Minority Report: Unpopular Thoughts on Everything from Ancient Christianity to Zen Calvinism

by Carl R. Trueman

Theological essays are dusty, humourless affairs aren't they? Well, they don't have to be! This is the second collection of essays by Carl Truman. His first collection was received with enthusiasm. This time Chick Lit, Adolf Eichman, the i-pod, Roger Beckwith, the Blues, Watership Down, American Idol, Nietzsche, zen-calvinism, Augustine and ferrets(!) all get a mention. If you want to inform your mind and chuckle at the same time, Carl's your man!

Genres: Theology, Christian, Cultural, Religion, Essays

224 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2007

About the author

Carl R. Trueman (PhD, University of Aberdeen) is the Paul Woolley Professor of Church History at Westminster Theological Seminary and pastor of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Ambler, Pennsylvania. He was editor of Themelios for nine years, has authored or edited more than a dozen books, and has contributed to multiple publications including the Dictionary of Historical Theology and The Cambridge Companion to Reformation Theology.

Reviews

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Truemen is a great writer and a great thinker. There is much of worth in here. Personally I found his left-wing political leanings a jarring note throughout (especially when he said abortion was a complex issue too complicated for it to be a simple right and wrong, and seemed to put on a par with abortion the fact that infants die through bad health care, pollution and world poverty.)

Still, this was still enjoyable overall and his thoughts on historiography are excellent. I also really appreciated his appreciation of the Psalms--he sells their value well.

Liked it.

[Philip Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic Trueman. Fun and thought provoking the entire way through, even, perhaps especially, when I disagreed with him.

[Zac Robbins · Rating 4 out of 5]

So the same spunky, witty, academically influenced British writing styles that I came to love through CS Lewis’s essays. However Carl talks about many things, but really 4 things ALOT

REFORMED Orthodox/ Creeds/ Rahrah ecumenical

Psalms for worship

His disdain for free markets

New Age Postmodern thought and the need for History (in literally everything).

You know, I can’t agree with everything. I’m Baptist at the end of the day and Trueman is a classic Westminster guy. So yeah.

[Alexandru Croitor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of Trueman's essays - I simply love how articulate and witty is his writing. Oh, also British - just...brilliant!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although some of the essays are a bit dated (a perennial problem when philosophizing about the internet) the majority of Trueman's work here is stimulating, enlightening, and simply amusing. He connected (for me) many of the dots when it comes to the parasitic proliferation of consumerism in modern culture (the irony in the fact that I purchased this series of essays over his others because the cover/title was the one that struck me most is not lost on me). Additionally of great use is his nuanced interaction with the Catholic Church, in which he can find a great many things to be admired, yet certain ideas that make Romanism intolerable as a personal option. His critique of the evangelical caricaturization of C.S. Lewis was also especially comforting to me; I have often said that Lewis' value (beside the sheer ascetic pleasure one gets in his mastery of the English language) is the fact that the evangelical reader (and especially the Reformed reader) must always "be on her toes" - and therefore profits more from reading him than an author who is sure to raise no red flags.

[Ryan Linkous · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carl Trueman is hilarious and brilliant. Sometimes he gets caught in a rut wailing against consumerism (rightly so). But his understanding of the Christian tradition and of history and historiography, combined with a keen insight into the spirit of the present age makes his writing a treat.

It's also refreshing to read some so unashamedly dogmatic about the Orthodox Christian faith.

[Cray Allred · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny and very insightful. He pierces into cultural idolatries and the ways the Church has embraced, reacted, and can endure to them. He's also not afraid to blow up simplistic generalizations about economic morality on the right and the left.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stimulating discussions on a range of topics: from the importance of history to why we really like American Idol. Evil British accents, the banality of evil, further thoughts on songs for miserable Christians, etc..

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whatever you might think about Dr. Trueman, he's very stimulating and he'll make you think about all kinds of stuff we tend to be uncritical about. There is some great stuff here.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I seem to be addicted to Carl Trueman's books. He's from the same part of England as me but he also writes about thing that resonate for me and in a style that keeps me interested

[Erin Livs]

From John's shelf...

[Anna Josephine · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE!!! addresses the complexity of life and everything; lots of great stuff on how history is essential to understand the present. cynical, witty, true.

[Pete Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

what I said about Wages of Spin applies here. can't wait for the next one!

[Josaías · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quero escrever que nem ele =P

[Calvin Coulter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great wee book, challenging, stimulating, and witty with it!

[K B · Rating 3 out of 5]

so-so

[Brandon Bellinghausen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent.

After reading the last essay, I wanted to be a Zen-Calvinist too!

Oh, wait, that's a desire.. Shoot!

[Samuel Dávila Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Siempre aprecio a aquel escritor que hacen se cuestione lo establecido pero sin rayar en la arrogancia de creer saberlo todo y brinda una respuesta sin dejarnos caer en la incertidumbre. Trueman nos muestra a través de este libro que uno como miembro de la iglesia se debe cuestionar si lo que hace en la actualidad es porque cree que así se enseña desde antaño, o si es una novedad en la iglesia sin saber de donde provenga ella.
La iglesia cae en el error de verse envuelta en las culturas de su época, en la cosmovisión de su país, tomando posturas filosóficas, económicas y morales cayendo en el error de pensar que estas mismas van conforme a las Escrituras.
Son muchos puntos que se abordan en el libro, pero es excelente porque nos ayudará a hacer un análisis de nuestra postura y compararla con la modernidad en la que vivimos.

[Douglas C. Butterworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just about....

This is the third book of his I've read. Its good stuff, some of it way over my head, but what I do understand, is well thought out, and worthy of chewing on. I confess, I find him somewhat exclusive, as though I'm not welcome but tolerated, (his essay about blogs, while correct on many points, does place me in a unwanted category). Having been around many PhD, MD employees my professional career, I've seen this before. I would say, give him a chance, there is valuable thought here, but don't be afraid to skim a chapter. Of course, have a dictionary at hand, too.

[Andrew Klob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Trueman’s essays and lectures/speeches are full of interesting thoughts about a wide variety of topics (ranging from the Nazi War Trials all the way to issues with modern day evangelicalism). Even if I wasn’t well informed on the event he was speaking about or I wasn’t completely interested in the topic, I found myself becoming more interested as I finished his essay as well as still finding plenty of things to take away. Trueman is always insightful, profound, and unapologetically Reformed. Definitely recommend this book.

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carl Trueman has a way with words.

[Russ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uneven, though worthwhile. Many trenchant and witty essays, mixed with a few merely good ones. Trueman is always worth reading.

[Chad Reinhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last article Zen Calvinism is beautiful

[Cbarrett]

Always thought provoking, regardless of the topic of essay

[Todd Wilhelm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vintage Trueman. Loved it.

[Miroslav Balint-Feudvarski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great! Brilliant! Must read!