Assessment Task 3: Critical Essay
Postmodern Thought and the Christian Worldview: Comparison and Contrast
Task Description
Write a 3–4 page critical essay that examines the historical development and major principles of postmodernism. Your essay must clearly identify and analyse areas of correlation and contrast between postmodern thought and core elements of the Christian worldview, including perspectives on truth, metanarratives, authority, and human identity.
The essay should demonstrate thoughtful engagement with primary postmodern thinkers (such as Lyotard, Derrida, or Foucault) while grounding the Christian response in biblical and theological commitments. Draw on scholarly sources to support your arguments and avoid superficial generalisations.
Requirements
- Length: 3–4 pages (excluding title page and references)
- Formatting: Double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, 1-inch (2.54 cm) margins
- Referencing: APA 7th edition (in-text citations and reference list required)
- Minimum of four scholarly sources (peer-reviewed journal articles or academic books; avoid non-academic websites)
- Submit via the learning management system as a Word document or PDF
Learning Outcomes Assessed
- Articulate the historical emergence and key tenets of major contemporary worldviews
- Critically evaluate secular philosophical movements from a Christian theological perspective
- Construct coherent, evidence-based arguments in written academic form
Marking Rubric
| Criteria | High Distinction (85–100%) | Distinction (75–84%) | Credit (65–74%) | Pass (50–64%) | Fail (<50%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Understanding of Postmodernism (30%) | Sophisticated and accurate grasp of historical development and core tenets, with nuanced engagement | Clear and accurate overview with strong detail | Sound basic understanding with adequate detail | Basic description, some inaccuracies or omissions | Significant misunderstandings or superficial treatment |
| Analysis of Correlation/Contrast with Christianity (40%) | Insightful, balanced, and theologically grounded comparison showing deep critical reflection | Well-developed comparison with clear theological engagement | Reasonable comparison with some theological insight | Limited or uneven comparison; descriptive rather than analytical | Little meaningful comparison or theological engagement |
| Structure, Clarity, and Academic Writing (20%) | Excellent organisation, logical flow, and polished academic expression | Strong structure and clear expression | Coherent structure with generally clear writing | Adequate structure; clarity sometimes affected | Poor organisation or frequent clarity issues |
| Referencing and Presentation (10%) | Flawless APA referencing and professional presentation | Minor errors only | Mostly accurate referencing | Multiple errors or incomplete references | Serious referencing issues or plagiarism concerns |
Postmodernism developed in the second half of the twentieth century as a wide-ranging reaction against the certainties of modernity, particularly its faith in reason, scientific progress, and universal truth. Jean-François Lyotard captured its essence by describing postmodernity as marked by “incredulity toward metanarratives,” rejecting any overarching story that claims to explain reality comprehensively. Christianity, however, presents the biblical narrative—creation, fall, redemption, and restoration—as exactly such a metanarrative, grounded in divine revelation rather than human construction. Some postmodern emphases resonate with Christian concerns; its suspicion of power structures and attention to marginalised voices echo prophetic calls for justice and Jesus’ ministry to the outcast. Yet the radical relativism often associated with postmodern thought directly conflicts with the Christian affirmation of objective truth revealed in Scripture and ultimately embodied in Christ. Recent theological analysis suggests believers can appropriate certain postmodern insights, such as humility regarding interpretive limits, while firmly maintaining the authority of divine revelation (Ingle-Glass, 2019, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/article/postmodernism-and-the-christian-life/). Deconstruction can serve a useful purpose in exposing cultural idols, but without the anchor of God’s Word it risks dissolving all meaning. Engaging postmodernism therefore calls Christians to robust confidence in the gospel story while remaining open to legitimate critique.
Compose a 900–1200 word essay that outlines major postmodern principles and critically compares them to core Christian perspectives on truth, authority, and metanarratives.
References
- Ingle-Glass, J. (2019) ‘Postmodernism and the Christian life’, Themelios, 44(3), pp. 487–500. Available at: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/article/postmodernism-and-the-christian-life/.
- Trueman, C. R. (2020) The rise and triumph of the modern self: cultural amnesia, expressive individualism, and the road to sexual revolution. Crossway, Wheaton, IL.
- Trueman, C. R. (2022) Strange new world: how thinkers and activists redefined identity and sparked the sexual revolution. Crossway, Wheaton, IL.
- Okunade, A. A. (2023) Postmodernism: a biblical and theological reflection. BiblicalTheology.com. Available at: https://www.biblicaltheology.com/Research/OkunadeAA03.pdf.
- Smith, J. K. A. (2018) ‘Postmodernism and theology’, in The encyclopedia of Christian theology. Routledge (adapted entry; see also his broader work on cultural engagement with postmodern thought).
