The Sensate Culture

by Harold O.J. Brown

In this probing work, Brown grapples with the reasons so many moderns worship the sensuous, the material, the colossal--but still feel empty and shallow. He finds the roots of cultural disintegration in the abandonment of the spiritual dimension.

257 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1996

Reviews

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though I read it 20 years ago, current cultural degeneration confirmed the basic arguments of the book. I suppose the "optimistic" part is that the state of decay is not necessarily terminal and that renewal is possible by "grace and prudence." However, the overall tone is a bit more pessimistic as our cultural systems are shown increasingly to "fall apart."

I picked this book up to complement my study in the biblical prophecy of Hosea and was not surprised to see clear signs of Israel's sensate state prior to and up to her destruction by Assyria. The signs were all there, as they are in our culture today.

The closing quote from an Austrian sociologist, "The future will be Christian, or it will not take place" makes sense, even apart from the eschatological perspective.

[Mark Seeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent diagnosis of our cultural predicament. Was privileged to know HOJB and his wife, Grace, in his last years as a colleague. Read this back in the late '90's.

[Victor]

I did not like everything in this book but there were some good chapters such as chapter four The Crisis in Religion.

[Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent presentation of evangelical ethics in conversation with Pitirim.