analytical and mathematical reason . . . Analytical and mathematical reason is not content to deal with physics or is not content to deal with physics or astronomy; it must extend its operation astronomy; it must extend its operation into [social realm]’ (Newbigin).into [social realm]’ (Newbigin).

Classical EconomicsClassical Economics Leading roleLeading role Mechanistic economic lawsMechanistic economic laws Smith’s ‘invisible hand’Smith’s ‘invisible hand’ Self-interested individualsSelf-interested individuals acting according to acting according to

self-interestself-interest harmony of conflicting interests harmony of conflicting interests material prosperitymaterial prosperity trickle down to prosper poor trickle down to prosper poor

‘ ‘The rich are led by an invisible hand to make The rich are led by an invisible hand to make nearly the same distribution of the necessaries of nearly the same distribution of the necessaries of life, which would have been made had the earth life, which would have been made had the earth been divided into equal portions among all its been divided into equal portions among all its inhabitants; and thus, without intending it, inhabitants; and thus, without intending it, without knowing it, advance the interest of without knowing it, advance the interest of society’ (Adam Smith).society’ (Adam Smith).

Science of economicsScience of economics

The modern science of economics was born. Once The modern science of economics was born. Once again teleology was removed, because economics again teleology was removed, because economics was no longer part of ethics. It was not concerned was no longer part of ethics. It was not concerned with the purpose of human life. It was no longer with the purpose of human life. It was no longer about the requirements of justice and the about the requirements of justice and the dangers of covetousness. It became the science dangers of covetousness. It became the science of the working of the market as a self-operating of the working of the market as a self-operating mechanism modelled on the Newtonian universe. mechanism modelled on the Newtonian universe. The difference was that the fundamental law The difference was that the fundamental law governing its movements, corresponding to the governing its movements, corresponding to the law of gravitation in Newton, is the law of law of gravitation in Newton, is the law of covetousness assumed as the basic drive of covetousness assumed as the basic drive of human nature (Newbigin).human nature (Newbigin).

Classical EconomicsClassical Economics Leading roleLeading role Mechanistic economic lawsMechanistic economic laws Smith’s ‘invisible hand’Smith’s ‘invisible hand’ Two gambles (leaps of faith)Two gambles (leaps of faith)

• Happiness gamble: If we have more Happiness gamble: If we have more goods produced by labour we will be goods produced by labour we will be happy.happy.

• Market gamble: If we let the market be Market gamble: If we let the market be free for the economic self-interest of free for the economic self-interest of individuals then it will guide us to a individuals then it will guide us to a better future for all.better future for all.

Autonomy of market or TINAAutonomy of market or TINA

‘ ‘ . . . we must follow the market . . . we must follow the market wherever it leads, because the wherever it leads, because the market will act as our guide to a market will act as our guide to a better future for all. Naturally, for all better future for all. Naturally, for all this to happen, we must permit the this to happen, we must permit the market to do its work with as little market to do its work with as little disruption and political interference disruption and political interference as possible’ (Goudzwaard).as possible’ (Goudzwaard).

Norm for economicsNorm for economics

Economic life . . . is placed under the Economic life . . . is placed under the divine rule of divine rule of oikonomiaoikonomia—good —good stewardship. Economic life is meant stewardship. Economic life is meant to deliver the fruits of human labour to deliver the fruits of human labour in a way that satisfies the needs of in a way that satisfies the needs of the peoples of this earth, and so it the peoples of this earth, and so it presupposes care of trusteeship of presupposes care of trusteeship of everything, including everyone everything, including everyone entrusted to our responsibility.entrusted to our responsibility.

Religious Choices of Enlightenment Religious Choices of Enlightenment VisionVision

End of human life: Material End of human life: Material prosperityprosperity

Relationship of human beings to Relationship of human beings to naturenature

Mechanistic understanding of lawMechanistic understanding of law

Vision Implemented in Industrial Vision Implemented in Industrial RevolutionRevolution

Science-based technologyScience-based technology Division and mechanization of labourDivision and mechanization of labour Tremendous economic growthTremendous economic growth Evolutionary worldview deepened Evolutionary worldview deepened

commitment to autonomous marketcommitment to autonomous market

Changes in Capitalism in Late 20Changes in Capitalism in Late 20thth--2121stst Centuries Centuries

Less salting influence of gospel; Less salting influence of gospel; increasing selfishness and increasing selfishness and covetousnesscovetousness

Wealth of today vs. need of Smith’s Wealth of today vs. need of Smith’s dayday

Economic totalitarianismEconomic totalitarianism Technologically manipulated needs Technologically manipulated needs

vs. existing needsvs. existing needs Global marketGlobal market

Economic GlobalizationEconomic Globalization

What is it?What is it?

Late Modern StoryLate Modern Story

Globalization is ‘a form or method of Globalization is ‘a form or method of modernization on a global scale.’ modernization on a global scale.’

‘‘Possibly never before has modernity Possibly never before has modernity received higher expression than in today’s received higher expression than in today’s process of globalization.’ process of globalization.’

‘ ‘ . . . the word “modern” is not neutral; it . . . the word “modern” is not neutral; it cannot be divorced from a specific view of cannot be divorced from a specific view of life, humanity, the world, and ultimate life, humanity, the world, and ultimate meaning.’ meaning.’ - Bob - Bob GoudzwaardGoudzwaard

Economic GlobalizationEconomic Globalization

What is it?What is it? Trusting global marketTrusting global market Unjustly created marketUnjustly created market Growing poverty and ecological Growing poverty and ecological

damagedamage Three comments about global Three comments about global

market ideologymarket ideology

Three Comments on Global Market Three Comments on Global Market IdeologyIdeology

Free market is good but twisted by Free market is good but twisted by natural law theorynatural law theory

Market is one part of social fabric but Market is one part of social fabric but twisted by totalitarian influencetwisted by totalitarian influence

Market is creational but twisted by Market is creational but twisted by ‘messianic’ expectations‘messianic’ expectations

Second Tectonic PlateSecond Tectonic Plate

Postmodernity: Challenge to Postmodernity: Challenge to modern, liberal, humanist modern, liberal, humanist

storystory

Breakdown of ModernityBreakdown of ModernityCritical Factors in DillusionmentCritical Factors in Dillusionment

Environmental destructionEnvironmental destruction

If the whole world lived at the If the whole world lived at the level of North Americans…level of North Americans…

… … the world’s resources would the world’s resources would last about ten yearslast about ten years

Breakdown of ModernityBreakdown of ModernityCritical Factors in DillusionmentCritical Factors in Dillusionment

Environmental destructionEnvironmental destruction Growing povertyGrowing poverty

At the beginning of the development decades (1960) the world’s richest 1 billion were 30 x richer than the world’s poorest 1 billion.

At the end of the development decades (1990) the world’s richest 1 billion were 60 x richer than the poorest 1 billion

Breakdown of ModernityBreakdown of ModernityCritical Factors in DillusionmentCritical Factors in Dillusionment

Environmental destructionEnvironmental destruction Growing povertyGrowing poverty Nuclear threatNuclear threat Economic problemsEconomic problems Psychological, social disorderPsychological, social disorder

Don’t believe modern stories!Don’t believe modern stories!

““Simplifying to the extreme, Simplifying to the extreme, I define postmodern I define postmodern as incredulity toward as incredulity toward metanarratives.”metanarratives.”

-J. F.Lyotard-J. F.Lyotard

Postmodernity: Challenge to (Some Postmodernity: Challenge to (Some Foundational) Modern Humanist Foundational) Modern Humanist

StoryStory

Challenge to optimismChallenge to optimism

Challenge to OptimismChallenge to Optimism

Maybe human being are not so goodMaybe human being are not so good Maybe we aren’t moving toward a Maybe we aren’t moving toward a

better worldbetter world

Postmodernity: Challenge to Postmodernity: Challenge to Modern Humanist StoryModern Humanist Story

Challenge to optimism of storyChallenge to optimism of story Challenge to centrality of reasonChallenge to centrality of reason

Non-rational Dimensions of HumanityNon-rational Dimensions of HumanityPushed Down and Springing BackPushed Down and Springing Back

BodyBody EmotionsEmotions SensesSenses SubconsciousSubconscious Desire, passionDesire, passion ReligiousReligious ImaginationImagination Instinct, intuitionInstinct, intuition

Postmodernity: Challenge to Postmodernity: Challenge to Modern Humanist StoryModern Humanist Story

Challenge to optimism Challenge to optimism Challenge to centrality of reasonChallenge to centrality of reason Challenge to objectivity of knowledgeChallenge to objectivity of knowledge

Neutral Reason?Neutral Reason?

Subjective factors affecting knowledge:

Social-Tradition-Community-Language-Culture-History-Faith

Personal-Feelings-Imagination-Subconscious-Gender-Class-Race

Postmodernity: Challenge to Postmodernity: Challenge to Modern Humanist StoryModern Humanist Story

Challenge to optimism Challenge to optimism Challenge to centrality of reasonChallenge to centrality of reason Challenge to objectivity of knowledgeChallenge to objectivity of knowledge Challenge to injustice created by Challenge to injustice created by

modern storymodern story

Injustice created by modern storyInjustice created by modern story

Toward minorities with different Toward minorities with different stories (gender, class, sexual stories (gender, class, sexual preference, ethnic group, religion)preference, ethnic group, religion)

Unforgiveable Sins in a Unforgiveable Sins in a Postmodern Academic CulturePostmodern Academic Culture

RacismRacism SexismSexism HeterosexismHeterosexism EthnocentrismEthnocentrism

Injustice created by modern storyInjustice created by modern story

Toward minorities with different Toward minorities with different stories (gender, class, sexual stories (gender, class, sexual preference, ethnic group, religion)preference, ethnic group, religion)

Toward third world culturesToward third world cultures Toward poorToward poor Toward environmentToward environment

Postmodernity: Challenge to Postmodernity: Challenge to Modern Humanist StoryModern Humanist Story

Challenge to optimism Challenge to optimism Challenge to centrality of reasonChallenge to centrality of reason Challenge to objectivity of knowledgeChallenge to objectivity of knowledge Challenge to injustice created by modern Challenge to injustice created by modern

storystory Challenge to secularismChallenge to secularism

Religious smorgasbord/pluralism: . . . New Religious smorgasbord/pluralism: . . . New age, psychics, astrology, gnostic religions, age, psychics, astrology, gnostic religions, eastern and native spirituality, occult, etc... eastern and native spirituality, occult, etc...

Initial Christian Response to Initial Christian Response to PostmodernityPostmodernity

Dialogue with postmodernity from within Dialogue with postmodernity from within story of the Biblestory of the Bible

Dialogue leads us to recover insights lost Dialogue leads us to recover insights lost in modern story . . . E.g., in modern story . . . E.g., • Non-rational aspects of human beingsNon-rational aspects of human beings• Factors affect knowledgeFactors affect knowledge• Goodness of diversity and pluralityGoodness of diversity and plurality

Dialogue leads us to see emergence of Dialogue leads us to see emergence of new dangerous idols . . . E.g.,new dangerous idols . . . E.g.,• PluralismPluralism• RelativismRelativism

Initial Christian Response to Initial Christian Response to PostmodernityPostmodernity

Dialogue will lead us to discern ‘heart Dialogue will lead us to discern ‘heart cries’ of postmodern culturecries’ of postmodern culture

Dialogue must lead to forms of communal Dialogue must lead to forms of communal life that embody life and reject death life that embody life and reject death • People of love and truth over against pluralism People of love and truth over against pluralism

and relativismand relativism• People of selfless giving over against a culture People of selfless giving over against a culture

of selfishness of selfishness • People of justice over against economic and People of justice over against economic and

ecological injusticeecological injustice• People of hope over against despair and People of hope over against despair and

consumer satiationconsumer satiation

Third Tectonic PlateThird Tectonic Plate

Growth of Consumer Growth of Consumer SocietySociety

Consumerism: Central to Western Consumerism: Central to Western LifeLife

““The postmodern is rightly associated with The postmodern is rightly associated with a society where consumer lifestyles and a society where consumer lifestyles and mass consumption dominate the waking mass consumption dominate the waking lives of its members.” (David Lyon)lives of its members.” (David Lyon)

““From rock music to tourism to television From rock music to tourism to television and even education, advertising and even education, advertising imperatives and consumer demand are no imperatives and consumer demand are no longer for goods, but for experiences.” longer for goods, but for experiences.” (Stephen Connor)(Stephen Connor)

Consumerism and GlobalizationConsumerism and Globalization

Related to globalization: Western Related to globalization: Western side of economic globalizationside of economic globalization• Economic structures have enriched West Economic structures have enriched West

at expense of non-Westat expense of non-West

Consumerism and PostmodernityConsumerism and Postmodernity

Related to globalization: Western Related to globalization: Western side of economic globalizationside of economic globalization

Related to postmodernityRelated to postmodernity• Consumption fills void created by loss of Consumption fills void created by loss of

storystory

Consumerism as “Our Story”Consumerism as “Our Story”

If there is an overarching metanarrative that If there is an overarching metanarrative that purports to explain reality in the late 20purports to explain reality in the late 20thth century, it is surely the metanarrative of the century, it is surely the metanarrative of the free-market economy. In the beginning of this free-market economy. In the beginning of this metanarrative is the self-made, self-sufficient metanarrative is the self-made, self-sufficient human being. At the end of this narrative is human being. At the end of this narrative is the big house, the big car, the expensive the big house, the big car, the expensive clothes. In the middle is the struggle for clothes. In the middle is the struggle for success, the greed, the getting-and-spending success, the greed, the getting-and-spending in a world in which there is no such thing as a in a world in which there is no such thing as a free lunch. Most of us have made this so free lunch. Most of us have made this so thoroughly ‘our story’ that we are hardly thoroughly ‘our story’ that we are hardly aware of its influence. (Susan White)aware of its influence. (Susan White)

TheThe Religion of Our Day? Religion of Our Day?

Consumerism appears to have Consumerism appears to have become part and parcel of the very become part and parcel of the very fabric of modern life. . . . And the fabric of modern life. . . . And the parallel with religion is not an parallel with religion is not an accidental one. Consumerism is accidental one. Consumerism is ubiquitous and ephemeral. It is ubiquitous and ephemeral. It is arguably arguably thethe religion of the late religion of the late twentieth century. (Miles)twentieth century. (Miles)

Sacred order?Sacred order?

““. . . we cannot fully appreciate the depths . . . we cannot fully appreciate the depths of materialism unless we understand how of materialism unless we understand how economic behavior supplies us with economic behavior supplies us with meaning, purpose, and a sense of the meaning, purpose, and a sense of the sacred order.” (Roberth Wuthnow)sacred order.” (Roberth Wuthnow)““The accumulation of wealth is one of the The accumulation of wealth is one of the great idols of our day and huge amounts great idols of our day and huge amounts of energy are spent every day in seeking of energy are spent every day in seeking meaning through great and greater meaning through great and greater accumulation of wealth and possessions.” accumulation of wealth and possessions.” (Craig Bartholomew)(Craig Bartholomew)

Our Calling?Our Calling? Understand!Understand!

• Dynamics and facts about globalizationDynamics and facts about globalization• Potential solutions (cf. Goudzwaard)Potential solutions (cf. Goudzwaard)

Bible as true story (cf. Bauckham)Bible as true story (cf. Bauckham) Our part in missional encounterOur part in missional encounter Lifestyles of restraint and generosityLifestyles of restraint and generosity Good news for poor and oppressedGood news for poor and oppressed Suffering, spirituality, and communitySuffering, spirituality, and community