The Culturally Savvy Christian

AUTHOR: Dick Staub
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TIME: March 2009
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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).

The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger

AUTHOR: Stephen King
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TIME: February 2009
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NOTES:

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Years ago a friend named Logan was reading this series and he loved it. I had supported his love but secretly scorned his lack of literary prallis (it turns out that Logan is quite brilliant and I am a unfounded snob ie. I often think that I am smarter than I am). The truth is that I have seen many Stephen King films and I have type casted the author as the penmen behind clever thrillers and horrors but not as the writer of legitimate epics. In my mind I had filed this little gem alongside all the other books with dragons on their covers that I have passed by in the used shops. After reading this first installment I am not sure what to think. On the one hand I was captivated by Kings minimalist style and his mastership of the 'cliffhanger'. On the other hand I am not sure what the underlying message is supposed to be and I am still bewildered as to 'the point'.

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In this fantasy landscape we are introduced to a Gunslinger named Roland who is on a quest to overtake 'the man in black'. The man the Gunslinger seeks is perceived as a priest and a messenger of God by many of the people he encounters and yet the Gunslinger casts a shadow of evil in his depictions of the man. Another curious aspect of the story is that the reader feels inclined to take Roland's side because we see through his senses but a more objective look shows that the 'man in black' leaves a trail of healing while Roland leaves a trail of sexual misconduct and death. The majority of the book chronicles Roland's journey through a strange dessert and a zombie filled cave with a boy named Jake (whom must eventually die at the Gunslingers hand hint hint: obvious illusions to Abraham and Issac). There are also hints of parallel worlds, post apocalyptic landscapes, purgatory or something like those three as Jake appears to be from what we would call modern New York City.

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All in all this book was a fun read but I feel unsatisfied with it's ending. The dust jacket claims that the novel can stand alone but I would suggest that unless your up for a seven part series you should leave this one alone. The story is engaging but simple, the landscape is intriguing and mysterious, the characters are very well developed... but the ending is a huge cliffhanger that leaves one desperately wanting more...

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I guess I will have to buy the next one.

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Becoming Human

AUTHOR: Jean Vanier
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TIME:February 2009
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NOTES:.
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I borrowed this book from a good friend because I had heard such great things about it. It was originally a Massey Lecture, so the book was produced by the CBC which increased my intrigue (I am a big supporter of the CBC). The reason I was interested in this book is because I have been working in a group home for intellectually disabled individuals these past months and the book centers around that sort of thing. For those who may not know, Jean Vanier founded L'Arche (the Ark) which is a network of communities around the world in which physically and intellectually disabled people live in community with non-disabled persons. Jean Vanier was a committed Catholic so the communities involve much devotional practice and a focus on human growth intellectually, physically, and spiritually.
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If I had to sum up 'becoming human', I would say that it is part devotional literature, part theological exploration and part sociological text. Vanier uses his background in L'Arche to explore some of Jesus' more difficult teachings. He talks about the weaker brother, the first being last, the marginalized and so on and so forth. In all of this he continually emphasize the value if disabled people to the Kingdom of God. In my line of work the idea that disabled people are valuable and should be fully intigrated citizens is a given but its not often that someone outlines specific examples of this happening. In Vaniers book he does just this. He offers concrete examples of people who don't speak or hear giving love to their care providers in such a deep and profound way that the impact of their ministry lasts well beyond there lifespans (as evidenced by this book). I should note that Vanier is careful not to pity people. The truth is that no one likes to be pitied. In this vein Vanier presents his disabled companions as whole people he does not try to say that they are simply 'cute' or 'always loving' etc. this sort of assessment is simply untrue as all humans have a sin nature.
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The sociological aspect of the book is in Vaniers timeless assessment of our western tendencies toward strength, power, prestige, success and so on. He rightly highlights our over emphasis on these things explaining that we often overlook the power of the weak because it does not present itself in a business suite. Recognizing this tendency can help us to tame it and to have eyes to see the powerful ministry of those who are perceived as weak in our social order. The ministry Vanier discusses is real and significant. He does not need to exercise pity or to give inflated praise to showcase examples of his 'weaker friends' acting as vessels of Christ's love and power.
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I really cannot think of anything negative to say about this book. I came away strengthened and better informed in my opinions. I really feel that it would be valuable for any person in our context to read and consider Vaniers words. The truth is that we as a society are only recently learning to practice what our national documents preach (Human Rights Charter) and we as Christians too often overlook the real life significance of the Jesus' love for the marginalized in our midst.

The napoleon of Notting Hill

AUTHOR: G.K. Chesterton
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TIME: January 2009
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NOTES:.
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I was lucky enough to take a class in college about the life and works of G.K. Chesterton. The class fostered in me a love for Chesterton that I presume will last for my whole life. It also romanticised the idea of a stout ale, a good cigar, and chivalry around the ladies. Because of my background in Chestertonianism I was very pleased to spot a paperback version of this, his first novel, the Napolean of Notting Hill. Sidenote: I found it in a great little book shop in southern Ontario. The guy working the shop was a retired teacher/librarian with a pronounced british accent that seemed to know a little something about each and every book in the store. The store itself was located in a gutted old motel and the selection was amazing and fairly priced. Sidenote two: I hope to do a post about good book shops I have found every now and then. But that will have to wait.
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Those of you who have read some of Chesterton's writing will know that he is a bit of a 'one trick pony'. I would argue that the trick is nuanced in a new and exciting way in most of his books but it is non-the-less the same trick. If I am correct, the backbone of Chesterton's life project was to defend fairyland against the onslaught of objectivism (this would include things like scientific fact, modernism, the enlightenment etc.). Chesterton wants his readers to consider that Truth with a capital 'T' is not always best sook with rationality. In fact much of the most
important truth in life is a profound farce. Consider the son of God being hung from a tree to die; only to return ushering in life. In Notting hill Chesterton leads his reader on a journey to discover this truth.
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In the TNoNH the reader is confronted with a man who is pronounced King of London seemingly on a whim. This man proceeds to transform london into a ridiculous pagent of color-coded regions each with it's own outlandish dress code. A city code is also drafted that calls for over-the-top pomp and ceremony in everyday governmental affairs. The trick that Chesterton plays on the reader is causing them to judge this new king as a fool only to have them stand whole heartedly behind the values of his farce society in the end. You will have to read the book to see the full mechanics of this shift.
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I have realized that it seems that I never read a book that I don't like so I have decided to include some critique in my 2009 reviews. In this book it is obvious that you are reading an early Chesterton. He drags on at points and much of the novel feels too surreal. I think he has definantly written better stuff. All that said I think this is good book well worth a read. And its short.


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Haroun and the Sea of Stories

AUTHOR: Salmon Rushdie
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TIME: January 2009
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This children's novel was lent to me by my wife. She bought it under the recommendation of an interviewing prof. at Briercrest. The author is, of course, familiar and controversial. He is the very same Salmon Rushdie who was placed under a fatwa after producing the 'Satanic Verses'. I have tried to read the controversial title before but its to surreal for my tastes.
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Haroun is the son of the 'shah of blah' who is a famous story teller in a sad town (it is actually home to the factories that produce sadness). His father's wife leaves him in the arms of a man of science and facts. This leaves the shah incapacitated as a story teller and causes significant upheaval as the Shah's main income is derived from speaking at political rallies.
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Amazingly, Haroun witnesses a 'water genie' disconnecting his fathers invisible 'storey tap' and so the adventure begins. I don't want to give too much detail because I think the short story is well worth the time to read. Needless to say that it is a thinly guized defence of freedom of speech and the power/importance of story. Haroun sets sail on an actual sea of story in search of 'the Walrus' and finds himself instead in the midst of a search for the source of contamination that threatens the wellspring of story itself.
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This whimsical tale is reminiscent of Oz, the Never ending Story, the Labyrinth and so many more of the greats. Its a must read for lovers of the Humanities and Children everywhere.