In The (Magic) Kingdom of God, Michael Budde offers a multidisciplinary analysis of the “global culture industries”—increasingly powerful, centralized corporate conglomerates in television, advertising, marketing, movies, and the like—and their impact on Christian churches in industrialized countries. Utilizing ideas from contemporary and classical schools of political economy, the author explains why the study of global culture industries is essential for understanding the current era of global capitalism.In suggesting that the cultural ecology shaped by these industries undermines many of the primary processes and structures through which people become committed Christians, Budde offers a novel utilization of linguistic-based theories of religious formation. Responses by churches to the new situation—more religious education or attempts to use the global culture industries for Christian purposes—are explored and found lacking. For the subversive praxis of Jesus of Nazareth to endure in the cultural ecology of postmodernism, Budde argues, churches must come to embrace their role as radical and countercultural alternative communities in which lay formation becomes a central preoccupation.
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About the Author
Michael Budde is associate professor of political science at DePaul University.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Christianity Contesting Culture,
This review is from: The (Magic) Kingdom Of God: Christianity And Global Culture Industries (Paperback)
Michael Budde uses both professional and ecclesial acumen to exposit the contemporary cultural and Christian landscapes in The (Magic) Kingdom of God. Budde weaves three threads throughout his book. The first is descriptive. Budde describes the flourishing of "global culture industries" in a largely capitalistic world. The second thread is analytical. The contemporary cultural ecology is hostile to Christianity as it "presents new and imposing barriers (beyond those typical of earlier eras) to the formation of deep religious convictions" (14-15). The third thread is prescriptive. Budde prescribes practices by which the church can consistently combat the disordering influence of global culture industries.
Throughout his book, Budde explores two themes: reproduction and cultural power. Reproduction is relevant to both inside and outside the church. Regarding the "political-economic order," it pertains to creating new consumers and maintaining adequate levels of consumption. Regarding "religious reproduction," churches need to train children, initiate converts, and educate adults. Regarding cultural power, Budde considers the church a cultural actor. Thus, he explores the nature of the church's power as a function of its ability to influence culture and absorb the impact of conflicting cultural influences. Within the new "worldwide political-economic transformations," propagators of capitalism depend on having a significant stake in forming culture. Major corporate players engage in the "`politics of identity'-a struggle to define or affect self- and group perceptions in ways congenial to profitability, regularity, and social control" (18). Everyone is "limited and framed" by dominant cultural powers (20). In their push to stimulate consumption, corporations pursue a strategy of "flexible accumulation" (25). This process utilizes decentralized production activities to manufacture smaller-market products. These products are consequently sold globally through ubiquitous and seductive advertising methods. Additionally, industries manufacture new appetites for consumption. Despite its grand scale, these capitalistic juggernauts are able to keep their targets largely ignorant of their methods. For Budde, the real problem is that the prevailing cultural ecology threatens "the capacity of the church to survive as a movement committed to a distinctive vision and practice rooted in Christ" (54). Budde claims that the church's survival rests in its ability to be "transmitted, passed on, received, and lived" (66). To do so, the church must call its members to "`critical readings'" of the ubiquitous media. More importantly, the church must foster a lifelong catechumenate-a partnership demanding commitment of both "communities and to persons-in-community" to reinvest their resources back into a passionate commitment to the "choices, priorities, and dispositions of Jesus"(7). Budde writes with a keen cultural fluency. His use of neostructuralist thought as a means of exposing Christianity's cultural competitors, or perhaps "the powers of this dark world," creates a thicker understanding of the threats facing the church (Eph. 6:12). A "minimalistic Christianity" cannot stand against such formidable cultural enemies (145). Consequently, Budde rightly sets high expectations for the church and its ability to reproduce its primary commodity-impassioned followers of Jesus. However, I believe Budde's account could be balanced by a richer description of God's constant work on behalf of his bride, the church (John 5:17; Rev. 21). Certainly, members of Christian communities are called to perform good works, actively warring against the disordering powers in the world (Eph. 2:10; 6:12; cf. James 2:17). Yet, a revival of a purely social gospel, which Budde may border without an adequate theology of God's activity in the world, is also impotent to wage such a war against such foes. Both the church and God must join together in revolt against dominant cultural powers attempting to de-radicalize the church.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Jesus Overcame the World and "Global Culture Industries",
By
This review is from: The (Magic) Kingdom Of God: Christianity And Global Culture Industries (Paperback)
As a seminary student reading Budde's The (Magic) Kingdom of God I realize he is making a case for how the people who come to church are being formed by global culture industries before they ever walk through the doors of a church. I think this is an important discussion for someone who has never considered how insidious cultural values are, in America or any other nation. I personally resist nationalism in many of its forms, while still appreciating that I am privileged to live in a wealthy country with extensive personal liberties afforded to me, specifically ones that allow me to practice any religion of my choosing without government interference. I am also very aware that my brothers and sisters in Christ around the world do not often live with these same privileges and much of the responsibility for this can be laid at the feet of global forces, including the "culture industries" that Budde speaks about in this book.
However, it's essential for Christians to remember that Christ in his crucifixion was more powerful than all these forces. With church attendance being more by personal choice than community expectation in our post-Christian world, we must note that the people in church are potentially more personally invested in being there. And the church is looking at social justice issues, environmental concern and holistic living more than in any previous generation. (While some of this is faddishness, I do believe there is a genuine shift happening from witnessing about personal salvation narratives to working toward God's "kingdom" coming to earth). When I studied sociology at university I became tired of the viewpoint in so many of my classes that we are so deeply ingrained with the values instilled in us by "global culture industries" that we can't think for ourselves. Jesus has overcome the world. In allowing himself to be crucified, he turned the world upside down. While it's important to realize the systemic sin around us, and analyze our life choices accordingly, we also have to remember that Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost. If a person/corporation/nation doesn't realize it is lost, it will not be sought and saved by him. It's important for church leaders to look at these forces as they affect the people in our congregations and our culture, but it's also key that we do not become afraid or timid in tackling the issues brought up by the influence of these industries. With the renewing of our minds, we can be transformed, and we can help the body of people entrusted to us to know God's holy and perfect will as they strive to live blamelessly in His sight.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Glad I read it,
This review is from: The (Magic) Kingdom Of God: Christianity And Global Culture Industries (Paperback)
Beyond the sex and violence most easily visible in the market place, Michael Budde puts a spotlight on the less perceivable and more damaging effects of capitalism's ever increasing need and ability to shape the desires, thoughts, and beliefs of the world. Full of convincing evidence and argument, Budde shows how the global culture industry, the one that tells you "between love and madness lies Obsession", not only creates desire solely to fuel consumerism at the expense of true life, but also detrimentally creates in the mind of the viewer, reader, and listener unreal expectations that life is made up of fragmented highlights. The audience becomes impatient and bewildered during the "slower" times in life that can be marked by struggle and necessary for growth. At the same time, symbols and historic events are usurped by the global culture industry to represent new, shallow, and even counter meanings which further disconnect people from the past that would normally develop and characterize them.
Christianity is to be an alternative to the world and thus Budde shows how important it is for the church to be aware of the culture industry's ability to homogenize not only would-be disciples of Jesus with the rest of the world, but also the church in its practices. Budde warns of the church's likeness to commercial enterprises because the church may find itself trying to serve both God and the economic/political demands necessary to maintain their own similar culture industry; and at the same time creating and gathering massive numbers of followers incapable of the patience, dedication, hard work, and suffering necessary to be followers of Christ. This book is very good, informative and insightful of the difficulties Christians and particularly Christian leaders face with the global culture industry. Budde offers similarly insightful leads on how to live in such a world we are not called to escape. There are places in the beginning of the book, particularly chapter 2, which might require extra work and dictionary time to get through for those not familiar with political economy, like myself, but understanding what you can of it may be a tremendous help to you and those in your community trying to live and share the kingdom of God.
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