We’ve arrived at a crossroads in faith and culture. The Christian community has degenerated into an intellectually and artistically anemic subculture, and the general population is consuming an unsatisfying blend of mindless, soulless, spiritually, delusional entertainment. We are caught between a popular culture attempting to build art without God and a religious culture that believes in a God disinterested in art.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
The Culturally Savvy Christian
I recently purchased the book, The Culturally Savvy Christian, by Dick Staub. I am through the first two chapters right now and I can say that I thoroughly enjoy it. I would greatly encourage you to check it out. In the next few days I’ll lay out some of my favorite quotes. Here is my favorite from the introduction.
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2 comments:
Context is king I realize, however I am perturbed by this quote: "We’ve arrived at a crossroads in faith and culture." -- to sell books, it appears that we now must say that the time in which we now live is THE most essential, provacative, important time EVER. Throughout the ages, intellectuals and pseudos have often thought that...
- "The Christian community has degenerated into an intellectually and artistically anemic subculture" - the same way it did in the middle ages? in light of the previous sentence, he is saying this JUST happened recently? If it did in fact happen, it did not happen just because of the moral majority within the last 30 years. So, if the Christian community has degenerated to such an extent, I would consider presenting to the dozens of artistic friends in my small world that same statement to see what they think (and to see how offended they get). This guy is saying something that is ultimately contradictory: He is saying that Christianity has committed intellectual and artistic suicide...on what scale? Because "christian art" does not exist? It does, he just doesn't like the product he sees in the local Family Christian Bookstore (many of us "elitists" don't, but amazingly it sells). So does he want the talented group of Christian artists (even I know quite a few)to start selling their wares commercially and therefore get some social critical play? I doubt it. What he is left with doesn't make sense: the Christian artists are out there. That they are not expecting to be asked to present their work at the MCA is not altogether surprising.
- "and the general population is consuming an unsatisfying blend of mindless, soulless, spiritually, delusional entertainment." I'm glad he's got it figured out. But again I would ask the myriad folks who have been brought to a relationship with Christ ... and to consider that unsastifying? Who is he talking to? Maybe I should get out more. Many christians get frustrated, but "Soulless" "MIndless" - that is an insult to me and every other Christian who is fighting the good fight. People who were bound for hell have been given a new life...what is he talking about?
I think you are right. Much of your comments are great and I totally agree. I think Dick is trying to paint with an intentional broad brush to make a point. A point I definitely think needs to be made. Does it apply universally? Certainly not, but needs to be at least wrestled with and considered.
I would encourage you to pick up the book and check it out and next time not to be anonymous. I'm sure many of your objections written here might be dealt with. Thanks!
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