{"id":1090,"date":"2011-01-31T11:41:48","date_gmt":"2011-01-31T17:41:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/marccardaronella.com\/?p=1090"},"modified":"2011-01-31T14:40:52","modified_gmt":"2011-01-31T20:40:52","slug":"teaching-catholic-truth-in-a-postmodern-age","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marccardaronella.com\/blog\/2011\/01\/31\/teaching-catholic-truth-in-a-postmodern-age\/","title":{"rendered":"Teaching Catholic Truth in a Postmodern Age"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>[This is a part of the\u00a0Evangelization Basics<\/a> Series. Have you read the other parts?]<\/p>\n

Have you ever thrown a party and no one came? That’s how it feels when you’re trying to evangelize but no one’s buying in to what you’re saying.<\/p>\n

Most of the groundwork in evangelization<\/a> doesn’t involve teaching at all! But once you’ve established a solid foundation of trust and relationship<\/a> with your students, it’s time to teach them something!<\/p>\n

But how do you even start when your students don’t care?<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s an effective way to make inroads with tough students and keep them tuned in to your teaching.<\/p>\n

The Problem of Postmoderns<\/h2>\n

Most people I deal with are influenced by postmodern thought. This is a problem!<\/p>\n

Postmodernism is the mindset that truth is subjective<\/strong> and can be different for everyone. What\u2019s true for you is not necessarily true for me because morality is shaped by your life experience and situation. There\u2019s no truth that can explain everything for everyone.<\/p>\n

Generally we think of teens and young adults as being postmodern. But their parents are swimming in it too. It’s not just a symptom of the “younger generation.” It’s everywhere! I was born in 1965 but was postmodern through and through until I converted in my mid-30’s.<\/p>\n

As a teenager and young adult, I rejected the Church\u2019s seemingly restricted view of life. It seemed antiquated, medieval, the product of a by-gone age.\u00a0I never understood WHY I should believe. So, because I didn\u2019t understand, I didn’t think it applied to me. I see that attitude a lot.<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"<\/a>
The Captain does NOT do it the right way! <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A Failure to Communicate<\/h2>\n

Needless to say, postmodernism is an obstacle to the Catholic evangelization<\/strong>. We believe Jesus Christ reveals the meaning of life…for everyone. He shows mankind how to live in a way that brings fulfillment and happiness…to everyone.<\/p>\n

The Church deals in universal truths. Postmoderns reject them or are indifferent!<\/p>\n

So, when you expect your students to accept Catholic teaching solely on the basis of Church authority, you may have a problem<\/strong>. To quote the “Captain” in Cool Hand Luke<\/em>, \u201cWhat we’ve got here is…failure to communicate.\u201d<\/p>\n

How To Get Around This<\/h2>\n

The way to break through is to relate your teaching in the context of your own experience<\/strong>. No one can argue with your experience, it\u2019s yours! How do they know it\u2019s not true for you?<\/p>\n

Tell them how this has convicted you, affected you or transformed you. Then, make your application based on that and challenge them to consider an alternative possibility for their own lives.<\/p>\n

Postmoderns value experience over credentials or authority, right? That\u2019s fine! It means your experience is as valid as theirs. If you can get them to identify with your experience, now you\u2019ve established a connection <\/strong>and a common ground to work on.<\/p>\n

Relating your experience can be powerful. Your truth may not be their\u2019s but if your experience is valid to them and they can relate to it from their own experience — you have a foot in the door. You\u2019ve opened the possibility that your truth could belong to them someday as well.<\/p>\n

Have you encountered postmodernism in your classroom? How about in the parents of your students? How do you deal with this kind of thinking? Let me know in the comments.<\/p>\n

[This is a part of the\u00a0Evangelization Basics<\/a> Series. Have you read the other parts?]<\/p>\n

Image: Filomena Scalise \/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Postmodernism can be an obstacle to Catholic evangelization. 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