Everybody seems to use the term. I’ve seen it in movie reviews. “The scene was ‘deconstructed’ nicely.” But what does it really mean?
Deconstruction: The Language Games People Play
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Category Archives: Basic Philosophy
Will Breaking Moral Law Break America?
Is America experiencing inevitable decline? A nervous breakdown?
Postmodern Roots of Leftist Policies
Prepare to get your hands dirty. This post attempts to dig up the roots of wild and crazy public policies.
8. Postmodernism and the Bible: Conclusion
This article is the conclusion to the series on postmodernism and the Bible. A good summary of the entire series.
7. Interpreting the Bible and Finding the Truth
The words “the truth” will shock postmodernists and deconstructionists. Good. But it asks: How do we study and interpret the Bible? How do we find truth which really is out there, around us? This post is a simple reply to claims of unsolvable ambiguities in the Bible.
6. The Reconstructed Jesus: What the Bible Actually Says
It is now time to counter the extreme views spelled out in Part Five. Who was Jesus, really?
5. The Deconstructed Jesus
Deconstruction overturns privileged hierarchy and meaning. Defenders promise us that they do not practice Anything Goes in their deconstruction of texts. Do they keep their promise? How do we verify it? Click on this link only if you have courage.
4. Deconstruction: A Primer
Do you want to know what deconstruction really is? Read about it from its practitioners.
3. Postmodern ‘Truth Soup’
Postmodernism has produced all sorts of confusing interpretations of Scripture. For the postmodernist, Scripture has turned into a pot of stew.
2. The Origins of Postmodernism
Does postmodernism spring out of the head of Zeus unconceived or misconceived? Or does it carry a heavy debt on its back to earlier movements and trends?
1. Postmodernism and the Bible: Introduction
So begins an eight-past series. In the late 1980s or early 1990s, a pastor reported this conversation (as I recall it) between him and a woman from his large congregation. She apparently wanted him to approve of something.
Deconstructing Gender Differences
The left! Sexual nihilism. Anything goes or nothing goes. So what? Who cares? In that spirit, I don’t know anymore what’s worse: shouting “fire!” in a crowded theater or “confused boy!” in a crowded girls’ locker room (said a clever radio host).
The Law Teaches Virtue and Restrains Vice
Several years ago, my city installed cameras at various intersections, and I got caught three times. I “miraculously” became an awesome driver!
Outline of John Hick’s Evil and God of Love
This short post covers the gist of his main points. He tries to provide an answer to this thorny question. Great for students in Phil. 101 and other interested readers.
Outline of Sartre’s “Existentialism and Humanism”
This post outlines his essay “Existentialism and Humanism” or “Existentialism is humanism.” Good for students in Phil. 101 and other interested readers.
Nietzsche’s Madman and the Death of God
This post is an excerpt of the most famous passage in Friedrich Nietzsche’s writings It is very soul-shaking and powerful. What does life look like without God? Are you brave enough to find out?
Outline of James Rachels’s Moral Objectivism
Are moral values relative, or are there some that are objective–true for all places and times?
Outline of William Paley’s Watchmaker and Design Argument
Does the universe exhibit design, like a watch? Does a design imply a designer?
Outline of Hume’s Argument against Design
This is Hume’s anti-teleological argument. Teleology means the study of “purpose or goal in nature. Is nature designed He says no design. Is there a reply to him?
Outline of Hume’s Theory of Knowledge
This is an outline of his main points. A Table of main points at the end. Post is great for students in Phil. 101 and other interested readers.
Outline of Descartes’s Meditations I and II
This outline covers only the first two Meditations, but they are important for Phil. 101..
Outline of John Locke’s Theory of Knowledge
This post summarizes in outline form Locke’s main points. Great review for Phil 101
Outline of William James’s Will to Believe
How much evidence do we need before we decide? Will we always dawdle and delay before stepping out in faith?
Outline of Clifford’s Ethics of Belief
When should we believe? On how much evidence? Great review for students in Phil. 101 and other interested readers.
Outline of Gilbert Ryle’s Category Mistake
This short post summarizes his main points. Good for a quick review for students in Phil. 101 and other readers.
Outline of John Stuart Mill’s Ethics
This post covers the main points of his version of utilitarianism. Good review for students in Phil. 101 and other interested readers.
Outline of Kant’s Ethics
This post covers, in an outline, the main ideas in his Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. Good for students in Phil. 101 and other interested readers who need a review.
Outline of Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics
Do you want to be happy? Aristotle tells you how! This post covers portions of Books I and II of Nicomachean Ethics.
Outline of Plato’s View of Justice and the Soul
Plato is a soul man! This post summarizes and outlines book 1 of the Republic. Good review for students in Phil. 101 and other interested readers.
Plato the Soul Man
This short post presents his basic arguments for the existence of the soul. Good for a quick review.
Outline of Socrates’s “Apology”
In the old days, “apology” meant “defense.” This post is an outline of Socrates’s Apology of himself.
What Is Postmodernism?
It’s where we live nowadays, and we’re not going back. We got to examine it.
The Skeptical Sneering Age
Let’s face it. For much of the Twentieth Century and into the current one, we’ve been living in the Sneering Age among intellectuals. Or it could be called the Age of Contempt or the Age of Hyper-skepticism.
Three Cures for the Skeptical Sneering Age!
This topic may seem obscure and irrelevant to your life, but think again. How can you read the Bible and its historical background, for example, if you let hyper-skeptics kick sand in your face during your devotionals and personal study? This article provides three ways for you to be confident.
Works Cited
Here is a list of the principal works referenced or used at this site. More will be added as time goes on, so please check back.
Dr. Jim's Essential Bible Teaching 