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Desiring The Kingdom (Cultural Liturgies): Worship, Worldview, And Cultural Formation (2009)

by James K.A. Smith(Favorite Author)

4.24 of 5 Votes: 3

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

Baker Academic

review 1: This books is hard to rate. It took 150 pages to get to the "good stuff", but it was worth it. Mr. Smith's thesis - that we are first creatures who desire before we are creatures who think - is supported by many, many explanations and examples. Personally, I found the repetitious style a bit off-putting. In chapter 5, though, he arrives at the true heart of the book. Here he explores what the elements of Christian worship reveal about the heart of God's people. I think every pastor should read chapters 4 and 5!
review 2: Generally a very good examination of the formation of Christian "worldview" through worship and the need for a liturgical "education" to shape Christians and to counter secular cultural liturgies. If nothing else, Smith offers a profound ... morewake-up call to those who think they can engage in secular liturgies without consequence. His walk-through of worship as a distinctly Christian set of liturgies is good and very helpful. If nothing else this understanding of how what we do shapes who we are and what we desire/value will help us think critically of secular liturgies and teach us to better value and benefit from Christian liturgies. The book falls short when it comes to the practical application beyond formal worship settings. He seems too dismissive of "traditional" educational models. (I may be reading too much into what he's written.) The traditional "read and talk" format works well (and likely best) for many subjects, but he does give some good but very brief thoughts on ways Christian education might take place following his model. It also seems that he's overly dismissive of too many aspects of secular life, especially when it comes to economics. less

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