Page 22 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 5

Empirical steps toward a Christian Psychology

achieve objectivity. His further argument was be beyond the easy reach of communities nor-
that each rationality also presented a potentially med to different standards. And more broadly,
useful and “interesting” perspective on reality, scientific conclusions based on nature will lack
but not an absolutely objective truth. Moder- normative credentials to falsify Christian un-
nist reason and science, therefore, turned out derstandings of God and vice versa. Nor will a
to be yet one more “subjectivity” that, among noncontroversial standard be available outside
other things, proved especially effective in sup- “natural” scientific and “supernatural” Christi-
plying tools for the “interests” of modernist po- an rationalities for adjudicating between them,
wer. Beyond the arguments of Nietzsche and of which again makes them “incommensurable.”
postmodernism, the unavoidable conclusion is In short, social life after modernism turns out
that Christian “subjectivity” cannot be correc- to be a Babel of rationalities.
ted by an unquestionably superior modernist In this cultural situation, individuals unavoi-
“objectivity.” Modernist reason undoubtedly dably move through the often very different ra-
supplies useful insights into Christian and all tionalities that order their daily lives at work,
other religious commitments, but those insights home, school, union meeting, political gathe-
are “subjective.” But then again, the rationality ring, church, professional organization, and
of Christianity (and also of other religions) can movie theater, to mention only a few. Advan-
also offer useful insights into modernism, and, cement of Christian (and indeed all other ra-
for that matter, into postmodernism as well. tionalities) will, therefore, need to address the
Babel of rationalities that interpenetrates the
Babel of Rationalities lives of everyone (Watson, in press). Any efforts
Postmodern critique may seem to dissolve so- of a rationality to express, expand, and deepen
ciety into a swirl of irrational relativism, but the meaning of its standard within and across
compelling evidence of rationality is every- communities will occur within a dynamic and
where obvious in the world today. A Christian competitive cultural context. Successful com-
movement beyond postmodernism can agree petition will require an ever-increasing ability
with and indeed benefit from the assertion that to offer insights that speak to the problems and
no single rationality can supply an “objective” possibilities associated with the “interests” that
foundation for social life; yet, the orderliness of exist within and across communities. Christian
daily life reveals the viability of a vast array of rationality, like all other rationalities, will want
incommensurable rationalities. to remain faithful to its standard as a preemi-
Rationalities are incommensurable when they nent task. Advancing the faithful meaning of
are calibrated to different standards (MacInty- that standard will, nevertheless, depend upon
re, 1988). In Christianity and other religions, both what is expressed and what is heard. Faith-
the standard is some tradition-specific vision of ful expression, for example, could result in un-
God. Observations and actions consistent with faithful hearing in the consciousness of those
that vision are deemed to be rational by reli- who dwell in a Babel. And the opposite process
gious followers. In modernist science, the stan- could occur as well. Unfaithful expression could
dard is some contemporary reading of nature. be followed by faithful hearing in those with a
Conclusions and practices in conformity with skill in translating the assertions and practices
that perspective on nature will be rational for of other communities into their home rationali-
those communities that have foundations in the ty. Meaning, in other words, will be as much or
Enlightenment. Aspects of social life derived more about communication between as about
from these two standards can be incompatible, reason within persons.
but they can also be compatible with or irrele-
vant to each other. Broad compatibilities across Model of Rationality and Empirical Research
incommensurable rationalities will encourage In short, movement beyond any postmodern
social harmony, but trans-rational irrelevan- tendency toward relativism may require a model
cies and especially incompatibilities can lead to of how Christian rationality can develop within
discord. Fully rational solutions to discord will the Church and expand across the communities

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