Creed & Culture: A Touchstone Reader

Rating:
Summary: A deep well for thirsty Christians
Review: After being a Touchstone subscriber for several months, I read this book and keep coming back to these essays. For those deeply dissatisfied with modern American society, these writings are a long draught of refreshingly cold water.

Leon Podles' piece on the practicalities of homeschooling is a good read for those considering teaching their children at home. A good companion piece is Patrick Henry Reardon's look at what's wrong in America's public schools.

I was particularly drawn to David Mill's piece on the "Latcons" - those seemingly conservative folks who somehow manage to stay within their increasingly liberal mainline denominations. Having recently left the Episcopal Church, USA, and in the process of converting to Eastern Orthodoxy, it was a hearty reminder of why I had left.

The whole book is excellent. Whether you read it all in one sitting (as I first did) or in bits, Creed & Culture deserves a permanent place on your bookshelf.

Rating:
Summary: Sharply relevant to the twenty-first century
Review: Compiled and edited by James M. Kushiner (Executive Editor of "Touchstone: A Journal of Mere Christianity" and Executive Director of the Fellowship of St. James), Creed & Culture: A Touchstone Reader is an impressive collection of twenty-one essays contributed by a diverse variety of learned authors. Each individually written work originally appeared in "Touchstone" magazine, a forum for ecumenical discussion of matters pertaining to Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Christians. From religion, atheism, and public schools, to the ecclesiastical vision of John Chrysostom, to the difficulties encountered with Latitudinarian Conservatives, and more, Creed & Culture offers non-specialist general readers with an insightful and perspicacious work which is sharply relevant to the twenty-first century. Creed & Culture is an especially recommended addition to personal Christian Studies reading lists and Religious Studies reference collections.

Rating:
Summary: Sharply relevant to the twenty-first century
Review: Compiled and edited by James M. Kushiner (Executive Editor of "Touchstone: A Journal of Mere Christianity" and Executive Director of the Fellowship of St. James), Creed & Culture: A Touchstone Reader is an impressive collection of twenty-one essays contributed by a diverse variety of learned authors. Each individually written work originally appeared in "Touchstone" magazine, a forum for ecumenical discussion of matters pertaining to Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Christians. From religion, atheism, and public schools, to the ecclesiastical vision of John Chrysostom, to the difficulties encountered with Latitudinarian Conservatives, and more, Creed & Culture offers non-specialist general readers with an insightful and perspicacious work which is sharply relevant to the twenty-first century. Creed & Culture is an especially recommended addition to personal Christian Studies reading lists and Religious Studies reference collections.

Rating:
Summary: The Renewal of our Minds
Review: I have no original thoughts to share that are not already addressed in the above reviews concerning the text itself. As they say, it is an excellent resource for spiritual and intellectual nourishment in an arid climate of flabby philosophy and sold out (bankrupt) and accommodating theology. I only want to reiterate what this book sets out to accomplish, namely that Christians are in the midst of an important opportunity to redeem the time, to remind the culture at large through our intellectual and lived witness that ideas matter, and that the driving principles of our time are not going to satisfy their deepest thirsts. Materialism, scientific and otherwise, and its children are at the root of this culture of decay and despair and the Gospel is as relevant now as it was when Christ was resurrected. May this culture pass and usher in the age to come through the renewing of our minds.

And don't forget to subscribe to First Things and Touchstone! Enjoy!