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Church in the Inventive Age
Many books seek to predict the future of Christianity, but few help us grasp the opportunities of the current situation and equip us to navigate the present. Doug Pagitt, author, radio host, and pioneering leader, does just that, offering fresh, optimistic insights and practical suggestions. According to Pagitt, the last two centuries can be divided into four Idyllic, Industrial, Informational and now-Inventive. The Inventive Age - our currently reality - presents distinct opportunities for how faith communities think, what they value, and the tools they use. Pagitt offers leaders in Christian communities (and beyond) essential frameworks for participation in the Inventive Age.
- GenresChurchNonfiction
128 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2010
1 person is currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Doug Pagitt
24 books7 followersDoug Pagitt is the head pastor of Solomon's Porch in South Minneapolis and a Senior Fellow with Emergent Village: a generative friendship of missional church leaders around the world and a leading architect of the emergent church discussion.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 21, 2012
Doug Pagitt, and his friend and Tony Jones, did a smart thing back at the end of December: they offered most of the books they had written for $.99 on Amazon. I downloaded four books, probably four I never would have read at full price...but hey, at $.99 I'll read almost anything.
There is probably a lesson there for the future of publishing and reading.
Anyway, I started with this one. It is a short book about ministry, being the church, in the age we live in. Pagitt divides history up into four ages: Agrarian, Industrial, Information and Inventive. The Agrarian age was most of history, up until a century or two ago. During this time the majority of people made their living as farmers. Then came the Industrial Age as people flocked to cities and new jobs in the new factories. After that came the Information Age, the time when books and literacy became so prevalent that you could learn and know almost anything, and college degrees, proving you had acquired information, were necessary for success.
Pagitt does not really give a year for when the exact transitions between these ages occurred. This helps his argument, though perhaps some may find it slippery, as he points out that there are still churches that exist with Agrarian or Industrial Age principles. Most churches function in the context of the Information Age. But Pagitt argues that the Information age is transitioning into the Inventive Age. One of the biggest factors of this age is that rather than consume information, people want to create it.
Pagitt would argue then that if your church is working to give people information, centered on a sermon delivered by an expert, your church is ministering in a context that is beginning to fade. In the Inventive Age people want interaction, collaboration.
What I appreciated is that Pagitt comes across very kind. He does not denigrate churches that exist in the context of one of the previous ages. Instead, he emphasizes that they still have a place and the Inventive Age churches can learn from them.
I find myself resonating with Pagitt. Attending church and sitting there passively while a practically professional worship band leads singing (and by "leads singing" I mean sometimes it almost slips into a concert) and then a pastor delivers a monologue is simply unsatisfying. I don't think "worship", the time when Christians gather, was ever meant to be a passive time for 95% of the congregation. I think many people want more interaction which may be why more liturgical forms of worship are coming back.
That said, I sometimes wonder if people like Pagitt are projecting their own desires onto the culture. He does mention many examples of Inventive Age churches. I have trouble seeing this, as it appears most churches are still more traditional. I guess we'll see what happens in the future!
There is probably a lesson there for the future of publishing and reading.
Anyway, I started with this one. It is a short book about ministry, being the church, in the age we live in. Pagitt divides history up into four ages: Agrarian, Industrial, Information and Inventive. The Agrarian age was most of history, up until a century or two ago. During this time the majority of people made their living as farmers. Then came the Industrial Age as people flocked to cities and new jobs in the new factories. After that came the Information Age, the time when books and literacy became so prevalent that you could learn and know almost anything, and college degrees, proving you had acquired information, were necessary for success.
Pagitt does not really give a year for when the exact transitions between these ages occurred. This helps his argument, though perhaps some may find it slippery, as he points out that there are still churches that exist with Agrarian or Industrial Age principles. Most churches function in the context of the Information Age. But Pagitt argues that the Information age is transitioning into the Inventive Age. One of the biggest factors of this age is that rather than consume information, people want to create it.
Pagitt would argue then that if your church is working to give people information, centered on a sermon delivered by an expert, your church is ministering in a context that is beginning to fade. In the Inventive Age people want interaction, collaboration.
What I appreciated is that Pagitt comes across very kind. He does not denigrate churches that exist in the context of one of the previous ages. Instead, he emphasizes that they still have a place and the Inventive Age churches can learn from them.
I find myself resonating with Pagitt. Attending church and sitting there passively while a practically professional worship band leads singing (and by "leads singing" I mean sometimes it almost slips into a concert) and then a pastor delivers a monologue is simply unsatisfying. I don't think "worship", the time when Christians gather, was ever meant to be a passive time for 95% of the congregation. I think many people want more interaction which may be why more liturgical forms of worship are coming back.
That said, I sometimes wonder if people like Pagitt are projecting their own desires onto the culture. He does mention many examples of Inventive Age churches. I have trouble seeing this, as it appears most churches are still more traditional. I guess we'll see what happens in the future!
October 20, 2010
"Church in the Inventive Age" describes the not-so-long succession of separate "ages" in the history of American (human?) self-understanding as the Agrarian Age, the Industrial Age, the Technological Age and now the Inventive Age. In each age, there is a different consensus about how people should think, how they should act, what they should value and the tools they should use. The whole time I was reading this book, I assumed it came out ten or fifteen years ago because the way it described the cultural landscape of modern America. No. It came out this year. Doug Pagitt, because of his intelligence, I assume was writing primarily to a demographic of older, non-"emergent"-type people who really don't like change or agree with other expressions of the faith. Perhaps Mr. Pagitt was limited by the size of the book as well (under 200 pages). Many authors have taken it upon themselves to create the "term" that will be used to describe this next phase of cultural understanding in human existence; Doug Pagitt has chosen "the Inventive Age". Because of the crowd he runs with, it is safe to assume that he reads McLaren and Tickle, what I don't understand is why he thinks it necessary to regurgitate their original thinking and try to brand it for himself. In any case, it's not all bad, just quite cornball and unoriginal. (2 out of 5 stars)
September 8, 2016
A very good quick read on how culture and circumstances over the past couple centuries have impacted the church and how today's world is quite different.
The first half or so explains how trends and culture evolved over the the years, with good examples of how churches changed and adapted to these issues over time. Further in there are some examples of how various ministries, some quite unconventional, have tried some new things and how established churches helped or collaborated in the process. Doug's tone is very positive and encouraging throughout. I'm certain that there are many other books that get into these issues quite a bit deeper. However, this is a good place to start and will definitely give you a lot to think about and consider as you move forward in your next ministry related project.
The first half or so explains how trends and culture evolved over the the years, with good examples of how churches changed and adapted to these issues over time. Further in there are some examples of how various ministries, some quite unconventional, have tried some new things and how established churches helped or collaborated in the process. Doug's tone is very positive and encouraging throughout. I'm certain that there are many other books that get into these issues quite a bit deeper. However, this is a good place to start and will definitely give you a lot to think about and consider as you move forward in your next ministry related project.
July 11, 2010
For any people thinking about the future of the church, this book by Doug Pagitt is well worth your time. It's a quick read but filled with a ton of helpful ideas and thoughts concerning what it means to be a church in today's world - a world in which Doug calls "the Inventive Age."
As someone involved with Presbymergent, a group for Presbyterians who are asking questions about what it means to be the church in a new way, I found this book to be incredibly helpful and one that I will definitely recommend to other folks.
As someone involved with Presbymergent, a group for Presbyterians who are asking questions about what it means to be the church in a new way, I found this book to be incredibly helpful and one that I will definitely recommend to other folks.
July 17, 2013
Really more of an expanded journal article than a book - Pagitt describes four eras of American culture and calls the current one "the inventive age." He encourages congregations to understand more about people who are growing up in this post-modern era and find ways to relate to them. I didn't find anything new in this book, but it would be a readable primer for church leaders as a way to engage in a conversation about change.
June 25, 2015
Good postmodernism. Doug runs in the room, lays out a very convincing portrait of the currents in Christianity and church dynamics and gets out long before his arguments can fall apart. A great quick read that will be sure to ignite important discussions about the role of tomorrow's church in any context.
February 25, 2011
In brief and brisk form, Doug takes us on a journey through the ages of the church in America -- Agrarian, Industrial, Information, Industrial. In each the church has existed with certain cultural traits -- thinking, values, aesthetics, and tools. We are moving into a new age. It's not a choice, but the question is -- how do we exist -- for, with, or as.
Highly recommended
Highly recommended
December 11, 2012
This was a very good book for a leader to gain focus and language for what is going on and what could happen within the church. It also provides insight into what i happening within different churches within the nation.
June 26, 2011
Super-quick read, and surprisingly enjoyable.
May 16, 2013
Interesting look at the future of church by the pastor of Solomon's Porch
July 12, 2013
great description of the intersection between culture and religion,and the four cultural eras of North America.
July 18, 2015
Pagitt articulates the current state of the church with encouragement to think and be something different as we go ahead.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews