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Subversive Christianity: Imaging God in a Dangerous Time
Where is Western culture going? What should Christians think about it? Those who already ask these questions often come up with confused answers. Those who do not are, arguably, living in a fool's paradise (or a fool's hell.) In this second edition of Subversive Christianity, Brian Walsh returns to the themes of cultural discernment that he unpacked more than twenty years ago. In a new Postscript, Walsh revisits Francis Fukuyama, Bruce Cockburn, and the prophet Jeremiah and asks, Where are we now? In light of 9/11 and the world economic crisis of 2008, how do we discern the times, and what does that discernment tell us about the calling of the church?
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First published September 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 30, 2019
This is a deeply profound book that calls upon Christians to look beyond petty, small-time issues and look to the culture in which we live. Too often, Christians can get caught up in the “Culture Wars” of abortion and whether or not someone wished you a merry Christmas at the grocery store. IN this deeply insightful book, Mr. Walsh calls on Christians to examine the culture we are in. It is a culture of economic and ecological exploitation more often benefiting the few rather than the wealthy. At times, I worried that this was going to be another conservative culture war screed, but Mr. Walsh keeps his eye on the ball throughout to call attention to the larger forces at work that are anathema to a Christian worldview. I wish more Christians, particularly Evangelicals, would read this book and think more deeply about cultural and ideological underpinnings of the neoliberal system we are in, but Mr. Walsh points out how the Western Church may very well have been intellectually captured by these forces. Not everything is perfect in this book. This 2014 reprinted edition from the original 1992 edition preserves some of his criticisms of Western leaders of the period such as George H.W. Bush, UK PM John Major, and others. But he more than makes up for this with a 2014 postscript that brings things more closely to the present. And even though this book does not predict the election of Pres. Trump, it darn well comes close to predicting the forces that would lead to his rise. I absolutely recommend this book to all of my Christian friends. You do not want to miss out on this one.
February 19, 2008
Begins well, like a a defence of the reformed faith, but then continues to quote Bruce Cockburn a bit too much and dates itself by railing against the Fukuyama report for the majority of the book—becomes an academic paper instead of a call to action, as it began.
Walsh argues that a Christian’s worldview ought to make a difference in the way she lives, yet generally, it doesn’t—there is gap between what we believe and what we do. Christians hold that religion influences every aspect of life, yet they still live dualistically because “this God wants too much” and dualism is “a safe place” (30). In this way, we are like schizophrenics who feel secure and fear healing (31).
“If Christians, all of their idiosyncratic religious doctrines notwithstanding, really do construct reality in pretty much the same terms as everybody else, if, in fact, they relate to immigrants, single mothers, the poor, the handicapped and anyone else who is who is ‘different’ with neither more nor less compassion than others; and if they really do experience social, emotional and economic well-being in the same terms as everyone else in our culture—then we are faced as a church and as individual Christians with a spiritual crisis of mammoth proportions” (28)
The church has become “enculturated” in how our “consciousness, our imagination, our vision has been captured by idolatrous perceptions and ways of life. The dominant worldview […] has captured our lives” (29).
“You see, while we were fighting with each other about evolution, the infallibility of the Bible, spiritual gifts, and various other hotly debated issues, we were falling into a deeper and deeper sleep in relation to the cultural captivity of our very consciousness” (29)
Take capitalism. A basic tenet of the world which Christians generally buy into. That the point of work (life) is to make money, acquire goods, and earn enough leisure time to enjoy them. Christianity is subversive, says Walsh, because it holds that work is good in and of itself and “more and more consumer goods and services is not necessarily good” (14).
“Insisting that work is an integral dimension of human life, that it is a form of worship, that it is meant to ennoble humankind, that is should be dedicated to serving one’s neighbour and the stewardly care of the creation—all of these are subversive ideas” (14)
Walsh hunts for the roots and says the danger of the reformed mindset is an intellectualisation which has left us “open to the enculturation of [our] imagination” (32).
We can’t imagine the world as we know it ought to be. Partly because we have got God and religion down to such a damn science and we envision God as a static “keeper of timeless doctrinal truths” who has himself “ceased to be active in history” (33). Walsh says we don’t “allow the reality of our lives to inform or correct” this static worldview (33).
From here on out he talks about Jeremiah, Bruce Cockburn, and Fukuyama…
Walsh argues that a Christian’s worldview ought to make a difference in the way she lives, yet generally, it doesn’t—there is gap between what we believe and what we do. Christians hold that religion influences every aspect of life, yet they still live dualistically because “this God wants too much” and dualism is “a safe place” (30). In this way, we are like schizophrenics who feel secure and fear healing (31).
“If Christians, all of their idiosyncratic religious doctrines notwithstanding, really do construct reality in pretty much the same terms as everybody else, if, in fact, they relate to immigrants, single mothers, the poor, the handicapped and anyone else who is who is ‘different’ with neither more nor less compassion than others; and if they really do experience social, emotional and economic well-being in the same terms as everyone else in our culture—then we are faced as a church and as individual Christians with a spiritual crisis of mammoth proportions” (28)
The church has become “enculturated” in how our “consciousness, our imagination, our vision has been captured by idolatrous perceptions and ways of life. The dominant worldview […] has captured our lives” (29).
“You see, while we were fighting with each other about evolution, the infallibility of the Bible, spiritual gifts, and various other hotly debated issues, we were falling into a deeper and deeper sleep in relation to the cultural captivity of our very consciousness” (29)
Take capitalism. A basic tenet of the world which Christians generally buy into. That the point of work (life) is to make money, acquire goods, and earn enough leisure time to enjoy them. Christianity is subversive, says Walsh, because it holds that work is good in and of itself and “more and more consumer goods and services is not necessarily good” (14).
“Insisting that work is an integral dimension of human life, that it is a form of worship, that it is meant to ennoble humankind, that is should be dedicated to serving one’s neighbour and the stewardly care of the creation—all of these are subversive ideas” (14)
Walsh hunts for the roots and says the danger of the reformed mindset is an intellectualisation which has left us “open to the enculturation of [our] imagination” (32).
We can’t imagine the world as we know it ought to be. Partly because we have got God and religion down to such a damn science and we envision God as a static “keeper of timeless doctrinal truths” who has himself “ceased to be active in history” (33). Walsh says we don’t “allow the reality of our lives to inform or correct” this static worldview (33).
From here on out he talks about Jeremiah, Bruce Cockburn, and Fukuyama…
July 26, 2017
I read this book as part of the N.T. Wright Online course on Worldviews and it was helpful in unveiling the dominant worldview of the modern Western world. The myth of progress and the gods of scientism, technicism, and economism influence all areas of society and it was good to be reminded of the ways in which these contrast with the Biblical story of creation and what people are for. If we can't see what is going on around us then we can never imagine anything different. These dominant stories become the default for society and any alternative is anathema.
Into this turbulent time enters the Christian story. One that, while still co-opted by the worlds systems in many ways and in many places, brings prophetic vision of a different reality and future. A different way of being in the world and interpreting the events we all experience. The author uses both Jeremiah of the Exile and Bruce Cockburn to identify the ways in which prophetic voices call us to a different reality, a different worldview, a different imagination. There is a different way of being in the world and the prophets, past and present, jolt us from our slumber to see what is really going on.
This is an academic book, whether intended or not, and may be difficult to follow for some readers. Don't let this deter you. It is well worth working through and being challenged by the argument being made here. It is worth being woken up to a different story going on behind the one you've been told. There is a different imagination to be lived. Those who seek will find it.
Into this turbulent time enters the Christian story. One that, while still co-opted by the worlds systems in many ways and in many places, brings prophetic vision of a different reality and future. A different way of being in the world and interpreting the events we all experience. The author uses both Jeremiah of the Exile and Bruce Cockburn to identify the ways in which prophetic voices call us to a different reality, a different worldview, a different imagination. There is a different way of being in the world and the prophets, past and present, jolt us from our slumber to see what is really going on.
This is an academic book, whether intended or not, and may be difficult to follow for some readers. Don't let this deter you. It is well worth working through and being challenged by the argument being made here. It is worth being woken up to a different story going on behind the one you've been told. There is a different imagination to be lived. Those who seek will find it.
December 10, 2017
This is an extremely thought-provoking book, that should seriously challenge the world view of any person who wants to be a follow of Jesus. Walsh writes in a way that connects with both the intellect and the psyche, which is very powerful. He equates our western liberal democracies and obsession with economic prosperity with the end of Israel prior to the Babylonian exile. In the same way that those Israelites were characterised by doing whatever they wanted, while assuming that God would look after them, Walsh suggests that we in the west have this crazy idea that God will keep blessing us and our culture no matter how depraved we become, and no matter how much those of us who claim to be Jesus followers conform to the patterns of the western empire we are part of.
August 23, 2020
The epilogue really hit home. Maybe because it reflects on recent history? I'm any case we'll worth reading!
May 2, 2015
Кратка, но добра книжка. Донякъде съдържанието й е прекалено "западно," но основните идеи са достатъчно ясно изведени - християнският светоглед би трябвало да бъде коренно различен от този, на обществото, в което в момента живеем. По-нататък те са разгледани конкретно през призмата на икономика построена на консумеризъм и политика (западна, американска) основаваща се на нарцисиъзм и империализъм.
Първото издание на книгата е сравнително старо, така че практическите примери са почерпани от събития като пропадането на стоковия пазар през 1987 (черния Понеделник) и краят на студената война. Те на свой ред на анализирани през призмата на трима "пророка" - Франсис Фукуяма и неговото влиятелно (на времето си) есе "Краят на историята," лириката на музиканта Брус Кокбърн и книгата на пророк Еремия. В новото издание е добавена още една глава, която свързва всичко това с новите световни събития като еволюцията в идеите на Фукуяма, америнската политика по времето на Буш вкл. падането на двете кули, войната в Ирак, милитаристичното месианство, световната финансова криза и екологичният проблем.
На тази основа авторът разглежда християнският отговор чрез един различен начин на живот в света свързан с всички тези области - политика, икономика, екология и усещане за "знаците на времето." Доколко е прав със сигурност може да се спори, но написаното определено заслужава да се прочете.
Учудвам се, че книгата е толкова слабо позната.
Първото издание на книгата е сравнително старо, така че практическите примери са почерпани от събития като пропадането на стоковия пазар през 1987 (черния Понеделник) и краят на студената война. Те на свой ред на анализирани през призмата на трима "пророка" - Франсис Фукуяма и неговото влиятелно (на времето си) есе "Краят на историята," лириката на музиканта Брус Кокбърн и книгата на пророк Еремия. В новото издание е добавена още една глава, която свързва всичко това с новите световни събития като еволюцията в идеите на Фукуяма, америнската политика по времето на Буш вкл. падането на двете кули, войната в Ирак, милитаристичното месианство, световната финансова криза и екологичният проблем.
На тази основа авторът разглежда християнският отговор чрез един различен начин на живот в света свързан с всички тези области - политика, икономика, екология и усещане за "знаците на времето." Доколко е прав със сигурност може да се спори, но написаното определено заслужава да се прочете.
Учудвам се, че книгата е толкова слабо позната.
April 20, 2015
This is a more recent revision of a book written in the early 1990's. I new final chapter has been added as an update/postscript. As such the book is somewhat dated but nevertheless helpful as a prophetic call against the rampant materialism and consumerism of western society. The author maintains that the Christian faith properly understood and faithfully lived irrupts in a counter-cultural and subversive movement wherever it is found. Sadly how many today would ever accuse Christians of subversive activity? Truth be told most live hand in glove with the cultural mainstream. Walsh's other books including "The Truth is Stranger than It Used to Be," "The Transforming Vision" and "Colossians Remixed" are also to be recommended.
October 13, 2015
I was a bit disappointed by this book and I think it is because I am not really the intended audience. Walsh argues that the church should not look for salvation in democratic liberalism. Then in the postscript, he seems to argue that faith in President Obama is also misplaced. And I wanted to say, "Obviously!" I think his target audience must be an older generation because I really don't hear millennials sounding like they expect the government or society to do great things. We may have missplaced faith, but not in those things. (But maybe my friends and I aren't that typical of my generation?) I was hoping he would say more about Imaging God and get more specific on how the church can witness to the surrounding culture, pointing the way to where we should be putting our faith.
July 26, 2011
Out of print, and in some ways out of date, the first half of this should be required reading for anyone trying to think through what it means to follow Christ in a dualistic culture. We say we believe in the kingdom of God, then live like everyone else. I was reading Walsh while on a mission trip, reading and teaching the gospel of Mark, and found myself caught: if we're called to do what Jesus did, why do we see so few healings and miracles, why are we so nonchalant about the call to love the poor and work for justice? As Walsh asks, why don't we live as if we believed it?
July 30, 2016
Walsh writes a scathing critique of current western worldview that is not for the faint of heart. Although, the book is short (124 pages, including an important postscript) it is loaded with practiced theological reflection. Utilizing the biblical prophet Jeremiah and the modern prophet/poet/song writer Bruce Cogburn, Walsh examines "the end of the world." However, while despair might be the logical conclusion to this unraveling and new reality, the writer calls Christians to a response of loyalty to the Kingdom of God. Challenging, yet very refreshing read.
December 17, 2015
This is a clear, impassioned, sharp critique of the ways the Western church has uncritically adopted cultural questions and norms. Walsh rightly calls our worldview into questions, and provides a way forward through very interesting looks at the prophetic texts of Jeremiah. He also doesn't shy away from the political questions of our time, which is refreshing. I will probably be returning to this little book over and over again, as there is a ton packed into it.
September 7, 2016
I had been thinking about the subversive character of Christianity when I stumbled across this book. It's a short, but great read analyzing our times and inviting Christians to be faithful, prophetic and subversive in our culture. Walsh draws a parallel between our times and the prophet Jeremiah on the brink of exile in Babylon, and uses Bruce Cockburn as a "modern" Jeremiah. A proper Christian reaction in the author's view in light of our times is one of lament, but also hope.
June 2, 2015
Well worth reading and very challenging. I had to keep reminding myself that this book was written 20 years ago. It felt like it was written last year.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews