Overview
Everyday theology is the reflective and practical task of living each day as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. In other words, theology is not just for Sundays, and it's not just for professional theologians. Everyday Theology teaches all Christians how to get the theological lay of the land. It enables them to become more conscious of the culture they inhabit every day so that they can understand how it affects them and how they can affect it. If theology is the ministry of the Word to the world, everyday theologians need to know something about that world, and Everyday Theology shows them how to understand their culture make an impact on it. Engaging and full of fresh young voices, this book is the first in the new Cultural Exegesis series.
Table of Contents
A Reader's Guide: How to Use This Book
Part 1: Introduction: Toward a Theory of Cultural Interpretation
1. What Is Everyday Theology? How and Why Christians Should Read Culture
Part 2: Reading Cultural Texts
2. The Gospel according to Safeway: The Checkout Line and the Good Life
3. Despair and Redemption: A Theological Account of Eminem
4. The High Price of Unity: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
5. Between City and Steeple: Looking at Megachurch Architecture 6. Swords, Sandals, and Saviors: Visions of Hope in Ridley Scott's Gladiator
Part 3: Interpreting Cultural Trends
7. The Business of Busyness: Or, What Should We Make of Martha? 8. Welcome to the Blogosphere
9. Human 2.0: Transhumanism as a Cultural Trend
10. Fantasy Funerals and Other Designer Ways of Going Out in Style
Part 4: Concluding Untheoretical Postscript
11. Putting It into Practice: Weddings for Everyday Theologians
Glossary of Methodological Terms
Part 1: Introduction: Toward a Theory of Cultural Interpretation
1. What Is Everyday Theology? How and Why Christians Should Read Culture
Part 2: Reading Cultural Texts
2. The Gospel according to Safeway: The Checkout Line and the Good Life
3. Despair and Redemption: A Theological Account of Eminem
4. The High Price of Unity: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
5. Between City and Steeple: Looking at Megachurch Architecture 6. Swords, Sandals, and Saviors: Visions of Hope in Ridley Scott's Gladiator
Part 3: Interpreting Cultural Trends
7. The Business of Busyness: Or, What Should We Make of Martha? 8. Welcome to the Blogosphere
9. Human 2.0: Transhumanism as a Cultural Trend
10. Fantasy Funerals and Other Designer Ways of Going Out in Style
Part 4: Concluding Untheoretical Postscript
11. Putting It into Practice: Weddings for Everyday Theologians
Glossary of Methodological Terms
Endorsements
“Kevin Vanhoozer, Charles Anderson, and Michael Sleasman bring together a bright team of culture readers who help us see common things in uncommon ways and describe them with uncommon yet useful terms. They are pioneers, I hope, of a new era among faithful people in constructive, discerning, and loving engagement rather than reactive, superficial, and judgmental antagonism toward our culture.”
Brian McLaren, author/activist (brianmclaren.net)
“There is now a proliferation of books on religion and popular culture but very few books on theology and popular culture. This book seeks to remedy that and offers a rationale for why and how Christians should ‘read’ popular culture. Kevin Vanhoozer’s approach strikes a wise balance between interpreting popular culture with open good will for where God might really be speaking and a biblically formed suspicion for the cunning manufacture of idols. The selection of cultural artifacts examined in part 2 is wide ranging, quirky, and inspired.”
Kelton Cobb, director and professor of Christian thought and history, The Oregon Extension, Eastern Mennonite University
“I am one of those Christians who has theological questions about Eminem, MySpace, grocery stores, and the like. So I am very pleased that we now have this book of stimulating and important reflections on such matters. These authors demonstrate how to think theologically about popular culture.”
Richard J. Mouw, professor of faith and public life and former president, Fuller Seminary