Contextualization

The following are some thoughts about Post Modernity. They are personal reflections gathered from the Post Modernity Seminar that I’ve attended in Singapore, recently. I welcome you to read it and to give your feedback / comments.

Post - Modernity is a reaction to Modernity. In a certain sense, it is much deeply felt in the west, since western civilization is very influenced and affected by philosophical thinking and development such as the enlightenment. Events such as world wars, and holocaust has left deep imprints in western civilization.

This reminds me of a place I visited a couple of years ago when I was in UK, the London Tower. When I was educated about the history and events that surrounded the tower, especially the killings and betrayals that was done in the name of religion, I could, to a certain sense realize why some people in UK were hostile to Christianity. (This thought struck me when I was at the site)

I also think that post-modernity mind-set is a reaction towards pluralism which the west encountered in the east. Is it possible that the Youths in the West are looking for the people in the East for some answers?

It would not be accurate to say that post modernity does not affect the east. In recent years, phenomenon such as globalisation, the influence of media, the growing use of internet has made the East share the many struggles that exist in the West. For Malaysian, you only have to take a look at a local video called ‘Sepet’ to understand this behaviour.

I believe, the group that is mostly affected by a new world where there is the merging of various ideas, cultures and traditions are the youths. I have noticed certain new ‘mind-set’ developing in the lives of our youths. The difference between the youth in the east and those in the west: the content of their behaviour. The youths in the west are reacting, responding to their culture, where else in the east youths are being influenced and imitating the belief & practices of the west.

If there is some truth in this writing, then we must think of its implications to the way we approach Youth Ministry in the Eastern settings.