Philosophical Changes

 "Philosophy" is the foundational set of values through which we view and interpret the world. Everyone, including young, emerging adults, has philosophical moorings. Some of these views are more developed than others. Some are more conscious than others. Nonetheless, they do exist.

The world in which young adults live and move about is also motivated, at different times, by different basic philosophical views. In the case of today's young adults, there are several predominant views that shape their world and the lenses through which they develop their own personal philosophies.

Here's a Thought: Ask some of the young, emerging adults that you serve or that you are attempting to reach to assist you with a personal learning project. Ask them to write a one-page statement of the kinds of philosophies that help them make day-to-day decisions. When you receive these, compare them to the issues below.

Relativism

Relativism is the basic idea that everything is relative. What is right or wrong at a given moment in time is determined by multiple factors and simply cannot be known until that very moment. For the relativist, absolute truth does not and cannot exist. For example, question: Is murder absolutely wrong?

Relativism answer: No: There are circumstances in which murder would be warranted. Relativism stands in opposition to the scriptural view that absolute truth does exist and is most perfectly demonstrated in Jesus Christ. Where has relativism come from? Excessive individualism, the abandonment of family ties, and a general sense of hopelessness have paved the way for such thinking. Of course, relativism is not limited to emerging adults. As you read the example question above, your first thought may have been no as well. Remember, these philosophical concepts impact us all.

Postmodernism

Postmodernism is a general way of thinking that contrasts with premodernism and modernism. Premodern thinking preceded the Industrial Revolution and basically held that all cultural presuppositions were uniform—no need to question things. Modernism represented the emergence of a belief that reason and logic could bring straight-thinking people to discover truth, though they may not agree on the answers. Postmodern thinking is related to relativism and the dismissing of absolute truth. Individual choice determines what is true. For example, the postmodernist might say, "Christianity may be true for you, but not for me." Truth is not presupposed (premodernism), nor debated and reasoned (modernism); it is constructed by each individual to offer circumstantial explanations for life.

Subjectivism

Subjectivism is a philosophical view that addresses values and virtue. Subjectivism basically teaches that whatever your passions demand is virtuous for that person. Subjectivism is the moral counterpart to postmodernism. The idea is that it simply is not natural, normal, or healthy for someone to act in opposition to their passions. If it feels good, it stands to reason that it must be good.

Here's the formula that philosophically impacts the way emerging adults make day-to-day decisions in life: Something feels good, so I make an individual choice to consider it true, which is proper because everything is relative; there are no absolute truths.

Here's a Thought: With this cursory understanding of these three predominate philosophical moorings, make a list of the issues of normal young adult life that could be distanced from scriptural standards.

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Adapted by Dr. Randy Millwood from Handbook of Young Adult Religious Education edited by Harley Atkinson (Birmingham, Al.: Religious Education Press, 1995), 300. Dr. Millwood, associate professor, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, at the time he wrote these articles. He is now a consultant specialist for the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware and director of the Church Health Center, Maryland/Delaware.