The article deals with investigating and comparing key modern and postmodern interpretations of St. Francis of Assisi from a philosophical-anthropological perspective. We determine these interpretations to be as foll...The article deals with investigating and comparing key modern and postmodern interpretations of St. Francis of Assisi from a philosophical-anthropological perspective. We determine these interpretations to be as follows： a man of wonder and lover of wisdom, in other words, a true philosopher; hero of all times; defender of the poverty and poor; “champion of liberty”; peace-maker and pacifist; God＇s troubadour; patron of nature and animals. All of these manifestations of St. Francis＇ personality have been enriched by his Christocentrism and joyful vision. Moreover, this can be traced in primary sources and also echoes in the late modern period. Postmodernity not only incorporated similar motives into the cultural space with new focus and accent, but it also put forward some new visions. St. Francis was postulated as God＇s Fool, not so much in the medieval as in the postmodern sense of foolishness and madness as a way of interaction with the absurd and puzzle-like world in which we live. It also reconciles traditional opposition between joy and laughter as inner feelings and outward emotions within the frame of the postmodern Divine Comedy.展开更多
We live in an increasingly postmodern society. American Christianity, however, is imbued in a modem---even pre-modern--paradigm. As a result, many contemporary religious leaders find it difficult to communicate with t...We live in an increasingly postmodern society. American Christianity, however, is imbued in a modem---even pre-modern--paradigm. As a result, many contemporary religious leaders find it difficult to communicate with their postmodern constituents, as evidenced by declining attendance rates and religious affiliation. The present study explores this dilemma by offering potential implications for contemporary religious leaders to communicate more effectively with emerging/emergent generation（s）. The author begins this exploration, first, by outlining the philosophical tenants of postmodemism： its epistemological, ontological, and axiological assumptions. Second, the author delineates several key characteristics of postmodern religious communication. Next, the author offers three practical implications for organizational leaders： （1） increased use of personal narrative, （2） removal of hierarchal boundary structures, and （3） increased awareness and appreciation for divergent perspectives. The author concludes this study with directions for future research.展开更多
文摘The article deals with investigating and comparing key modern and postmodern interpretations of St. Francis of Assisi from a philosophical-anthropological perspective. We determine these interpretations to be as follows： a man of wonder and lover of wisdom, in other words, a true philosopher; hero of all times; defender of the poverty and poor; “champion of liberty”; peace-maker and pacifist; God＇s troubadour; patron of nature and animals. All of these manifestations of St. Francis＇ personality have been enriched by his Christocentrism and joyful vision. Moreover, this can be traced in primary sources and also echoes in the late modern period. Postmodernity not only incorporated similar motives into the cultural space with new focus and accent, but it also put forward some new visions. St. Francis was postulated as God＇s Fool, not so much in the medieval as in the postmodern sense of foolishness and madness as a way of interaction with the absurd and puzzle-like world in which we live. It also reconciles traditional opposition between joy and laughter as inner feelings and outward emotions within the frame of the postmodern Divine Comedy.
文摘We live in an increasingly postmodern society. American Christianity, however, is imbued in a modem---even pre-modern--paradigm. As a result, many contemporary religious leaders find it difficult to communicate with their postmodern constituents, as evidenced by declining attendance rates and religious affiliation. The present study explores this dilemma by offering potential implications for contemporary religious leaders to communicate more effectively with emerging/emergent generation（s）. The author begins this exploration, first, by outlining the philosophical tenants of postmodemism： its epistemological, ontological, and axiological assumptions. Second, the author delineates several key characteristics of postmodern religious communication. Next, the author offers three practical implications for organizational leaders： （1） increased use of personal narrative, （2） removal of hierarchal boundary structures, and （3） increased awareness and appreciation for divergent perspectives. The author concludes this study with directions for future research.
