Today's Most Troubling Trends about Faith and Culture in AmericaWe live in a tumultuous time. Upheavals and reversals in culture; popular opinion; morality; race relations; socioeconomic status; and so much more have entire generations feeling off balance or out of touch. How do we keep pace with the breathtaking rate of change in our society when we can hardly find time to keep up with our racing newsfeeds? And in the face of such enormous cultural forces; is there anything we can do to help shape our culture?With America at the Crossroads; bestselling author and cultural analyst George Barna turns his researcher's eye on the most significant trends of our moment in history; compiling and distilling the most salient information for busy readers who want to shape culture rather than allow it to shape them. Anyone who has felt overwhelmed by our swiftly changing times will appreciate Barna's extensive research and his "bottom line" approach.
#356465 in Books 1992-01-01Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x 1.00 x 6.00l; 1.35 #File Name: 080062646X444 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Insightful and Thought Provoking!By Terry M. WildmanWalter Wink; in this insightful book will make you think! He challenges both conservative and liberal Christians and scholars as he presents the very real problem of evil in this world; and what can be done about it. For me; this book has challenged; in a good way; many of my long held ideas about what the spiritual powers are and how they work through the systems and governments of this world in a very real and visible way; even though they remain invisible. I still haven't processed all he presents here; and I don't even know if I will agree with all; but I am sure better off; theologically and sociologically; because of what is presented here. The scholarship of this book is outstanding! It is the most in depth and scriptural presentation I have ever read on the subject. Recommended to those who have not been satisfied with the status quo interpretations given by both liberals and conservatives.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Discern; deconstruct; digestBy Fiat LuxA good book for those discerning enough to read it and deconstruct it through the lens of Scripture (WCF 1.10). Interesting insights once you strip away the husk of liberalism and get to the kernel of truth.23 of 23 people found the following review helpful. MagnificentBy CustomerThe thrust of the book is the world is in control of the Domination System; the powerful institutions that repress us; perpetuate violence upon us; and whose power is based upon the myth of redemptive violence--the idea the violence "saves." Wink powerfully shows that the myth of redemptive violence is the actual religion of our society; so deeply ingrained in us that we are unaware that we idolize it. It is the basis of even our comic book heroes; of whom Wink observes "repentance and confession are as alien to them as the love of enemies and nonviolence." Wink's analysis is profound because it encompasses intellectual; the physical; and the spiritual aspects our predicament. The gospel; or good news; of his book is centered on how Jesus introduced us the "Kingdom of God;" the antithesis of the Domination System; and how radical Jesus's teachings were; not only 2;000 years ago but today as well. Jesus's teachings were influential in the early church; but Wink shows how when Christianity became the religion of the Roman Empire; the Church became corrupted itself as an institution; and has remained so to this day--because most of it became part of the Domination System which needs to repress the truth. Using biblical analysis; Wink explains that persons and institution in our world are (1) created by God and therefore good; (2) fallen; and (3) in need of redemption. A first-class biblical scholar; Wink among other things decimates the blood-theory of atonement; citing it as another instance of "redemptive violence" and an idea that could hardly have sprung from God: "Jesus's message reveals that those who believe in divine violence are still mired in Satan's universe." Satan; incidentally; he defines not as some personified boogeyman separate from our institutions; but as the malicious spiritual forces that are woven throughout our world and ourselves. There are many profound insights in this book. One of the most important is although Jesus was non-violent; he was in fact a passionate resister of violence and of the Domination System; in fact for this resistance he paid with his own suffering and his life. He brilliantly analyzes Jesus's sayings to "Turn the other cheek;" to "Give the undergarment;" and "Go the second mile;" not as passivity; but actions taken to bewilder and expose the dominators for what they are; and to undermine the Domination System. Woven throughout the book are many spiritual and biblical insights regarding the world; the powers that control it; and God's plan. This together with considerable evidence he presents regarding the effectiveness of nonviolence in history is a powerful argument. Also present is specific spiritual guidance for the reader; expecially regarding prayer. These are wonderful insights from a spiritually mature perspective; with analysis from biblical passages to support his perpective. I enthusiastically recommend it.
