Haase_UZ_x007E_DTh (2).pdf - South African Theological Seminary

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Benedikter believes the postmoderns -- Jacques Derrida, Jean-Francois Lyotard,
Michel Foucault, Helene Cixous, Gilles Deleuze, Felix Guattari, etc. -- were products of
the European revolutionary impulse, quintessentially begun with the French Revolution
(c.1789). He believes this spirit remains alive today, especially among the French, who
still deeply embrace the notions of freedom and brotherhood, but even more, the notion of
‘equality.’ Benedikter believes postmoderns are a rekindling of the French Revolutionary
spirit. Both groups call into question social inequalities and injustices, and change where
possible. Benedikter believes the postmoderns see themselves in this role, toppling
strong, unjust hierarchies.
The postmodernist effort to topple unjust governments and institutions, like
institutional Christianity, began in earnest at Berkley and San Francisco in the 1960’s.
The immediate question for them at the time, was how do mere students topple powerful
governments and institutions, and change society The postmoderns believed their goals
could be accomplished through socially deconstructing “the pillars of hierarchical
organisational patterns in the European-Western societies” (Benedikter, 2005). Because
the students were largely unable to produce change through violent means -- the way the
peasants toppled the French government -- these new [postmodern] revolutionaries
infused the notion of self-deconstruction into philosophical discourse, especially among
the academics, which are still the largest progenitors of social disestablishment in the
West today. Benedikter further notes that Europeans, in particular, are wary that
postmodern individuality may turn into something collective, even when driven by high
goals. He believes Europeans are especially sceptical about such groups gaining
collective consciousness, because of Europe’s history with groups like the Nazi’s.
The first postmodern wave was rooted in deconstruction, or what some called, social
‘re-fragmentation.’ Thus, the first generation of true postmoderns was the ‘wrecking
crew,’ the destroyers, or the disestablishmentarians. They were certainly not builders of
something new and better. According to Benedikter, the postmodernists thought: “Maybe
the next generation will build something new, or maybe not; but we, in any case, have to
deconstruct the wrong concepts and open up the field radically, by going to destroy,
disseminate and pluralize the roots... That is the necessary first step” (Benedikter, 2005).
University of Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa