Concepts of Modernism, Pluralism and Postmodernism

Postmodernism and Pluralism

Pluralism and postmodernism revolve around the concept of truth, towards which many people are skeptical today. The field of epistemology has undergone a myriad of changes over the centuries, and there is a growing consensus that the concept of truth has not only become archaic, but also irrelevant. This trend, experts believe, depicts a shift from modernism to postmodernism, where people pursue knowledge in a radically differently way. The concept of plurality arises from postmodernism, and will be used to analyze the stand of the Mormon Church on controversial global issues later on in this text.

Modernism: dates back to the renaissance period and is characterized by the conviction that humans must discover the secrets of nature as this is the only way they can exercise power over it (Brantley n. pag.). A modern mind attaches more importance to reason than it does to God's documented writings that lack tangible proof. To this end, a modern mind is characterized by certain beliefs, including; i) that humankind are not just receptors of knowledge from God; rather they determine knowledge themselves based on what they consider true by sense of reason, ii) that knowledge is universally applicable and reasonably certain, iii) that nature does not exert any influence on human knowledge, and there is hence no need for a transcendent God, and iv) that it is possible to improve the quality of life and free humankind from any attachment to nature, through technology (Brantley n. pag.).

Postmodernism: 1970 marked the beginning of the frontal assault against modernistic thinking as people began to realize that, contrary to what modernism held, technological advancement and increased focus on education would not give rise to some global utopia (Brantley n. pag.). In fact, such advancement had done nothing but degenerate the world, and people had begun feeling that they would never be economically better-placed than the earlier generations (Brantley n. pag.). Only then did they adopt an approach that was more relativistic to the concept of truth; pluralism is one of the constructs of this new approach (Brantley n. pag.).

Pluralism: postmodern thinkers, unlike their modern counterparts, appreciate the concept of diversity, and express that an individual's view of the world is influenced by their educational status, gender, and ethnic group, and hence there is no single statement of truth that is applicable to everyone, or to all situations (Brantley n. pag.). In this concept of diversity-appreciation, all religious systems are equal and it is wrong to consider one superior to another (Brantley n. pag.).

The Concept of Plurality and the Mormon Church

The article 'Navajo finding their roots by becoming Mormon' brings about a Mormon faith that puts very little emphasis on the concept of plurality. This trend is depicted in a number of instances in which they appear to consider their faith more superior to that of their neighbors. To begin with, Mormons believe that American Indians advanced from the rebellious non-believing Lamanites, and needed to convert to Mormon because only then, would God's Kingdom be built on earth (Santos A12). Secondly, the Mormon Church placement program that sought to promote child education may not, after all, be as noble as it seems because if the program was really out to assist the community's children, it ought to have done so without taking the children away from their individual cultures (Santos A12). Such programs should be open to all children in need of assistance, not just to Mormons, or to those willing to convert to Mormon.