Theology and Postmodernism: Is It All Over?

Do the social and cultural changes over the opening years of the twentieth century mean that we have to say postmodernism is over? And have theologies still responding to that postmodern condition already passed their sell-by date? This article examines four of the new trends impacting postmodernism and concludes that though we have certainly moved elsewhere, postmodernity is not quite making its final gasps. This is primarily because the economic force behind postmodern culture, neo-liberalism, remains dominant. We then look at three examples of theological response to the new inflexions in postmodernity, pointing up how they have changed from earlier postmodern theologies. We end by raising the question of whether a major challenge to neo-liberal and global economics is about to announce itself with national bankruptcies and the increasing pressure on key international currencies. If that challenge materialized, then postmodernity would be over.