AUTHOR: Dick Staub
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TIME: March 2009
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NOTES:
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I will get my criticism out of the way right off the bat. Dick Staub has a tendency to repeat himself. This repetition includes the use of the same quotations in more than one place. So, reading this book involves hearing the same Jim Morrison lyric many times (which is actually something I enjoy). Secondly, the title and cover of this book stink. I would never in a million years pick this book up based on its exterior. It looks like yet another installment in the "post-modern, 'I have opinions and no research' type books". In truth, the author is very knowledgeable about Christianity and the world of popular culture and has even interviewed a plethora of famous pop-icons himself. The one saving grace of this book's dust jacket is a recommendation by N.T. Wright which reads, "This is an urgent book for our times-and our health". Wright's comment was the sole reason that I grabbed this book of the 'new release' shelf in the library.
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As far as I can tell the thesis of this book is that much of popular culture is a money driven, soulless, non-artistic, empty shell (or something like that) and that mainline evangelicalism has been impacted more than it has made an impact in this environment. As such, we need to regain our "deep well"-ness in order to bring glory to God through excellence in art and culture, and in order to be fully human (which is the ultimate goal). The details of how one digs this well are complex and inspiring. Staub explains that, "the culturally savvy Christian is serious about faith, savvy about faith and culture, and skilled at relating the two." The book consists of a break-down of this statement using biblical evidence and cultural support. The result is a 'putting together' of many scattered popular ideas into a coherent practice (popular ideas: devotion, study, disciplines, the mystics, cultural interpretation, discernment etc etc.). This practice is exemplified in the way that Staub writes using popular culture and and the Bible in a side by side co-operative manner that does not come off as a cheese festival.
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I was most impressed with two sections of the book. The first section was a practical outline of how one might go about implementing the kind of life Staub argues for. I was impressed at the simplicity of his plan, the clearness of its presentation and the overall impression of truth that I got from it. It is refreshing to have someone offer 'practical hope' after a lengthy criticism of the two largest spheres of my life (faith and culture). The second element I liked was his long discussion of discernment. Staub provides the most complete explanation of cultural discernment that I have come across. He explains that discernment is about more than moral content and even argues that the 'bad stuff' in life is often artistically relevant. Furthermore he suggests that discernment is to be preferred over 'the rule' which is popular in many faith circles.
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Staub's book left me damaged but hopeful. I was confronted with my own cultural and religious hollowness but I was provided with eyes to see a way out. I look forward to reading more of Staub's work in the future and I strongly recommend this offering to anyone concerned with culture or faith (in other words: everyone).
.
TIME: March 2009
.
NOTES:
.
I will get my criticism out of the way right off the bat. Dick Staub has a tendency to repeat himself. This repetition includes the use of the same quotations in more than one place. So, reading this book involves hearing the same Jim Morrison lyric many times (which is actually something I enjoy). Secondly, the title and cover of this book stink. I would never in a million years pick this book up based on its exterior. It looks like yet another installment in the "post-modern, 'I have opinions and no research' type books". In truth, the author is very knowledgeable about Christianity and the world of popular culture and has even interviewed a plethora of famous pop-icons himself. The one saving grace of this book's dust jacket is a recommendation by N.T. Wright which reads, "This is an urgent book for our times-and our health". Wright's comment was the sole reason that I grabbed this book of the 'new release' shelf in the library.
.
As far as I can tell the thesis of this book is that much of popular culture is a money driven, soulless, non-artistic, empty shell (or something like that) and that mainline evangelicalism has been impacted more than it has made an impact in this environment. As such, we need to regain our "deep well"-ness in order to bring glory to God through excellence in art and culture, and in order to be fully human (which is the ultimate goal). The details of how one digs this well are complex and inspiring. Staub explains that, "the culturally savvy Christian is serious about faith, savvy about faith and culture, and skilled at relating the two." The book consists of a break-down of this statement using biblical evidence and cultural support. The result is a 'putting together' of many scattered popular ideas into a coherent practice (popular ideas: devotion, study, disciplines, the mystics, cultural interpretation, discernment etc etc.). This practice is exemplified in the way that Staub writes using popular culture and and the Bible in a side by side co-operative manner that does not come off as a cheese festival.
.
I was most impressed with two sections of the book. The first section was a practical outline of how one might go about implementing the kind of life Staub argues for. I was impressed at the simplicity of his plan, the clearness of its presentation and the overall impression of truth that I got from it. It is refreshing to have someone offer 'practical hope' after a lengthy criticism of the two largest spheres of my life (faith and culture). The second element I liked was his long discussion of discernment. Staub provides the most complete explanation of cultural discernment that I have come across. He explains that discernment is about more than moral content and even argues that the 'bad stuff' in life is often artistically relevant. Furthermore he suggests that discernment is to be preferred over 'the rule' which is popular in many faith circles.
.
Staub's book left me damaged but hopeful. I was confronted with my own cultural and religious hollowness but I was provided with eyes to see a way out. I look forward to reading more of Staub's work in the future and I strongly recommend this offering to anyone concerned with culture or faith (in other words: everyone).
