Religion and Postmodernism

Challenging the Fragmentation of Worldviews

Abstract

This article explores the relationship between Postmodernism and religion, contrasting Postmodernity’s pluralistic and media-driven lifestyle with the deeper philosophical outlook of Postmodernism. It contrasts traditional, modern, and Postmodern worldviews, highlighting how traditional societies turned to sacred texts for understanding, while modernity embraced science. However, Postmodernism, having recognized the limitations of the scientific worldview, now rejects overarching narratives or “metanarratives.” The article critiques this rejection, particularly through the lens of Jacques Derrida’s deconstructionism, arguing that while Postmodernism dismisses the possibility of a universal worldview, religious traditions still affirm the need for such perspectives. The author contends that religious worldviews offer a holistic understanding of reality that Postmodernism lacks, emphasizing the human need for coherence and meaning. The article concludes by advocating for a renewed appreciation of the metaphysical insights shared by the world’s great religions, proposing that these offer a more constructive alternative to the fragmented and relativistic stance of Postmodernism.