2009 Christianity Today Book Award winner Named one of Publishers Weekly's best books of 2008 (religion category) It is not enough to condemn cultu...
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Sep 26, 2011
David
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Fantastic. Crouch diagnoses four ways evangelical Christians have related to culture: condemn, critique, copy, consume. Although each of this may be appropriate for particular things, as a way of relating to culture as a whole they are unsatisfying. Instead Christians should be creating and cultivating culture. Crouch grounds this in the Bible story, from creation on through Jesus Christ and into new creation.
I found this book thought-provoking and challenging. I think all Chris More...
I found this book thought-provoking and challenging. I think all Chris More...
Jun 19, 2011
John
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“Culture” is a word often used but rarely understood. To some it connotes art, music, and fine dining. To others, it expresses a unique ethnic or national heritage. For some, it is the battleground on which the “culture wars” are fought.
Andy Crouch would have us understand “culture” as including all of these, but so much more. In Culture Making, we come to see culture as “the name for our relentless, restless human effort to take the world as it’s given to us and make something else”. More...
Andy Crouch would have us understand “culture” as including all of these, but so much more. In Culture Making, we come to see culture as “the name for our relentless, restless human effort to take the world as it’s given to us and make something else”. More...
Sep 26, 2010
Joe
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Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling attempts to address a question the church has faced since its inception. How should the church engage with the larger culture? Drawing upon a wide array of scholarship, Crouch takes pains to define culture and outline the various postures the church has taken in the past (condemning, ignoring, dominating, etc.) Crouch's main point, if I understood it correctly, seemed to be that culture has been a gift of God from the beginning and that believers
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Feb 04, 2010
John
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You ever get on a roll where every book you pick up or movie you watch is great? That's where I've been in 2010. Keep it coming!
"Culture Making" was a book I wanted to read but was afraid to read. I suppose I've been a little worn down in recent years by evangelicals' obsession with all things culture. Andy Crouch stands well above the fray, though.
What was perhaps most surprising about "Culture Making" to me was the scope of Crouch's vision. Crou More...
"Culture Making" was a book I wanted to read but was afraid to read. I suppose I've been a little worn down in recent years by evangelicals' obsession with all things culture. Andy Crouch stands well above the fray, though.
What was perhaps most surprising about "Culture Making" to me was the scope of Crouch's vision. Crou More...
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Sep 13, 2009
John
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Andy Crouch's book offers a thoughtful, and more importantly, an engaged vision of the relationship between Christians and the cultures within which we live and breathe.
It's a good thing that Crouch wants to move us away from the simplistic notion of "the culture," and instead help us to see the plurality of cultures that we find ourselves in. His definition of culture, "what we make of the world," presents Christians with an opportunity to involve ourselves in th More...
It's a good thing that Crouch wants to move us away from the simplistic notion of "the culture," and instead help us to see the plurality of cultures that we find ourselves in. His definition of culture, "what we make of the world," presents Christians with an opportunity to involve ourselves in th More...
Aug 13, 2011
Kyle
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Crouch's thesis is simple. There is no escaping culture and each in our own way make and shape culture. The question remains: what type of culture?
It is the questions of culture and culture-making is where Crouch shines. The first part is a delight as Crouch moves us from the inescapability of culture, through cultural shifts, and the necessity for making our culture. For the most part this avoids tradional discussions of Christianity and culture that are tied exclusively to the paradigms of More...
It is the questions of culture and culture-making is where Crouch shines. The first part is a delight as Crouch moves us from the inescapability of culture, through cultural shifts, and the necessity for making our culture. For the most part this avoids tradional discussions of Christianity and culture that are tied exclusively to the paradigms of More...
Feb 09, 2011
David
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This is a book about culture - about what culture is, God's role in culture, and what our actions as Christians should be, in roughly that order. I found it to be a helpful book in understanding what culture is and how to affect it, a thought-provoking book when it examined scripture through the lens of culture, and an encouraging book when discussing how we personally can and should act.
The author begins by removing from us the common idea that we can even talk about "the cult More...
The author begins by removing from us the common idea that we can even talk about "the cult More...
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Jan 13, 2009
Daniel
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This book was so close to a five star for me!
Andy Crouch paints a insightful, compelling, and beautiful picture of the Christian as the Culture Maker. This culture maker understands that part of their discipleship is creating so as to give glory to God, by using their creative capacity to its fullest.
Despite a rather theologically "thin" section on the biblical basis for culture making (I think he makes it too simplistic), he does get his point across and I More...
Andy Crouch paints a insightful, compelling, and beautiful picture of the Christian as the Culture Maker. This culture maker understands that part of their discipleship is creating so as to give glory to God, by using their creative capacity to its fullest.
Despite a rather theologically "thin" section on the biblical basis for culture making (I think he makes it too simplistic), he does get his point across and I More...
Mar 14, 2009
ben
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If there is anything that I think Christians have been the most vague and ignorant about it is the topic of culture. I had a class in college on Christ and Culture that was the most vexing of any I had. This book confirmed and expanded many of my own views and experiences with clarity and remarkable insights. His basic thesis is “It is not enough to condemn culture. Nor is it sufficient to merely critique culture, copy culture or consume culture. The only way to change culture is to create cultu
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Aug 09, 2011
Mark
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We are created to create; in the manner of our Heavenly Father to bring forth order from disorder. We were also created to rule: to maintain order and separation; to “cultivate” in the garden. This is how Andy Crouch’s excellent Culture Making: Recovering our Creative Calling begins.
Somewhat early in the book, Crouch argues that many Christians who say they want to transform cultures or worldviews subtly rewrite the problem they study into a fundamentally intellectual problem. Perhaps inevitab More...
Somewhat early in the book, Crouch argues that many Christians who say they want to transform cultures or worldviews subtly rewrite the problem they study into a fundamentally intellectual problem. Perhaps inevitab More...
Apr 19, 2010
David
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There are some books that after you turn the last page, you know you will be different. You can't always explain why, but in the course of reading it, you know something deep within you has been changed. This book has had that effect on me.
I only read it because Amazon suggested it, and it did go along with some of my dissertation research. A couple of times, in the beginning, I thought about reading something else instead, but I continued on and I'm glad I did.
Crouch dis More...
I only read it because Amazon suggested it, and it did go along with some of my dissertation research. A couple of times, in the beginning, I thought about reading something else instead, but I continued on and I'm glad I did.
Crouch dis More...
Aug 26, 2009
Diane
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In this book, former "Christianity Today" columnist Andy Crouch discusses culture from a Christian perspective. The first part focuses on an explanation of culture. The second part looks at how the Bible views culture. The third part talks about how Christians should participate in culture in the contemporary world.
Crouch's main thesis is that Christians should make culture rather than (or in addition to) condemning, critiquing, copying, or consuming it. I thought he ma More...
Crouch's main thesis is that Christians should make culture rather than (or in addition to) condemning, critiquing, copying, or consuming it. I thought he ma More...
Apr 09, 2011
Bob
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Andy Crouch, in his landmark book, Culture Making: Recovering our Creative Calling, makes the case that the essence of humanity is that we are “creative cultivators.” This is rooted in his correct interpretation of the opening chapters of the Bible, where humans are created in the image of God, placed in the garden and given the task to “cultivate” (עָבַד) it (see Genesis 1:26-18 and 2:15)
But Crouch states that culture is not merely “a set of ideas” but rather “primarily a set of tan More...
But Crouch states that culture is not merely “a set of ideas” but rather “primarily a set of tan More...
Jan 24, 2011
John
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It touched on somethings I never really thought about that seemed to me rather interesting. The book was not really anything to write home about though. It is pretty realistic, insisting that we are far more likely to be deeply influenced by culture then to influence culture. But if we are do so, its best not to just go around trying to separate and condemn, but to create. It was interesting how he pointed out that parts of secular culture are shown in the Heaven, giving the idea that things wil
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May 02, 2010
Kate
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Upon the cover alone, this book had two things going against it: 1) the class I had to read it for was not proving itself reliable to quality literature, and 2) It was a Christian look at our role within the broader, "mainstream" world.
Disclaimer: I am a Christian. I just don't like the way Christians portray themselves in our literature with it comes to our role in not-necessarily-"Christian"-culture.
Andy Crouch approaches such a touchy subject with g More...
Disclaimer: I am a Christian. I just don't like the way Christians portray themselves in our literature with it comes to our role in not-necessarily-"Christian"-culture.
Andy Crouch approaches such a touchy subject with g More...
Oct 24, 2011
Mark
rated it:
I went to a liberal arts school.
Why did I bother?
Why did I bother learning the history of art or music? Why not just learn what it takes to make money now?
Andy Crouch answers with a book-length "because God said so." That's what you'll find in Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling. This is an expansive book that travels through sociology, through the whole storyline of Scripture, and into practical suggestions.
But it's not what you might More...
Why did I bother?
Why did I bother learning the history of art or music? Why not just learn what it takes to make money now?
Andy Crouch answers with a book-length "because God said so." That's what you'll find in Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling. This is an expansive book that travels through sociology, through the whole storyline of Scripture, and into practical suggestions.
But it's not what you might More...
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Oct 18, 2011
J.E.
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This was a great read, and challenging in its content. Crouch offers a view of how everyone is engaged in the process of participating in, sustaining, and (at least in some way) cultivating culture. He lays this out in a manner that is clear and understandable, both in the abstract as well as in how each of us might more fully take up our role in participation.
One thing I appreciated about the book is the constructive critique of “worldview” as an approach to engaging/changing/shapin More...
One thing I appreciated about the book is the constructive critique of “worldview” as an approach to engaging/changing/shapin More...
May 09, 2011
Poiema
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It took me a long time to get through this book and I'm having a hard time figuring out why. The subject matters to me. The writing was good, I had no major quibbles with the author's conclusions, and his work is obviously well researched. But somehow I did not feel an igniting spark that leaped from him to me.
I'm definitely in the minority here; most other reviewers give the book 5 stars. I'm concluding that it was just one of those quirky situations where the author's style failed to More...
I'm definitely in the minority here; most other reviewers give the book 5 stars. I'm concluding that it was just one of those quirky situations where the author's style failed to More...
Jul 21, 2009
Julie
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This book has been touted as the best Christianity & culture book since Niebuhr's landmark "Christ and Culture." Despite the hype, this may well be a correct estimation of this fine book.
Any reader interested in how Christianity and culture interact - whether a non-Christian who wants to see what makes Christians "tick" or a Christian seeking to integrate a passion for culture with personal faith and integrity - will not be disappointed by this book. A short revie More...
Any reader interested in how Christianity and culture interact - whether a non-Christian who wants to see what makes Christians "tick" or a Christian seeking to integrate a passion for culture with personal faith and integrity - will not be disappointed by this book. A short revie More...
Jun 13, 2009
Michael
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A wonderful book that changed my thinking about culture and how Christians should interact with culture. Given Andy's background in journalism, the prose is well-written and a pleasure to read unlike most academic tomes. He has a great critique as well of Niebuhr's _Christ and Culture_.
Very insightful is his distinction between gestures and postures: gestures are actions and attitudes we take that are appropriate in given circumstances; postures are characteristic positions and stan More...
Very insightful is his distinction between gestures and postures: gestures are actions and attitudes we take that are appropriate in given circumstances; postures are characteristic positions and stan More...
Dec 13, 2008
Brett
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From birth to death, culture shapes our experience of the world, molding our perceptions of the possible and impossible. At the same time, culture (“what we make of the world”) is both a profound gift and responsibility from God, a point Crouch draws from throughout the arch of the biblical narrative. Crouch offers three excellent contributions to the ongoing discussion of Christians in culture. First, Crouch shares five questions for understanding and evaluating cultural acts and artifacts.
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Jan 02, 2011
Mindelynn
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Andy's book came with many accolades from friends who I respect. In addition, many articles and books I've read have quoted Culture Making at length. My expectations could have been too high as I was not particularly enthralled or engaged with this book. Part I and Part III were good (Part III being the redeeming section of the book in my opinion). However, I felt as though Part II dragged on.
Certainly worth the read, just not what I was expecting.
Certainly worth the read, just not what I was expecting.
May 15, 2010
Ian
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This book offers a theologically grounded vision of culture that transcends the "culture war" bullshit that gets so much press in America. The reasons I (and most intelligent people with even the slightest taste for art) find so much of so-called 'Christian' cultural production sad and irrelevant are articulated by Crouch's discussion of 'gestures' and 'postures.' His point is that adopting a particular gesture of creativity (e.g. copying or critiquing the culture at large) as your def
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Oct 01, 2010
Chin Hwa
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Being a Christian means Jesus transforms every area of my life - work, relationships, rest, leisure, and so on. This book talks about how creativity is so fundamental to what it means to be human. Then it talks about how being a Christian calls us to 'create', not consume culture - to use my gifts and resources to creatively transform our culture for the good. An inspiring read!
Mar 04, 2011
Paul
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I really wanted to like this book more than I did. Admittedly, it was a hard read for me. The first part of the book in which Crouch examines what culture really looks and acts like, as well as how we relate to it, was very helpful. The middle section on culture in scripture was probably the most disappointing - because it had the best potential. Lastly, the concluding section brought some much needed Christian perspective upon "making culture", and aside from the chapter on Community,
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Feb 12, 2009
Anna
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This was a great book -- a reflection on how Christians respond to culture and a call for Christians to create and cultivate it. This book would pair well with Edith Schaeffer's reflections on creativity in the home. The chapter on "power" was also helpful. Andy Crouch devotes a large part of the book to examining culture in the Biblical narrative, and I especially enjoyed the his reflection on culture in the new city to come...
Jan 25, 2009
Pattieb
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Main point: Christians should be part of cultivating and creating culture not from ulterior motives of persuasion or relationship-building but from a most basic reality that God made us to be like Him, in His creativity and caring.
The writing was a little sociologisty and somewhat repetitive, but his main point stands.
The writing was a little sociologisty and somewhat repetitive, but his main point stands.
Oct 04, 2008
Kent
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Crouch seemed to write a lot of pages to say that a person's influence on culture is limited by time and space. He suggests one can change culture in a limited space and for a limited time.
I am still thinking about the notion that culture is "what we make of the world." If there were no humans on the planet, would there still be culture? I think the answer is yes.
Maybe in a future work, the author will take up the subject of the role of salvation in bringing More...
I am still thinking about the notion that culture is "what we make of the world." If there were no humans on the planet, would there still be culture? I think the answer is yes.
Maybe in a future work, the author will take up the subject of the role of salvation in bringing More...
Jan 11, 2011
Adam
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Short review: This is a great book. If you work in a creative field or in a church job or many other social service areas you should read this book. The first section is mostly social science discussion of culture (not a boring one). But there is a lot about what culture really is, why we as a church should be involved. What it really means to impact culture. And there is a good bit of discussion about the limits of breaking out of our culture and the limits of how much impact we really can
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Sep 23, 2011
Barnabas
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Very few books change my perspective in a discernible and pointed way, but this one did. Crouch offers some beautiful biblical insights and crafts a clear and useable direction for being a culture maker without being crushed by the need to "change the world". Really helpful and insightful book.
