Comments on: nobody knows the Christians I see http://www.djchuang.com/2006/nobody-knows-the-christians-i-see/ strategist / researcher & developer / Asian American Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:35:26 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Think Christian » Blog Archive » Ripped from my feed reader http://www.djchuang.com/2006/nobody-knows-the-christians-i-see/comment-page-1/#comment-1369 Think Christian » Blog Archive » Ripped from my feed reader Wed, 06 Dec 2006 01:47:01 +0000 http://www.djchuang.com/2006/nobody-knows-the-christians-i-see/#comment-1369 [...] First Things has a lengthy post up about the “Quiverfull Christians” that Kim talked about here last month. “In a culture where work can be a religion, burnout is its crisis of faith”—a close look at the phenomenon of burnout; what it means and how our attitude toward it has changed over the decades. (Via Godspy.) The upcoming Rocky movie is being specially marketed at the “faith-based” crowd—see this piece about the themes of redemption that allegedly lurk behind all that pugilism. James noted earlier today that he liked the portrayal of Joseph in The Nativity Story. Cher of The Culture Beat recommends Anne Rice’s Out of Egypt for a particularly good exploration of Joseph’s character. This seems important: it turns out that major Christian leaders like James Dobson, TD Jakes, and Tim LaHaye are not widely known, even in the Christian community. I’ve actually wondered if I were the only one who hasn’t even heard of half the people who are supposedly out there representing Christianity to the media and government. (I’d never heard of Ted Haggard until the scandal broke.) [Hat tip: DJ Chuang.] [...] [...] First Things has a lengthy post up about the “Quiverfull Christians” that Kim talked about here last month. “In a culture where work can be a religion, burnout is its crisis of faith”—a close look at the phenomenon of burnout; what it means and how our attitude toward it has changed over the decades. (Via Godspy.) The upcoming Rocky movie is being specially marketed at the “faith-based” crowd—see this piece about the themes of redemption that allegedly lurk behind all that pugilism. James noted earlier today that he liked the portrayal of Joseph in The Nativity Story. Cher of The Culture Beat recommends Anne Rice’s Out of Egypt for a particularly good exploration of Joseph’s character. This seems important: it turns out that major Christian leaders like James Dobson, TD Jakes, and Tim LaHaye are not widely known, even in the Christian community. I’ve actually wondered if I were the only one who hasn’t even heard of half the people who are supposedly out there representing Christianity to the media and government. (I’d never heard of Ted Haggard until the scandal broke.) [Hat tip: DJ Chuang.] [...]

]]> By: djchuang http://www.djchuang.com/2006/nobody-knows-the-christians-i-see/comment-page-1/#comment-1368 djchuang Wed, 29 Nov 2006 21:56:31 +0000 http://www.djchuang.com/2006/nobody-knows-the-christians-i-see/#comment-1368 Daniel, thanks for your astute comments. The way I read the article, it's not so much that churches, church leaders, and pop culture are on the same side. The survey is a descriptive observation on who Christian people recognize and who Christian people don't recognize. You're right that the statement "Christian individuals are more attuned to matters of culture and entertainment than to matters of faith" is an over-generalization; it could be better stated that Christian individuals are more attuned to matters of culture and entertainment than to who's who on the Christian bestseller list. It is possible that these Christians are devout in their faith and strong in their personal private piety, but very withdrawn from what's happening in the Christian subculture's books and media. Daniel, thanks for your astute comments. The way I read the article, it’s not so much that churches, church leaders, and pop culture are on the same side. The survey is a descriptive observation on who Christian people recognize and who Christian people don’t recognize. You’re right that the statement “Christian individuals are more attuned to matters of culture and entertainment than to matters of faith” is an over-generalization; it could be better stated that Christian individuals are more attuned to matters of culture and entertainment than to who’s who on the Christian bestseller list. It is possible that these Christians are devout in their faith and strong in their personal private piety, but very withdrawn from what’s happening in the Christian subculture’s books and media.

]]> By: Daniel http://www.djchuang.com/2006/nobody-knows-the-christians-i-see/comment-page-1/#comment-1367 Daniel Tue, 28 Nov 2006 15:09:30 +0000 http://www.djchuang.com/2006/nobody-knows-the-christians-i-see/#comment-1367 This is a really interesting article, DJ, because I think it exposes a negative reality perhaps not intended by The Barna Group. I think part of the problem can be attributed to the very fact that these high-profile churches and pop culture are in fact on the same side of the coin, competing with Christ and the Gospel for people's hearts. Don't get me wrong. I'm not accusing any of the pastors of mindfully having this kind of intent but I think it's alarming when popularity surveys such as this one lead folks to conclude that, "Christian individuals are more attuned to matters of culture and entertainment than to matters of faith." This is a really interesting article, DJ, because I think it exposes a negative reality perhaps not intended by The Barna Group. I think part of the problem can be attributed to the very fact that these high-profile churches and pop culture are in fact on the same side of the coin, competing with Christ and the Gospel for people’s hearts.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not accusing any of the pastors of mindfully having this kind of intent but I think it’s alarming when popularity surveys such as this one lead folks to conclude that, “Christian individuals are more attuned to matters of culture and entertainment than to matters of faith.”

]]>