Everyday Theology: How to Read Cultural Texts and Interpret Trends

Cultural Exegesis

by Kevin J. Vanhoozer (Editor), Charles A. Anderson (Editor), Michael J. Sleasman (Editor)

Everyday theology is the reflective and practical task of living each day as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. In other words, theology is not just for Sundays, and it's not just for professional theologians. Everyday Theology teaches all Christians how to get the theological lay of the land. It enables them to become more conscious of the culture they inhabit every day so that they can understand how it affects them and how they can affect it. If theology is the ministry of the Word to the world, everyday theologians need to know something about that world, and Everyday Theology shows them how to understand their culture make an impact on it. Engaging and full of fresh young voices, this book is the first in the new Cultural Exegesis series.

Genres: Theology, Cultural, Christian, Nonfiction, Religion, Faith, Grad School

288 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2007

About the author

Kevin J. Vanhoozer is currently Research Professor of Systematic Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. From 1990-98 he was Senior Lecturer in Theology and Religious Studies at New College, University of Edinburgh. Vanhoozer received a BA from Westmont College, an M.Div from Westminster Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Cambridge University, England having studied under Nicholas Lash.

Reviews

[Jeremy Gardiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was assigned to me as a textbook at Moody Bible Institute. I was only required to read half of it but I enjoyed it so much that I decided to read the rest on my own time.

The purpose of this book is to help believers read culture. Culture are our beliefs put into concrete forms (a movie, a product, an idiom etc.). They say: "Christians need to know how to read culture because, first, it helps to know what is forming one’s spirit. It helps to be able to name the powers and principalities that vie for the control of one’s mind, soul, heart, and strength."

Since culture "spreads beliefs, values, ideas, fashions, and practices from one social group to another," it is important to examine cultural texts through a biblical lens. The tools to do this are the mind and the Scriptures. The Scriptures "serve as 'corrective lenses' that enable us to see the world as it really is in the context of God’s all-encompassing plan." The brain "should act as a sort of mental immune system, examining cultural ideas as they come in, considering their likely consequences, rejecting the ones that are liable to do harm and accepting those that are apt to help."

Each chapter of this book examines a culture text or a cultural trend. The ones covered in this book are: 1) The Safeway checkout line 2) Eminem (the rapper's music) 3) The Universal Declaration of Human Rights 4) Megachurch architecture 5) The movie "Gladiator" 6) Busyness 6) Blogging 7) Transhumanism 8) Fantasy funeral services 9) Weddings.

In my opinion, there are three steps to engaging culture and this book is step two of that process. The first step is to gain a biblical worldview (for that, read 'The Universe Next Door' by James Sire). Then the next step is to analyze cultural texts through your biblical worldview (which is what this book teaches). Then the final step is to create culture out of your worldview (for that, read 'Culture Making' by Andy Crouch). These three books together complement one another to help the believer analyze, critique, and create culture.

[Mang · Rating 3 out of 5]

somewhat helpful; better to just peruse through it after reading the introduction

[Eric Chappell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chapter 1: What is Everyday Theology

Culture is a work and world of meaning (26). It is a work because it is the result of what humans do freely, not by nature. The products of such work are cultural texts (a text is intentional human action, a work that communicates meaning and calls for interpretation). Culture is a world in the sense that cultural texts create a meaningful environment in which humans dwell both physically and imaginatively (26). It is a lived worldview.

Culture is both system and practice, a means through which visions of the meaning of life are expressed, experienced, and explored through cultural texts (27).

Culture Communicates. Culture Orients. Culture Reproduces. Culture Cultivates (28ff).

Christians must learn to read the Bible and culture alike (35).

Is Cultural exegesis without theological presuppositions possible? (40). Four doctrines to keep in mind: Incarnation, General Revelation, Common Grace, Image of God.

Good Calvin quote (Institutes 2.2.15): If we regard the Spirit of God as the sole fountain of truth, we shall neither reject the truth itself, nor despise it wherever it shall appear, unless we wish to dishonor the Spirit of God.

Pages 44-54 kind of lost me.

Methodological Coda: Guidelines for Everyday Theological Interpretation of Culture:

1. Try to comprehend a cultural text on its own terms before you "interpret" it.

2. Attend to what a cultural text is doing as well as saying by clarifying its illocutionary act.

3. Consider the world behind, of, and in front of the cultural text.

4. Determine what "powers" are served by particular cultural texts or trends by discovering whose material interests are served.

5. Seek the "world hypothesis" and/or "root metaphor" implied by a cultural text.

6. Be comprehensive in your interpretation of a cultural text; find corroborative evidence that makes best sense of the whole as well as the parts.

7. Give "thick" descriptions of the cultural text that are nonreductive and sensitive to the various levels of communicative action.

8. Articulate the way of being human to which a cultural text directly or indirectly bears witness and gives commendation.

9. Discern what faith a cultural text directly or indirectly expresses. To what convictions about God, the world, and ourselves does a cultural text and/or trend commit us?

10. Locate the cultural text in the biblical creation-fall-redemption schema and make sure that biblical rather than cultural texts have the lead role in shaping your imagination and hence your interpretative framework for your experience.

[Kj · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a much anticipated read for me- the title pretty much sums up the intersection of my passions and curiosity. However, that may be why I didn't end up benefitting much from the book. The book is clearly meant as a sort of how-to (which I realize, the title states clearly) explore culture from a theological perspective. But if you are someone who already does this, you may be frustrated by the cautionary and apologetic tone of the book. It seems the book is really meant to make a case for the legitimacy of engaging cultural texts and trends theologically,maybe in particular against those who say such a thing is not only unnecessary, but probably wrong. Thus, the authors of the articles spend most of their time trying to explain to the reader why you should pay attention to what's happening in the world around you. Duh. ..

I hope this book might actually be helpful in opening minds of those who think its biblical to seclude oneself from the culture around them, but if you're looking for a book to expand ways of creatively engaging cultural issues to both inform and inspire the church (and vice versa) this probably isn't it. The only chapter that comes close to doing this is the one the Blogoshpere.

Some of these articles might be insightful or helpful, but overall, this was a frustrating reading experience. Want to know more? ask me in person. I'm having trouble articulating by keyboard.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me, the real value of this book was found in Part I - "Toward a Theory of Cultural Interpretation." The initial chapters were exciting and inspiring in many ways, and I was excited about the author's perspective; however, the remaining chapters, in which the author's cultural exegesis method was demonstrated by his students, were not as exciting for me because I felt they moved too quickly into "moralizing," which seemed to break the author's first rule of theological interpretation of culture: "Try to comprehend a cultural text on its own terms...before you "interpret" it." Having said that, I did find find many of the "cultural texts" that the students explored to be fascinating, particularly chapter 9, "Human 2.0: Transhumanism as a Cultural Trend" and chapter 10, "Fantasy Funerals and Other Designer Ways of Going Out of Style." Even with the criticisms I have leveled against parts of this work, I found it be be an interesting and worthwhile read that inspires me to apply the author's ideas in my own attempts at cultural interpretation.

[Terence Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyday Theology is for the everyday Christian. Movies, music, politics, social media, weddings and funerals. No shallow analysis on them with the Gospel message tacked on in the end. The first chapter written by the Professor might be a bit hard reading, but the remaining chapters, the best term papers selected for the best fit, were written by individuals who have yet to develop the fine art of academic obfuscation.

One criticism is the book is a bit dated: 2007. While we can see Tom Cruise reprise Maverick, we won’t be seeing Russell Crowe reprise Maximus. Won’t it be sweet to see The Method applied to Top Gun? And track what has changed from 1986 to 2022 from a Christian worldview. Don’t we want more Cultural Hermeneutics?

I googled Cultural Hermeneutics and there are no interesting hits. It’s not that people are not analysing culture from a Christian Worldview. We have tonnes of blogs, YouTube videos, podcasts speaking for culture, against culture. The problem is we don’t a critical mass to work around unlike in apologetics or soteriology or eschatology, where discussions come out of those categories. Discussions on music are labeled music, not cultural hermeneutics which makes it harder to learn the skills of reading culture.

...

Until told otherwise, I think today’s book is a most impressive and unique contribution to cultural discussions. A great jumping-off point to much that is happening around us. It keeps us on our toes to see culture as more complex, and less simplistic as so many suppose. And thus, more opportunities for Christians to be a better reader of culture.

Full 3,521 word review: https://readingandreaders.com/podcast...

[A.J. Mendoza · Rating 3 out of 5]

The reading level of this book is more suited for the college experienced. I would recommend the first chapter for the Christian wrestling with the church's involvement with the world and, more specifically, the culture the believer finds themselves in. The first chapter of this book addresses the issue of being in the world but not of it by training the Christian to evaluate cultural artifacts with wisdom. This wisdom comes with ascertaining the worldview behind the cultural object and the message being preached. A rating of 3/5 was because of the lackluster essays that compose the majority of the book. Some were interesting and most were skim-worthy. Nonetheless, the intention of this book is well achieved in the first chapter, which is what I most recommend.

[Chris Griffith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this how to book on interpreting cultural texts and trends. The bulk of the book is examples of how to analyze culture in the context of the gospel.

[Rob Markley · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a complete waste of time. Full of self satisfied nonsense

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book of essays on interpreting culture through a theological lens. VanHoozer's chapter was great, as was the one examining how Eminem relates to culture.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this text for my masters degree. The essays are engaging and entertaining articles on how Christians can interpret and respond to their Western culture.

[Lyndsi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read it for school, but it was pretty wordy.

[Brandon Howlett · Rating 4 out of 5]

The case examples have not aged well with the rapid development and turnover in society with the widened use of social media but the method is valuable.

[Zach Hollifield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vanhoozer’s primary essay is worth the price of the book (though the whole book is available as a PDF on the interwebs). Just outstanding!

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

First and last chapters are definitely worth the read

[Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

In some sense, culture IS theology. The world is full of cultural texts and trends which answer (whether explicitly or implicitly) basic theological questions (e.g. Why are we here? What is the good life?). Vanhoozer’s (et al.) purpose is two part: (1) to provide a method for believers to interpret the cultural world theologically, to tease out the theology of everyday culture – from the movies to the shopping mall, from architecture to politics; and (2) to provide some concrete examples of this method in action. The first chapter is written by Vanhoozer and provides the basic philosophy and methodology of this approach. Each of the subsequent chapters is written by a former graduate student of Vanhoozer’s and applies this method to specific cultural texts (e.g. the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or the movie Gladiator) or cultural trends (e.g. blogging or “fantasy funerals”). In all, Everyday Theology is an excellent introduction to cultural hermeneutics, providing principles, application, and further resources. A.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great intro to the topic of "cultural exegesis" and quite a few decent examples of such, looking at the music of Eminem, for example, or the film Gladiator, or the culture of busyness and time-saving, or grocery store checkout lines, or the Universal Declaration of Human Rights...

Apparently it came out of a class that Kevin J. Vanhoozer taught. I've been reading some of his work on biblical interpretation (Is There A Meaning In This Text?) for my Master's degree, and find his intellect very sharp and insightful.

[Ko Matsuo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to reading this book. I was hoping that the author would shed some light on creating a framework to understand culture in terms of Scripture. I was hopeful when Vanhoozer briefly touched on how the apostle John used the Greek concept of Logos to tie Greek thinking to the Gospel message.

This book turned out to be a compilation of several essays from different authors focusing on explaining modern trends with not much additional insight. I found themes to be loosely but insufficiently tied together.

[Stephen Yates]

Really two books - an initial chapter by Vanhoozer, and a series of essays by his students laced with his book reviews and vocabulary help. His chapter helps define a system for doing cultural theology which is incredibly holistic - taking into perspective all different fields. This helps avoid a reductionism which plagues things like Marxism or other philosophies which often attempt to define 'the' thing in culture.

[Chuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great approach to understanding contemporary culture. The final chapter was a little disappointing--wish it had more conclusion-like comments instead of this-is-what-you-can-do approaches. It would have been a better partner chapter to the opening explanations. Overall, however, an insightful volume which not only informs about several major texts/trends, but prepares the reader to better understand the contemporary culture.

[M. J. Denning · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable book about understanding the ideas/philosophies behind many of our "cultural texts". This word is used to describe music, movies, rituals, universal cultural experiences, etc. Although it is not a how too it is a great introduction to understanding how to read what our culture is saying and to begin to interpret and respond with scriptural wisdom. The first chapter is worth the cost of the book.

[Ron Mackey]

Some parts require some work to get through. Van Hoozer's first chapter is academic...i had a hard time sticking with him. Howevere, I am glad that I read on.

I especially liked the essay on busyness.

Overall...a good read and helpful for training the Xian mind to think Xianly.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

At times this book seemed overly academic. Using big words to describe how to understand culture in light of a biblical perspective. It was still interesting. And the book provides a framework for interpreting other cultural ideas.

[Steve Godfrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a seminary-level read but a good one. We want to transform 'culture' but what is 'culture' and how can we best understand it and navigate it? This book provides some insightful and deep thinking on this.

[Brian Chilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The greatest value to the book is in the first chapter. A few other chapters provide valuable information. But, some writers in the book did not quite live up to my expectations, hence a 4 star rating instead of 5.

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed some parts, and other parts were a bit thick on the intellectual language. But an interesting guide on how to look at culture, so as to not just go along with it.

[Robert Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

read chapter 1 for class. I'd like to read the rest.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting perspective on looking at cultural trends through a theological lens. Learning to interpret culture is very important.

[Laura Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has changed how I perceive the world around me. It evaluates the culture from books to funerals, and what we can infer from them. I believe this is a must read for every Christian.

[Matt · Rating 1 out of 5]

*Everyday Theology* is to cultural criticism as Christian rock is to rock and roll.