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God and Culture: Essays in Honor of Carl F.H. Henry
This book examines a number of facets of contemporary culture and sets forth what thoughtful Christians have been and should be thinking about each one. Contributors and topics include Kevin J. Vanhoozer on hermeneutics, D.A. Carson on pluralism, Robert J. Priest on anthropology, Lewis W. Spitz on history, Loren Wilkinson on the environment, and more.
398 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 1993
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About the author
D.A. Carson
341 books755 followersDonald A. Carson is research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He has been at Trinity since 1978. Carson came to Trinity from the faculty of Northwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he also served for two years as academic dean. He has served as assistant pastor and pastor and has done itinerant ministry in Canada and the United Kingdom. Carson received the Bachelor of Science in chemistry from McGill University, the Master of Divinity from Central Baptist Seminary in Toronto, and the Doctor of Philosophy in New Testament from the University of Cambridge. Carson is an active guest lecturer in academic and church settings around the world. He has written or edited about sixty books. He is a founding member and currently president of The Gospel Coalition. Carson and his wife, Joy, reside in Libertyville, Illinois. They have two adult children.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 26, 2026
God & Culture is a 1993 work by a number of notable theologians of the time, dedicated to honoring Carl F.H. Henry. It presents essays on a number of topics related to culture, including pluralism, eschatology, anthropology, psychology, philosophy, history, economics, law, politics, literature, art, media, science, environmentalism, bioethics, leisure, and more.
Since this covers a wide range, I make no attempt to summarize it here. I recorded eight pages worth of notes for a class I am preparing . . . of those, I present a few highlights below as representative of themes throughout the book.
Culture is "a shared set of human activities and works that express ultimate beliefs and values." It matters because it is "the fruit of a theology or worldview." (Kevin Vanhoozer)
Pluralism is the expectation of our age, and open-mindedness with it. This pervades our culture. But note: "in the popular mind open-mindedness is no longer connected with a willingness to consider alternative views but with a dogmatic relativizing of all views." (D.A. Carson) People claim there is no objective truth, which is self-contradictory, as that is held up as an objective standard. We all operate with some truth in mind.
Our culture (and all disciplines) are "shaped by shared assumptions and value commitments." (Robert Priest) Our work and approach to it reflects "a value-laden judgment that is how the world ought to be described." (Ian Smith) But because of our sinful natures, "What we want, heaven help us, is simultaneously to be perfectly ruled and perfectly free." (Philip Johnson) In recent centuries, we appeal to reason. But "If human reason aspires to be the judge of God’s statements, it makes itself the unevaluated evaluator—which is to say that it takes God’s place." (Philip Johnson) One key here is recognizing our assumptions (both individually and collectively held) and asking how they align to what we claim to be ultimately true. What are our presuppositions—unquestioned (and largely unprovable) truths that drive us?
As we examine culture, we need to sift it finely. It may be that we approve of one aspect "without endorsing all of it," or we might "disagree with part of it without devaluing it entirely." (Leland Ryken)
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As with any compilation, the entries varied. Some essays were outstanding; others only so-so. Some have stood up well; others felt dated (thirty years is a long time in terms of cultural change—society has changed a lot since then). But overall, this is a solid read and recommended.
Rating: A-
Since this covers a wide range, I make no attempt to summarize it here. I recorded eight pages worth of notes for a class I am preparing . . . of those, I present a few highlights below as representative of themes throughout the book.
Culture is "a shared set of human activities and works that express ultimate beliefs and values." It matters because it is "the fruit of a theology or worldview." (Kevin Vanhoozer)
Pluralism is the expectation of our age, and open-mindedness with it. This pervades our culture. But note: "in the popular mind open-mindedness is no longer connected with a willingness to consider alternative views but with a dogmatic relativizing of all views." (D.A. Carson) People claim there is no objective truth, which is self-contradictory, as that is held up as an objective standard. We all operate with some truth in mind.
Our culture (and all disciplines) are "shaped by shared assumptions and value commitments." (Robert Priest) Our work and approach to it reflects "a value-laden judgment that is how the world ought to be described." (Ian Smith) But because of our sinful natures, "What we want, heaven help us, is simultaneously to be perfectly ruled and perfectly free." (Philip Johnson) In recent centuries, we appeal to reason. But "If human reason aspires to be the judge of God’s statements, it makes itself the unevaluated evaluator—which is to say that it takes God’s place." (Philip Johnson) One key here is recognizing our assumptions (both individually and collectively held) and asking how they align to what we claim to be ultimately true. What are our presuppositions—unquestioned (and largely unprovable) truths that drive us?
As we examine culture, we need to sift it finely. It may be that we approve of one aspect "without endorsing all of it," or we might "disagree with part of it without devaluing it entirely." (Leland Ryken)
--------
As with any compilation, the entries varied. Some essays were outstanding; others only so-so. Some have stood up well; others felt dated (thirty years is a long time in terms of cultural change—society has changed a lot since then). But overall, this is a solid read and recommended.
Rating: A-
January 16, 2023
O culegere excelenta de eseuri scrise de teologi remarcabili! Recomand, in special(de gustibus...!) cele ale lui Larry W. Poland, J.I. Packer si John D. Woodbridge, desi avand in vedere calitatea celorlalte, alegerea este destul de dificila.
Traducerea Elenei Jorj este remarcabila, desi presarata pe alocuri cu barbarisme nepermise intr-o lucrare academica ("empireu") sau regionalisme de genul "cuiul de la osie"!
O carte pe care o recomand cu caldura si desi a aparut acum 16 ani ramane de mare actualitate!
Traducerea Elenei Jorj este remarcabila, desi presarata pe alocuri cu barbarisme nepermise intr-o lucrare academica ("empireu") sau regionalisme de genul "cuiul de la osie"!
O carte pe care o recomand cu caldura si desi a aparut acum 16 ani ramane de mare actualitate!
November 2, 2007
Very good books.
I recommend anyone who has interest in cultural and faith interconnection to read it.
It's an essay from various writers exploring various area of life and bring us a clear perspective on how as believer in Christ reacts and proactive among those different fields of life and culture and ethics and arts and other aspects.
Open your heart...open your mind...soli deo gloria.
I recommend anyone who has interest in cultural and faith interconnection to read it.
It's an essay from various writers exploring various area of life and bring us a clear perspective on how as believer in Christ reacts and proactive among those different fields of life and culture and ethics and arts and other aspects.
Open your heart...open your mind...soli deo gloria.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews