Amusing Ourselves to Death and The Reason For God (Books 4 and 5)

Amusing ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Showbusiness is the 4th book of the summer that I have read. It is a book by Neil Postman, who is not a Christian, that basically argues that television has become the way in which people of the western American culture interpret the world, and that it has turned things like science, religion, news and other important aspects of culture into nothing but packages of entertainment. Basically television is affecting the way we think about everything, and that way we think, is in the way of entertainment. Gone are the days of serious contemplation.

I tend to agree with everything that was presented in the book and the argument that was made. As a Christian the book has also helped me in my thinking about the importance of time. Television can be a waste of time, especially if watched too much. It basically comes down to the fact that most shows are designed to distract us from reality, and then the shows that say something serious and real, such as the news, are presented in a way that is entertaining. This is not to say never watch television, but watch your heart when you do so. See if it affects the way you think, see if it affects the things you value. It is perfectly acceptable to find enjoyment in things like television or video games, but if they begin to have a negative effect on your relationships with people, and most importantly your relationship with God, something is wrong.

The next book I was able to read this summer is The Reason For God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller. Keller offers a very well researched, well written, and well thought apologetic of the Christian Faith specifically for this modern age where skepticism and science rule the day. I think Keller does an excellent job in understanding the times and providing a defense for the hope that we have.

You know not only did the book help me in being ready to provide a defense for the faith, but it also did a wonderful job of reminding me what the Gospel really is. Which as Christians, the Gospel is something that we should be preaching to ourselves daily. The book really helped clarify some of my own thinking about sin and other matters of the faith. It was able to show me some tendencies that I have in my life that are a wrong way to go about Christianity, such as sometimes catching my self thinking and living in such a way that somehow the things I do and who I am merit Gods grace.

So I highly recommend both books. Amusing Ourselves to Death will help you rethink how to go about entertainment, while The Reason For God will help you in your ability to defend the faith while preaching the Gospel to your own heart and soul.

Gilead (Book 3)

Gilead, being my 3rd book of the summer, is a wonderful novel written by Marilynne Robinson. It is written as a series of fictional letters/journal entries from the dying Pastor John Ames to his 7 year old son who is never going to grow up with an earthly father in the last year or so of his life. The time frame of the story is mid 20th century, just after the 2nd World War. The letters include stories of the pastors grandfather, father, family friends and others. The pastor spends a great deal of time honestly reflecting on his life finding beauty in certain areas and admitting the difficulty of others. This 246 page letter covers all sorts of things, from dealing with anger, seeing the wonder in the small things of life, having an appreciation of Creation itself, the great question of belief, the beauty of forgiveness, thoughts on war, to the fact of existence.

Gilead is one of those books that the content is just a stepping stone to your own thoughts about life, love and the like. But at the same time, the story it portrays is told beautifully, as Marilynne Robinson offers some of the best use of language I have encountered in a very long time. Some of the theology found in the book could cause you to raise some eyebrows, but don't let that discourage you from reading it. This book does an amazing job of showing us the ups and downs of life, through the eyes of this brutally honest minister, asking questions lots of people today still have all the time. "Gilead is a quiet, deep celebration of life that you must not miss." (The Christian Science Monitor)