Postmodern Times: A Christian Guide to Contemporary Thought and Culture
by Gene Edward Veith, Jr.
Wheaton: Crossway, 1994, 234 pp., tradepaper.

Postmodern Times was written over a decade ago, yet remains current in its analysis of postmodern worldviews. I've read numerous works about postmodern topics, and rate this book right near the top of the list as both an informative and enjoyable read.

Veith divides his book into four sections. He begins by looking at postmodern thought and then examines art, society and religion, with three chapters in each of those four sections.

I especially enjoyed the section on art. Veith does an excellent job of examining how postmodern thought shaped the work of men like Andy Warhol and his successful mission to dehumanize art.

The chapter on postmodern Christianity fascinated me because the emergent movement had yet to appear when Veith was writing, yet he describes its essential characteristics in detail. In contrast, Veith promotes something quite different:

The goal should be "live orthodoxy," a faith that is both experiential and grounded in truth, with room for both the feelings and the intellect. At times in church history doctrine has been overemphasized, but that will hardly be a danger in a society whose every tendency is to deny truth altogether (220).

In the conclusion, Veith calls the church to stand firm on morality and truth, two foundational concepts that can not be compromised without the loss of Biblical Christianity. It's not too late to heed Veith's message, but it is tragic to see how many churches have abandoned one or both concepts already. I urge anyone interested in these issues to read Postmodern Times. You won't regret it.

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