College Faith

College Faith


#55: Engaging Postmodernism On Your Campus (Or In Your Church)

April 01, 2025

In this edition we are discussing a very prevalent philosophy on university campuses today (as well as in many churches): Postmodernism. My guest is Dr. Scott Smith, Professor of Christian Apologetics at Biola University’s Talbot School of Theology. Scott has written quite a few articles and well-received books on this topic and often speaks on postmodernism and its implications in churches, at conferences, and on podcasts like this one.


 


In this podcast we discuss:



  • What postmodernism is, and how it developed out of modernity
  • Why the theory of nominalism (the belief that there is no reality beyond the words we use for things) is the foundation of postmodernism
  • Why Scott is so interested in this issue as a Christian
  • Examples of where students will encounter postmodern thought
  • Concerns about the rise in “expressive individualism”
  • What we can learn from postmodern thought
  • What we must reject in postmodern thought
  • A practical suggestion for how to converse with someone who embraces postmodernism

 


Resources mentioned during our conversation: