Mediating Faith: Faith Formation in a Trans-media Era

by Clint Schnekloth

The church struggles with media. Whether it is a denomination negotiating the 24 hour news cycle or a church evaluating how Facebook or online games are influencing the youth group, media is raising questions and placing demands on communities of faith in ways that could not have been imagined just 20 years ago. Thus the importance of understanding media for the church has never been greater. In Mediating Faith, church leaders of all kinds will find Clint Schnekloth an engaging and insightful guide to this new and sometimes wondrous world. In doing so he offers an evaluation and theological response to the trans-media era that highlights its potential to transform our work and world. Far from frightening, Schnekloth highlights the opportunities and the riches of this fascinating time.

153 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2014

Reviews

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Theology and technology advancements are two of my passions. With this book, Schnekloth is helping the reader understand the great place in time to which we are living. The time through which our own church teachings have been formed through the use of print, is now coming into contact with a new form of technology that is more fluid, engaging, and used in our daily life. It is now all brought together for the enrichment of a Christian’s life. Schnekloth places, in the hands of the reader, a wealth of information and insights from other experts which help us realize this great advantage which is before us. Along with that, Schnekloth’s style of writing encourages the reader to investigate and learn more on this topic. He introduces, from other authors, a wealth of information for the reader.

Overall, this is a good book. The book is directed at a very targeted audience. It is for the person who has been interested in pursuing the use of technology within their own faith formation. It also encourages a pursuits by others to doing the same. While I think that there is great potential within this field, this book seems very academic with its use of language. As noted, by the author at the summary and conclusion, this book is a dissertation that the author has now published as a book. The book will not provide answers for a church to follow, but rather gets the reader thinking of the bigger picture. It presents the new relationship between church and the virtual world through the use of technology.

[Joelle Colville-Hanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reads like a thesis, which interestingly enough, the author admits further in is how he started writing it. So you have to put on your scholar cap to slog through but it's worth it. It's got a very good summary of lots of other authors so you don't have to read those books to get the gist. This is an important read because we cannot underestimate the importance of the changes the digital reformation has brought. We ignore it at our peril and church leaders need to understand more than just how to make a Facebook page.

[Kirsten Keefe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of my New Year's resolution to read books by folks I know. Interesting take on technology and faith and faith communities. Makes me want to go back to school for another degree.