something about the postmodern approach

From a recent discussion...

Thinking over some of the conversation here, and remembering my observations during my years in seminary, I think I've realized something about the postmodern approach. Its focus on the ways that our personal points of view and cultural frameworks filter our perceptions and influence our interpretations does offer a "lofty" perspective from which to critique, say, the false certainties of evangelicals (quite rightly, I should add). But it also seems to disconnect us from God, in that we can never be sure whether we are hearing God's voice or just hearing our own prejudices or the accumulated formation of our tradition and community.

So we're left with an apparent detachment, which makes it easier to analyze all the various accounts of God's activity in people's lives, comparing and contrasting their confessions with those of others, which might lead us to any number of interesting conclusions about the nature of religion and belief. But what seems to be left out (conveniently?) is the voice of God speaking directly to us. Presenting us with the choice: believe or reject, act or do not act. The "voice of God" becomes an object of detached study, never the prophet Nathan standing before us saying, "You are the man!"

And doesn't that easily turn us into consumers as well? Eagerly devouring and digesting all the various religious confessions and theological viewpoints, churning out our educated theories, without ever having to face the choice, the demand, God's voice speaking directly and clearly to us, his eyes on us waiting for our answer?