The postmodern question for today: Is there a difference between socially "constructed" realities and "made up" realities? The question has relevance far beyond itself. The answer has implications for personal values, religious truths, and social meaning.
I will answer the question through definitions, discounts, hidden agendas, and finally one "so what?"
Definitions of "construct" include create, describe, author, build, define, put together, and form or shape.
Constructed usually has a positive connotation in everyday language. (Society constructs, creates, and puts together,
"reality". Reality is constructed by, created by, and put together by society.)
"Made up" generally has a less positive definition. Made up includes fictitious, a lie, make believe, unreal, pretend, not true, and false. It is sometimes benign and sometimes negative and positive. Benign: Children playing make believe.
Negative: "That is a lie. You are making that up." Positive: "Even though movies are not real they can reflect reality."
Constructed and made up appear to be opposing words about what is real.
The reason for this discussion of definitions is the hidden (and sometimes not so hidden) agenda that arises when the two words are compared and contrasted by Christian thinkers. This is the audience with whom I will address the "so what?
Christian thinkers who do not like postmodern thinking make the word constructed synonymous with made up as if they are the same. Clearly from the everyday definitions they are very different words.
As I understand Christian anti-postmodern thinkers virtually everything theologically, Biblically, hermeneutically is at stake if the two words mean the same. Really? Really.
If reality (or truth) is socially constructed then what about the revelation of God? Aren't postmodernists saying that God is made up by society? What a jump in linguistics. This is not what postmodernists assert. What is asserted: Behind every reality there is a socially agreed upon set of beliefs and/or experiences. Those beliefs may be religious in nature. The Christian community has (and continues to) construct its beliefs and experiences about Jesus Christ.
Postmodernists agree Christians socially (the church) construct their theology, their Biblical hermeneutics, and Biblical beliefs and values.
There is much more that Christian thinkers are opposed to (and threatened in my opinion) about postmodern's worldview. This is one unapologetic "Apology".
Is it the Christians versus the Lions? Or is it possible for the lion and the sheep to lay down together?
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