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109th out of 122 books
—
28 voters
Angels in the Architecture: A Protestant Vision for Middle Earth
by
Douglas Wilson (Goodreads Author),
Douglas Jones
Christianity presents a glorious vision of culture, a vision overflowing with truth, beauty, and goodness. It's a vision that stands in stark conflict with the anemic modern (and postmodern) perspectives that dominate contemporary life. Medieval Christianity began telling a beautiful story about the good life, but it was silenced in mid-sentence. The Reformation rescued tr...more
Paperback, 220 pages
Published
November 1st 1998
by Canon Press
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"'It's medieval!' I exclaimed; for I still had all the chronological snobbery of my period and used the names of earlier periods as abuse."
--C. S. Lewis
As people of the modern era, we tend to have what Lewis calls chronological snobbery: the notion that because our opinions are the most recent, they are therefore the best. But as Douglas Wilson and Douglas Jones show in Angels in the Architecture, when we compare our modern culture to many aspects of medieval culture, we actually fall far short....more
--C. S. Lewis
As people of the modern era, we tend to have what Lewis calls chronological snobbery: the notion that because our opinions are the most recent, they are therefore the best. But as Douglas Wilson and Douglas Jones show in Angels in the Architecture, when we compare our modern culture to many aspects of medieval culture, we actually fall far short....more
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The authors of this book present an attractive vision of a world in which we revel in the goodness of God. I was drawn to their desire to live in a world where Christianity is assumed, where we understand that beauty comes from God and he wants us to feast on his gifts. It is hard to do this book justice in a short review, the vision soars beyond that. I particularly enjoyed their emphasis on having a poetic view of the world, and I think they must have applied it well as they tackled our need f...more
While not agreeing with every single point, on the whole I LOVED this book. The authors paint a clear picture of what they call "medieval Protestantism" - a rich cultural emphasis on truth, beauty, and goodness, lived out in joyful Christian community; which contrasts starkly with both secular and "Christianized" versions of our ugly, fragmented modern/postmodern culture. (One of my favorite quotes from the book: "A postmodernist is simply a modernist who has admitted his cultural illiteracy.")...more
This book captures the deep angst that modernity has brought upon the modem man's soul and presents him with a road map to a richer and fuller life! Looking back to the medieval era, Wilson & Jones point out that the moderns have unfairly given the "dark ages" a bad rap. Wilson & Jones show that the medieval man was concerned with harmonizing all areas of his life to expand the goodness, truth and beauty that God has revealed and given to him in this world. Ever optimistic, Wilson &...more
A hearty AMEN to the content and the overarching worldview this book espouses. And again I say, AMEN - seven stars worth of it.
As to the presentation, it's not always even and I would give it 3.5 to 4 stars. There are some parts that readers who aren't familiar with Wilson's communication style might find confusing or off-putting. I think if someone could take the content of this book and present it in a more winsome way, and including more detail about how the present day church and culture de...more
As to the presentation, it's not always even and I would give it 3.5 to 4 stars. There are some parts that readers who aren't familiar with Wilson's communication style might find confusing or off-putting. I think if someone could take the content of this book and present it in a more winsome way, and including more detail about how the present day church and culture de...more
Angels in the Architecture (AA) is a bold, magnificent book. And when it is wrong in factual assertions, it is magnificently wrong. Ok, seriously. The authors propose against the stale, bloody worldview of modernity a rich, robust *paleo* medieval worldview rooted in Protestant Theology. My review will come from a number of angles.
*What if Tolkien were a Calvinist?*
The subtitle suggests Tolkienesque themes. But isn't the subtitle contradictory? Tolkien was a *Catholic!* Well, stay with me for...more
*What if Tolkien were a Calvinist?*
The subtitle suggests Tolkienesque themes. But isn't the subtitle contradictory? Tolkien was a *Catholic!* Well, stay with me for...more
Dec 25, 2009
Devan
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Calvinists, Augustinians, political philosophy geeks
Shelves:
theology,
political-philosophy
While the current trend in theology - particularly cut of the recent Anabaptist and/or emerging cloth - is to view Christendom and Constantine as evils of the highest order, Wilson and Jones make the case that modernism has bankrupted itself as well in its rejection of medieval virtues.
Most importantly, they set out a vision of Christendom - the City of God - as one built upon the culmination of principles that were developed in the medieval period but were not given their fullest expression du...more
Most importantly, they set out a vision of Christendom - the City of God - as one built upon the culmination of principles that were developed in the medieval period but were not given their fullest expression du...more
The first half of this book challenged and encouraged me more than almost any other book I've read this year. The authors' extolling of Medieval thought and theology was a stirring experience that I'll be contemplating for a long time.
Politics, postmillenialism and other miscellaneous things fill the second half, which I didn't find as interesting or helpful.
I do highly recommend this book, though, because it will grow any hints of discontent with modernity and awaken the medievalist to a life...more
Politics, postmillenialism and other miscellaneous things fill the second half, which I didn't find as interesting or helpful.
I do highly recommend this book, though, because it will grow any hints of discontent with modernity and awaken the medievalist to a life...more
Well, for once I had an entire review typed out and neglected to save it. Don't have the time nor do I feel like writing it all out again. Simply, I love the vision contained in this book of a culture that is deeply rooted in and growing out of the Gospel of Christ.
Borrowing this from another review:
"What if Tolkien were a Calvinist"
Jacob Aitken
Borrowing this from another review:
"What if Tolkien were a Calvinist"
Jacob Aitken
Wow! Stirred my soul, challenged my mind, warmed my heart. A comparative look at the values of the protestant church during the medieval age verses the western world and protestant church in the modern age we find ourselves in. For all the technological advances and scientific breakthroughs we moderns enjoy, this book awakened my soul to see just how spiritually malnourished we are today.
I didn't agree with everything the authors put forth. I strongly disagreed with a few of their positions but...more
I didn't agree with everything the authors put forth. I strongly disagreed with a few of their positions but...more
This book presents an amazing series of essays on what Christian culture has looked like at its highest points (through events, literature, doctrines, etc.), as well as presents a vision for the future of Christendom. It delighted my heart to read it, and the essays don't get old the second or third time around. Fantastic!
A collected re-working of numerous articles originally published by the two authors in
Credenda Agenda
which explore how the modern, evangelical church could learn and benefit from the best which our medieval forebears have to offer. Great stuff.
Jan 23, 2012
Craig Olson
added it
I have not read the book yet, I have just scanned the reviews. It appears to me that this book may have some substance. I am so tired of all the pablum purveyed by the mega-church leaders and populist preachers. If it is like The Casual Christian, I really want to read it.
Out of many great books, only a few (perhaps in anyone's life) can earn the designation "life changing." This was one for me. Sketches a vision of the Good Life, described in the evocative and paradoxical phrase "Medieval Protestantism." Must Read.
This book argues for the medievalism of the first Protestants, believing that modernism is not only sterile and barren but jaded and near to its inevitable end. After a number of introductory chapters dealing with modernism's soulless character and the reviving influence of Protestant doctrine on Christendom the authors take a number of subjects in turn that display a Christian world of truth, goodness and beauty.
Subjects range from belly-laughter to the industrial revolution (where Agrarianism...more
Subjects range from belly-laughter to the industrial revolution (where Agrarianism...more
A true paradigm-shifter. The Dougs go through the various aspects of culture and explain how those aspects would look under the influence of a fully-orbed, whimsical Christianity. I try to read this one every year.
Three stars because the essays are unevenly written, which is distracting when I am trying to focus on the content.
As for the content, I enjoyed this book tremendously, beginning with chapter 4 on the divide between the Christian and non-Christian worldviews. Chapter 7 was an interesting look at how meals were used in worship and how to recover that method of praising God for his bounty, without crossing into gluttony. It was a very entertaining chapter. The entire book is a very worthwhile loo...more
As for the content, I enjoyed this book tremendously, beginning with chapter 4 on the divide between the Christian and non-Christian worldviews. Chapter 7 was an interesting look at how meals were used in worship and how to recover that method of praising God for his bounty, without crossing into gluttony. It was a very entertaining chapter. The entire book is a very worthwhile loo...more
Have read this four times now. Really shook my understanding of what a comprehensive Christian World-view looks like - encompassing all of life. Have not read any other Christian book like it.
Fabulous. A worldview changing study that behind to scratch the surface of how we can truly live out the truth, goodness and beauty of the Christian gospel in all areas of our thinking and our lives.
Great book. One to revisit again and again. Every chapter is thought-provoking and insightful. It's a great start to defeating the modernism in my own thinking.
By far one of the best books I have ever read - excellent call to a review of our post-modern protestantism and bring about reformation and rethinking...
Sets forth a vision for a Christian way out of the death that is Modernity. The chapter on poetic knowledge should be read by every theology student.
One of my favorite books by Canon Press. Several great chapters, including the one on stories. Reshaped my vision for the Christian life.
This is a great book that outlines what a Christian culture would look like. The Doug's (Wilson and Jones) argue that the Middle Ages, instead of our perception of them as "Dark," are in fact the best model of what how Christianity would manifest itself culturally. They take it further, though, acknowledging where the medieval's fell short.
This is radical stuff, the kind of culture that most evangelicals are unprepared for, and certainly not the kind of culture the modern world is ready to accep...more
This is radical stuff, the kind of culture that most evangelicals are unprepared for, and certainly not the kind of culture the modern world is ready to accep...more
Lucid, persuasive reminder of the value of authentic participation in and development of God's wonderful creation.
Absolutely breath-taking. Some books can ruin you by revealing how petty you really were before reading it. This book is a beautiful ruination. Literary, witty, intelligent, it splashes in waters above all of our heads and reveals a vision for what Christianity once was, and what it will be again.
So that's what Christian culture is supposed to look like...now that makes much more sense.
An attractive vision of a Christian culture, loosely formed around the strengths of Mediaevalism.
Fascinating insights about Beauty as an absolute and how it is revealed in our worldview.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a great jumping off point for deeper meditation on cultural themes.
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I write in order to make the little voices in my head go away. Thus far it hasn't worked.
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“Modern evangelicals like to compare holy things to soft drinks, designer clothes, [and other products in] our modern consumerist culture. The problem with this is not ... the comparison to a created thing. The problem is that it is ... bad poetry. The Bible compares God to very mundane things, but does so with poetic wonder. God "shall come down like rain upon the mown grass; as showers that water the earth.”
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