Gifts Glittering and Poisoned: Spectacle, Empire, and Metaphysics

by Chanon Ross

Spectacles designed to capture our attention surround us. Marketing, movies, shopping malls, concerts, and virtual realities capture our imaginations and cultivate our desires. We live in a ""society of the spectacle."" However, is the power and prevalence of spectacle unique to the modern era? In the pages of Gifts Glittering and Poisoned, early Christian voices echo across the centuries to show that the society of the spectacle is not new. Our era resembles a time when the spectacular entertainments of ancient Rome had a profound effect on every aspect of social life. By drawing on the rich theology and witness of early Christianity, Gifts Glittering and Poisoned asks what it means for us to live in a new era of empire and spectacle. Through Augustine's description of the demonic, it shows how consumerism constructs a sophisticated symbolic order, a ""society of the spectacle,"" that corrupts our deepest longings for God. ""Gifts Glittering and Poisoned is an astonishing read--and an interdisciplinary tour de force that establishes Chanon Ross as one of the most exciting practical theologians of his generation. Dense and delicious as chocolate lava cake, this book begs to be savored, line by unexpected line, as Ross reveals his unflinching gift for seeing our contemporary reflection in the ancient Roman culture of spectacle. Gifts Glittering and Poisoned is a dizzying and exhilarating ride through pagan metaphysics, Augustinian views on the demonic, Abercrombie and Fitch, ecstasy, vampires, Coldplay, exorcism, American politics, and the Eucharist's power to turn human consumption on its ear. These pages left me breathless, convicted, and hopeful. Prepare to be amazed."" --Kenda Creasy Dean, Princeton Theological Seminary ""Gifts Glittering and Poisoned offers spot-on theology for the contemporary church, a church disenchanted with disenchantment but so often unaware of the idols by which we are bound. Ross takes us on a journey of the spectacular from Augustine to Bono, and he has the theological and spiritual insight to provide us with a sure guide along the way."" --Beth Felker Jones, Wheaton College ""Chanon Ross sees connections the rest of us cannot--between spectacle, then and now, between metaphysics and youth culture, between postmodern theology and demons (of all things!). But once he shows us, we cannot not see them. This book shows the mind of a theologian and the heart of a pastor."" --Jason Byassee, Duke Divinity School Chanon Ross, PhD, is Director of the Institute for Youth Ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary.

Genres: Theology

166 pages, Hardcover

First published November 18, 2014

Reviews

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, wonderful. A reflection on spectacle (marketing, desire, the Roman coliseum, etc.) and the Eucharist. Grounded in neoplatonist sacramental participatory gift metaphysics, adjacent to RO conversations. A breathtaking work. The whole thing is quotable.

[Stephen Adkison · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book does a decent job analogizing how our society has created spectacles that, metaphorically, we worship and consume, like football games, politics, or music festivals. This is compared to the Roman spectacle of the arena and gladiator games. All fine and dandy, though I think it does overstate the extent to which all people participate in these events because of their desire for transcendence, or humanity’s innate desire for a communion with something greater.

However, the problems arise in the prescription for how to oppose this. It misidentifies the cause of this secular worship, blaming postmodernism and secularization. Instead, the source is simply capitalism and the need to create consumer subjects in response to the law of the falling rate of profit. If you don’t meaningfully challenge capital by changing who owns the means of production, this will continue. This lack of understanding of Marxist points is evident in the book’s continual citing of Hardt and Negri, critiquing their Marxism not for its diagnosis of the situation (because it can’t, because their diagnosis is correct) but for its preclusion of spirituality. It’s notable that not one liberation theologian is cited, because that would give the game away. They synthesize Marxism and Christianity in a way that actually challenges the seats of power, but the book can’t admit that because it doesn’t actually want to do that.

The book instead prescribes a return to liturgy and the eucharist as a challenge to consumerism. But how would it do that? The early Christians didn’t meaningfully oppose Rome because of liturgy. They opposed Rome by challenging its economic order and providing meaning and value to the oppressed lower classes, organizing them in acts of resistance. Of course, it didn’t do them much good in the end, because through Constantine Rome absorbed, appropriated, and deradicalized Christianity. The book doesn’t once mention this, because it would demonstrate how meaningless its prescriptions actually are. Capitalism doesn’t care if we take the Eucharist. Until we meaningfully fight against the economic order, it will still exist. Read a book on liberation theology instead of this.

[Alexander Pyles · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Review Forthcoming**

[Lance Kinzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A problematic view of the atonement undercuts what is otherwise a very engaging and thought provoking read.

[Heather]

One need not be religious to find this book incredibly interesting. I have pages and pages of notes and new ideas.