Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Theology Book for Today, October 13, 2008
This review is from: Coffeehouse Theology: Reflecting on God in Everyday Life (Paperback)
This is a book about theology, but it's not a big, fat, scary one. Rather, it's a book that explains how to "do" theology in simple, straightforward ways. As an M.Div student myself, I first began to read this book thinking that it would be a book for new Christians, or Christians who may not want higher theological training or perhaps that new fangled "emerging church" group. And I do think it's a great book for those audiences. But I also think that it's a good read for those with a theological background, because Cyzewski writes this book for now, for this time, for this culture in America, and for this generation that is just emerging into the faith.
Christians must be able to speak about their faith clearly and with their audience in mind and this book is a great aid for that. The audience is front and center at all times for Cyzewski - and the audience is just whoever happens to amble on into any given coffeehouse. In other words, no matter where one is at in their Christian walk or search for truth, this book will be a useful aid at teasing out the right questions to consider and think through. Cyzewski's `contextual theology' provides a way of thinking about the Christian faith that is not just academic, but takes into account our culture and our relationships.
Cyzewski has clear views about the Bible and the person of Jesus and the church. But he also understands the enormous influence that our culture plays in the search for truth. He is not merely dismissive of other ideas and faiths but seeks way to talk about Christianity within that context - - all the while pointing to Christ from wherever ones starting point may be.
For those who read this book and want to dig into some of the ideas at a deeper level each chapter has a great list of further reading full of all the standard big, fat, theology books. But Coffeehouse Theology is exactly what the title implies - it's the sort of book to spur on discussion among friends hanging out.
In addition, the two guides that go along with the book are each useful. The Bible Study guide is perhaps slightly better for personal use, whereas the Discussion Guide is, as the tile implies, better suited for group discussion. Each veers slightly away from the book and offer new insights, topics and questions to tackle.
Coffeehouse Theology is a book that is written to people today, to people searching for truth, and to people trying to understand how our culture and our faith can inform each other and not create more divisions.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book!, September 17, 2008
This review is from: Coffeehouse Theology: Reflecting on God in Everyday Life (Paperback)
Many of the theology books that I've read over the years have been either too academic or too simplistic. Coffehouse Theology is neither of these. The author does a good job of balancing the theoretical with the practical. You can tell that he has spent a good deal of time reading academic books, but he is able to explain what he's learned in a simple and uncomplicated way. In fact, Cyzewski's conversational way of writing makes learning about theology not only accessible but also fun! This is a great book for those who are new in their Christian faith, who are established Christians wanting to learn about how our culture relates to how we understand God and the Christian life, or even for agnostics who are willing to enter a dialogue with an author who is knowledgeable yet humble and not afraid to ask difficult questions. So, next time you are at Starbucks or at your favorite coffeehouse (or teahouse for those of you like me!), I recommend that you read this book.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Avoid Syncretism and Sectarianism, September 10, 2010
This review is from: Coffeehouse Theology: Reflecting on God in Everyday Life (Paperback)
I initially thought this book was going to be about sharing the Christian faith in the ordinary moments and everyday places in which we live our lives (like The Coffeehouse Gospel by Matthew Paul Turner). I was wrong. But it still seems there's a slight obsession with Christians and Coffeehouses! I, personally, have NEVER referred to any place as a "coffeehouse" so neither of those titles even fit with my vernacular...but I digress.
In Coffeehouse Theology, Ed Cyzewski unpacks some complicated topics in simple ways. I'm not using "simple" pejoratively either. He brings some complicated theological issues down to the level of the common reader.
The subject of this book is not evangelism, but contextual theology. This is a subject that acknowledges the limitations of living and learning in a certain place at a certain time. Our time and place comprise our culture, which, in turn, affects our interpretation of Scripture and, ultimately, our thoughts about God.
Contextual theology seeks to avoid the two extremes of syncretism on the one hand, and sectarianism on the other. That said, what Cyzewski has written is a basic introduction to this type of theology. The introductory nature of this book can be seen by the "Further Reading" section included at the end of each chapter. Those sections include a list of books that expand on the points he made throughout the chapter, but I would have liked to see a brief summary of the books included in those lists (it's not likely that the popular-level - non-academic - reader is going to purchase all those books!).
The thing I appreciate most about this book is the author's insistence that both theology and culture matter. This is a healthy corrective to people and churches who emphasize one at the expense of the other.
On the whole, this book isn't great but it's a decent introduction to the ways that culture and theology intersect and shape one another.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
