WorldViews: Reflection on Pragmatism from Os Guinness

Reflection on Pragmatism from Os Guinness

A new face of empiricism, pragmatism was highly significant in America during twentieth century. Pragmatism was borne and developed in the United States. It is the soul for the development of the United States and Americanization. Nowadays, the presence of Pragmatism in Public Square may not be as strong as in twentieth century. However, the ideology of Pragmatism was still influencing many Christian in United States as well as in the across the glob. In Twenty first century the secular world has been moved forward to Postmodernism. The practices and values have been rapidly changed within society and yet Pragmatism was still the most influential ideology for many of the Evangelical Christians.
                    The positive and organized thinking was desperately needed for the new nation like United States. Most importantly they desperately need to develop the country. Likewise, the Church and her evangelization of the world need to have tangible progress. At the same time people spiritualized their aspiration and method for the development of the state in evangelization and theologization. Therefore they become to believe in doing well by doing good. When they accept the idea of doing well by doing good it is no more difficult to embrace the idea of using the right method for good outcome. Sadly it is the beginning of replacing divine power with human methods. To know the right methods become the primary concern. The idea of hard work leads to hope for prosperity as hard work without rewards will be illogical. As a result, the idea of human initiative instead of divine was born. Self positive thinking replaced faith in God. Now in this point of time the church and State become success-oriented. The State desperately desire freedom from Europe influences and economic development. Now they are going to take responsibility for their growth. Therefore, positive thinking and hope for better future become the dream of the state and the church. Their successful development confirmed using the right method. Their optimistic thinking carries beneficial results. Positive thinking flow out far wider than Christian thinking. The universal hope for the better life and confident in their methodological approaches give them confident to do everything. Therefore, their confident depend upon their methods, self-confident and positive thinking. On the other hand, Arminianism was widely accepted in Churches. Despite of many negative impacts, American Pragmatism movement also have greatly motivated to do Evangelism. They are good in organization and motivating people but also poor in content and spirituality. Finally, their motive may be good but their methods are wrong.
 

Ref: Fit Bodies Fat Minds: Why Evangelicals Don't Think and What to Do About It. Author: Os Guinness