You should stand against the ecumenical monoculture because it is a logical impossibility. Postmodernism is the philosophical and ideological foundation upon which the ecumenical monoculture is built. Postmodernism asserts, “truth is a fabrication of the human mind; everyone determines their own reality; and therefore no one has the truth.” There are two reasons why this is an impossible claim.

• First, the postmodern truth claim does not allow for postmodernism and vise versa. There are several different ways in which the postmodern truth claim can be rendered and upon examination they will all be proven selfcontradictory and selfdefeating. The statement “there is no absolute truth” is absolute and if there is no absolute truth then the statement is false. Conversly, the statement “there is no absolute truth” is absolute and if there is absolute truth then the statement is false. The statement “there is no objective truth” is an objective truth and if there is no objective truth then the statement is false. Conversly, the statement “there is no objective truth” is an objective truth and if there is objective truth then the statement is false. Another key term in understanding postmodernism and the ecumenical monoculture is “situated knowledge” which claims “all knowledge is situated within the group, or individual, who(whom) constructed it.” If all knowledge is situated then the claim that “all knowledge is situated” is not situated; it exists within all cultures, all people, at all times and therefore not all knowledge is situated and situated knowledge is false.

• Second, the postmodern truth claim cannot coexist with absolute/exclusive truth claims. The ecumenical monoculture is a single, homogeneous culture without diversity or dissension. Therefore, when there is dissension there is no monoculture. In comparing postmodernism with one exclusive and one absolute truth claim it will be shown that postmodernism is false. In Acts 4:12 Peter, speaking of Jesus Christ, exclusively claims, “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” This claim cannot be true according to postmodernism and postmodernism cannot be true according to this claim. If salvation is in Christ alone and by Christ alone then it is exclusively true and postmodernism is false. If salvation is not in Christ alone and by Christ alone then it is, exclusively true and postmodernism is false. Atheism makes the absolute claim that “there is no God.” If the statement “there is no God” is true then there is absolute truth and postmodernism is false. If the statement “there is no God” is false then the existence of God is absolutely true and postmodernism is false. Postmodernism, and therefore the ecumenical monoculture, cannot coexist with absolute/exclusive truth claims. (This topic will be further discussed in a coming post entitled “The Ecumenical Monoculture is Exclusive.”)

My first, posts will answer two fundamental questions about the ecumenical monoculture. First, what is the ecumenical monoculture? Second, why should you stand against it? And finally I will propose one question about the ecumenical monoculture; are you standing against the ecumenical monoculture?

What is the ecumenical monoculture?

• The issue of ecumenism exists on two fronts; first in dealing with interdenominational unity among Christian churches or denominations and secondly dealing with the worldwide unity among all religions. The monoculture is the result of ecumenism. Through tolerance and improved interfaith understanding a single, homogeneous culture without diversity or dissension forms.
• You must be careful not to minimize the inherent threat contained within interdenominational unity. Denominations have doctrinal differences for a reason. Many of these differences are of such an antithetical nature that they cannot be reconciled. For example: the salvation by grace through faith alone of the protestant reformers could not be reconciled to the salvation obtained by and preserved by good works of the Catholic church. They could not reconcile it then and it cannot be reconciled now, even as there are those presently trying to do so. (A brief disclaimer. The proponents of the monoculure would quickly label such a statement as untolerant, and it may be. I have many close friends of varying faiths and denominations who would assert, as strongly as I, that our truth claims are irreconcilable. This does not prevent friendship and love. The untolerant tolerance of the ecumenical monoculture, however, cannot tolerate “agreeing to disagree,” everyone must conform to the monoculture.)
• The truth claim, or lack there of, of the ecumenical monoculture is postmodern in nature, pragmatic in use, and self-contradictory in essence. It is postmodern in nature in so much as the basic assertion of postmodernism is that truth is a fabrication of the human mind; everyone determines their own reality; and therefore no one has the truth. It is pragmatic in use in that the consequences of an action justify the action itself; however, in postmodernism the individual determines their own truth and can therefore justify both the consequence(s) and the action(s) independent of one another. It is self-contradictory in essence given the assertion that “truth is a fabrication of the human mind; everyone determines their own reality; and therefore no one has the truth.” This truth claim, while a complete fabrication of the human mind, is determined for all and possessed by all resulting in the inherent self-contradiction and the ecumenical monoculture.