From the 17th century's self-styled Enlightenment to the shell shock of the 20th century's Great War, the conventions and attitudes known as Modernity held significant sway over the Western mind. Long before the post-war disillusionment that sparked Postmodernism, Modernity made (and frequently fulfilled) tremendous promises, birthing the hope of a man-made utopia. It was an age of reason and progress marked by technological, political, and artistic achievements that bettered the lot of humankind and vaulted European colonial powers to unprecedented heights. Yet this era was also marked by unfettered human ego, humanist optimism, and new prejudices – displacing the traditions and biases of the Middle Ages with a new set of often-unconscious assumptions, traditions, and biases that continue to shape human thought.
This issue will explore both the positive and negative effects of Modernism as well as its ongoing impact on beliefs, values, and behaviors within both the church and the wider culture.
