Truth Decay: Defending Christianity Against the Challenges of Postmodernism

by Douglas Groothuis

From the back: “The concept of truth as absolute, objective and universal has undergone serious deterioration in recent years. No longer is it a goal for all to pursue. Rather postmodernism sees truth as inseparable from culture, psychology, race and gender. Ultimately, truth is what we make it to be. …While postmodernism contains some truthful insights (despite its attempt to dethrone truth), Douglas Groothuis sees its basic tenets as intellectually flawed and hostile to Christian views. In this spirited presentation of a solid, biblical and logical perspective, the author unveils how truth has come under attack and how it can be defended in the vital areas of theology, apologetics, ethics and the arts.”

Truth Decay is a very thorough study of postmodernism, its roots, its beliefs, and its relation to life. As such, it is a very philosophical book—filled with examples of taking the various postmodern claims to their logical end, and weighing that against Biblical claims. One of the very helpful points of this book is how extensively he quotes from postmodernists, allowing them to draw their own picture of their system of thought; he does not accuse postmodernism of any belief which is not backed up by the words of one of its own proponents. Using this, and thinking through each point, he hows the fallacy in a postmodern approach to one point after another (e.g., theology, apologetics, ethics and the arts).

I did find the philosophical approach used in this book a little difficult to wade through in places. It seemed, at times, that he could have made his point in fewer words—but then, that may be because I went into the book already agreeing with the conclusions he drew. Perhaps the additional thought and lines of argumentation were intended for the postmodernist or an individual sitting on the proverbial fence between two world views.

I do not know that this is the best book arguing Christianity against postmodernism, but it is certainly a thorough, thoughtful, and thought-provoking volume. And as the postmodern mindset continues to be pervasive in the world, reinforcing our defenses against it can never be a bad thing.