The short answer, of course, is that it isn’t, and it does–but the pervasive, unarticulated philosophies underlying this question are significant. Post-modernism is a late-20th century movement characterized by subjectivism, relativism and skepticism with regard to truth (as opposed to the objective, reason-centered seeking of the enlightenment). Post-modernism argues “there are no objective truths,” but because this statement is itself a truth assertion, it is possible to reason with someone who holds post-modern views.

The newer phenomenon of post-truth philosophy, together with a culture awash in expressive individualism, has divorced belief entirely from reason and relegated it to the unanchored realm of feelings, preferences or emotions. A post-truth culture recognizes that objective truths may exist, but it judges them irrelevant or calls them false. Someone with a post-truth mindset may think, “Objective truths exist but I don’t care– my feelings and preferences matter more,” or, “Objective truths exist but I deny them– they don’t support my agenda so I am justified in lying about them.” This kind of thinking is almost impossible to reason with.

It’s not uncommon today to hear people speak about God in terms of how they’d like him to be. For example, “I like to think of God as a loving, universal spirit, who isn’t bothered about how we worship him or what name we call him.” This may sound kind and tolerant, but if God is not as described, that belief is more than unhelpful–it’s actually harmful. God is not a character in a story we are writing. If the Bible is true, we are characters in his story! He made us in his image, and we don’t have the liberty of making him in ours. Us defining God as we imagine him to be would be like Harry Potter defining J. K. Rowling. Rowling created  Harry; not the reverse. Without her, he simply would not exist. She decided on his green eyes (like his mother) and his messy, dark hair (like his father). She gave him his strengths and weaknesses. Like Harry, we exist because our creator brought us to life, not the other way around.

The current “sea” that both post-modern and post-truth adherents swim in is a culture that places ultimate value on expressive individualism: the belief that the definition and fulfillment of an individual’s identity is the highest good, and that individuals possess the capacity to define the terms of their own existence by defining and asserting themselves. This “sea” of expressive individualism is evidenced by popular catchphrases like, “You be you,” or “Find yourself” or “Follow your heart wherever it goes.” But when forms of authority are rejected and individual “authenticity” is valued above all else, chaos eventually ensues. Relationships break down. Anarchy advances. Communities disintegrate. Souls are lost.