Media Theory, Religion and Theology

Author: Tom Fenton
ISBN: 9780060853952
Pages: 272
Summary: At a time when the world has been blindsided by failures of intelligence, a veteran CBS News correspondent reveals how the news media has betrayed our trust and endangered our democracy.
Tom Fenton is the senior European correspondent for CBS News. In his long journalistic experience, he has reported on everything from the fall of the Shah of Iran to the crumbling of communism in East Germany to the bombing of Israel during the first Gulf War. Today he has covered the movements of al Qaeda throughout Europe–a story he was tracking before 9/11. And in the three years since, he has come to a sobering realization: the American news media–and network TV news in particular–has abdicated its responsibility to the American people.
As Fenton points out, much of America still gets its news from the networks. But in the years leading to 9/11 the coverage of terrorism was sporadic at best, focusing on acts of terror rather than the people and movements that caused them. It was Washington's job to connect the dots, Fenton argues, but it was the news business's job to track the story and watchdog the government's vigilance–and both sides failed. "By the time of the Bush–Kerry election," Fenton writes, "for the first time, the news media had an even worse credibility gap" than the government's. Lulled into complacency by the Cold War, gutted by corporate bottom–lining bottom feeders, the news media missed the story of the century–just as they'd missed hundreds of others in the years before, from Kosovo to Chechnya. As a frequent voice in the wilderness himself–who tried unsuccessfully to interest CBS in an Osama bin Laden interview in the 1990s–Fenton charges that the news media must change its perspective from that of an entertainment–industry offshoot to that of a keeper of the public trust. And he argues that his industry must foster a new patriotic skepticism, one that will both inform the people and help Washington defend the country better.
Tom Fenton's passionate argument for change in the political sector is being embraced by readers on all sides.
Since its publication in the United States Bad News has won wide and critical acclaim from such publications as Publisher's Weekly, Washington Post, and Christian Science Monitor.

Author: Friedrich Nietzsche
ISBN: 9780679783398
Pages: 896
Summary: One hundred years after his death, Friedrich Nietzsche remains the most influential philosopher of the modern era. Basic Writings of Nietzsche gathers the complete texts of five of Nietzsche's most important works, from his first book to his last: The Birth of Tragedy; Beyond Good and Evil; On the Genealogy of Morals; The Case of Wagner; and Ecce Homo. Edited and translated by the great Nietzsche scholar Walter Kaufmann, this volume provides a definitive guide to the full range of Nietzsche's thought.

Included also are seventy-five aphorisms, selections from Nietzsche's correspondence, and variants from drafts for Ecce Homo.

Author: Roger Lundin
ISBN: 9780830828432
Pages: 233
Summary: Editors Mark Husbands, Roger Lundin and Daniel J. Treier present ten essays that explore a Christian approach to beauty and the arts. Theology has much to contribute in providing a place for the arts in the Christian life, and the arts have much to contribute to the quality of Christian life, worship and witness. The essays consider the visual arts, music and literature, as well as the theological meaning and place of the arts in a fallen world redeemed by Christ.
Features and BenefitsFeatures ten essays by notable authors including Jeremy Begbie, Roger Lundin and Edward OakesOffers a lively investigation of a neglected topic: the artsA useful resource for pastors, artists, students, theologians and persons interested in the arts

Author: Adan M. Medrano
ISBN: 9780754638308
Pages: 243
Summary:

Author: Jeffery L. Sheler
ISBN: 9780670038022
Pages: 336
Summary: A groundbreaking insider’s look at the lives and culture of American evangelicals

In "Believers", award-winning religion journalist Jeffery L. Sheler offers a unique and intimate look at the evangelical Christian subculture—a faith tradition that some sixty million Americans call their own. With panoramic sweep and compelling narrative detail, Sheler, who grew up as an evangelical, breaks through the stereotypes to examine not just the big-time ministers but also the ordinary people who make up this dynamic movement. Traveling across the nation, Sheler visits today’s evangelicals at work, at home, and at worship to discover how their faith shapes their lives and how they are influencing the public debate in this country. Stops along the way include:

• the trend-setting Saddleback Church, a fifteen-thousand-member congregation in Lake Forest, California, that is a template for the evangelical megachurch movement
• the picturesque campus of Wheaton College in Illinois, the flagship of a burgeoning network of evangelical colleges
• Washington, D.C., where some of evangelicalism’s chief political operatives roam the corridors of power

Throughout, Sheler reports that the evangelical movement is much more diverse and complex than often portrayed. At a time when the religious right is more influential than ever, "Believers" is a timely and eye-opening exploration of the motives, aspirations, and agendas of American evangelicals.

Author: Stanley J. Grenz, John R. Franke
ISBN: 9780664257699
Pages: 298
Summary: I want to first say that this book is not for the faint of heart. It is highly technical, philosophical, and seems to draw more questions than answers in the end (clearly a sign of the post-modern trend). Though I admire so many aspects of this work, the book essentially fails to deliver a thoroughly evangelical model for 'doing theology' which would see scripture as our final authority (contra culture, neo-orthodoxy, post-liberalism). I state this criticism not as an ignorant evangelical, but one who shares their concerns: a desire for a more honest engagement and method for doing theology in our present culture. However, though they (Grenz/Franke) attempt to move from propositionalist methodology into a more culturally relevant method, they essentially desire to stay within the evangelical framework. At points they engage this reworking successfully, yet in the end they tend to align themselves more with the Post-Liberal, Yale theology of George Lindbeck and Hans Frei (and somewhat with the 'Neo-Orthodoxy' of Karl Barth), than a conservative evangelical could agree with. So, in essence, the book fails not because it essentially aligns itself with these methods for doing theology, but because it attempts to do this while at the same time remaining within the more conservative/evangelical tradition which sees scripture as the ultimate authority.



Other reviewers have given solid assessments of the many specifics of these aspects, so I will not write further on this. I will comment briefly on how the book attempts to give tradition and culture a somewhat equal status to scripture because the bible itself was written within a cultural and historical setting. From the outset, I feel this is honest, yet it seems to lean towards interpretations that tend to be drawn from present culture rather than an understanding of these eternal truths within their cultural setting. Some might say that Grenz and Franke have 'Left Foundationalism'. I don't think I would go that far, but they certainly attempt to exit the propositional methodology of scriptures for something that is more defined by culture.



In the end, their desires to move away from this type of 'doing theology' is well-warranted as this method (propositionalism) came out of a cultural reaction as well, the conservative reaction to the liberal interpretations of scripture during 'Modernity'. Essentially, the famous 'Fundamentals' came from this reaction as it was needed within its cultural context. So, I would agree with Grenz and Franke that we need to move 'Beyond Foundationalism'. This 'Foundationalism' (which refers to a method for doing theology) sets the scripture up as an essential treasure trove of propositional facts for the Christian to learn, memorize, and essentially believe in. Clearly, the method of 'proof texting' has been taught to the majority of believers as a very practical outgrowth of this kind of belief. As an evangelical, I don't see this as wrong as long as a thorough understanding of the book/chapter and background is understood well-enough to explain that proof-text. This is just one small example of the common 'Foundationalist' method for doing theology which this book sets out to revise.



This leads to the books final assessment: Does the book achieve what it sets out to do? I don't believe so, for the reasons I mentioned above. In the attempt to move beyond foundationalism, it seems to leave the distinctive of foundational/evangelical theology of the primacy of the written Word as authoritative and final in practice and life. It somewhat elevates cultural views of this authoritative written Word on equal status as the original context the writers engaged in. I believe the writers essentially aligned themselves more closely to the Neo-Orthodox view on revelation than most evangelicals would be comfortable with. Their handling of the 'Final Revelation of God', His Son Jesus Christ, seems to take precedence over the preserved written Word which both testifies of Him and is a testimony of the Holy Spirit. I think the balance between the Living Word/written Word is somewhat lost in this book, which is why I feel they have not achieved their essential goals, a revision of evangelical methods for doing theology (and an attempt not to leave it).



Lastly, their attempt is oriented more for the academic audience than for the common reader. The book is highly philosophical dealing heavily within this realm. The wordage is also extremely academic in nature, almost convoluted to a point. In my final assessment, I believe Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer's book, "The Drama of Doctrine" is a more faithful presentation of how to 'revise' evangelical methodology. This and his, 'First Theology' are excellent books on how to approach the Foundationalist methods, revise them biblically, and keep the Living Word/written Word in balance as testimonies to the One true God. His work is very generous, even-handed, and revises (more than departs from) evangelical methods for doing theology in our present, post-modern culture. However, this is still an excellent work in scholarship by two first-rate theologians.

Author: Scott Thumma, Dave Travis
ISBN: 9780787994679
Pages: 256
Summary: Drawing on extensive, broad-based, and well-designed research, as well as stories and anecdotes, "Beyond Megachurch Myths" dispels popluar myths about megachurches while highlighting the diversity within the megachurch phenomenon. Defining a megachurch as a Protestant church that averages at least 2000 total attendees in their weekend services, Scott Thumma and Dave Travis reveal what these churches are and are not, why they are thriving, what their members say about their experiences, and why they have many valuable lessons to teach smaller churches.

Author: Sheppard Jackie
ISBN: 9781850784548
Pages: 119
Summary: Beyond the OHP is offered as a guide to those churches wanting to use some of the new technology available. It provides case studies both from within the United Kingdom and the United States, and looks at presentation principles that are the same whether you are producing a worship service for 50 people, 500 or 5000. Published to coincide with Spring Harvest, an event that attracts some 60 000 people each year, Jackie Sheppard shows how technology can be used effectively in the spreading of the Gospel. It is not a 'technical' book, but rather an enthuastic, informative book on how the church should respond to our fast-paced, multi-media age.

Author:
ISBN: 9789197669443
Pages: 261
Summary: Book Description
A homeless man walking. A soldier preparing for combat. A mother nursing her newborn child.
Never before has a publisher illuminated the Bible with such an array of striking, even provocative contemporary photographs. Wrapped in an arresting cover, Bible Illuminated: The Book: New Testament presents The Bible in a full-color, glossy magazine format, set in running text with no verses, inviting readers to step into the Bible and experience it in a whole new way.
The Book, using the Good News Translation as approved by the American Bible Society, will introduce believers and non-believers to a culturally relevant, accessible Bible and will encourage dialogue between people from all walks of life.
When was the last time you picked it up and read it? Learn More About Bible Illuminated: The Book (See a larger view of pages from The Book when you click on any of the images following in this section.)
Who created The Book?
The company that created The Book is called Illuminated World. The co-founder and creative visionary for the Bible Illuminated is Dag Söderberg, former CEO of one of the largest advertising firms in Scandinavia. Dag's passion for photography and innovative design helped with the creative direction of such a huge undertaking. He loves art and finding unique ways to present traditional things in a non-traditional way, a part of his advertising background that definitely shaped The Book and ultimately its look and feel. His vision from the beginning was to re-brand the Bible for a consumer audience but remain true to the text (which is why The Book uses the standard Good News Translation).
What is the goal of publishing The Book?
There is no religious mission behind The Book. We believe that its success will be driven by the fact that this is not coming from any specific faith, religion or church. We are from many faiths, backgrounds, and beliefs; ultimately we are trying to create something for the many and not just for the few. The goal is to drive an emotional reaction and get people to think, discuss and share. It's meant to trigger bigger moral questions that will in turn help people to understand the common heritage between all religions through the Bible's text. We hope people will find the images, design and layout intriguing—intriguing enough to talk about the actual stories in the Bible and what the morals and lessons mean to them. The more you know, the more you can participate in discussions about the world and understand the bigger picture.
What does The Book look like?
Bible Illuminated:The Book looks like a high-end magazine. It presents the New Testament as it's never been seen before in full-color, glossy format, illustrated throughout with striking, sometimes provocative, contemporary photographs. It is meant to be comfortable and easy to flip through and used as you would use any Bible. There are no verses and the text runs with columns and paragraphs just like in a magazine.

Who is Illuminated World trying to reach with The Book?
The Book is meant for anyone and everyone. It is for people who currently own a Bible but never read it, people who don't own a Bible or would never even consider picking it up, as well as people who currently read or use the Bible, but want to experience this new, innovative design.

What do the highlighted passages and sentences mean?
The meaning of these passages is open to readers. We highlighted and underlined passages throughout The Book as a way to draw the reader's attention and provide an opportunity for reflection.
What should people do with The Book?
We want people to be able to flip through the pages and find something that they relate to, whether it's an image of a war-torn soldier or homeless person, a celebrity or an endangered animal—or a certain passage paired with a powerful image that resonates with them.

Author: Neil Asher Silberman, Israel Finkelstein
ISBN: 9780684869131
Pages: 400
Summary: In this iconoclastic and provocative work, leading scholars Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman draw on recent archaeological research to present a dramatically revised portrait of ancient Israel and its neighbors. They argue that crucial evidence (or a telling lack of evidence) at digs in Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon suggests that many of the most famous stories in the Bible -- the wanderings of the patriarchs, the Exodus from Egypt, Joshua's conquest of Canaan, and David and Solomon's vast empire -- reflect the world of the later authors rather than actual historical facts.
Challenging the fundamentalist readings of the scriptures and marshaling the latest archaeological evidence to support its new vision of ancient Israel, "The Bible Unearthed" offers a fascinating and controversial perspective on when and why the Bible was written and why it possesses such great spiritual and emotional power today.

Author: Dave Ferguson, Eric Bramlett, Jon Ferguson
ISBN: 9780310272410
Pages: 208
Summary: Nothing is more dangerous than a single compelling idea that is lived out and nothing is more harmless than lots of little ideas never applied. By creatively communicating one Big Idea every week your church will transform people into genuine Christ followers who live out the mission of Jesus. Less is more!

Author: T. J. Wray, Gregory Mobley
ISBN: 9781403969330
Pages: 240
Summary: Of all the demons, monsters, fiends, and ogres to preoccupy the western imagination in literature, art, and film, no figure has been more feared—or misunderstood--than Satan. But how accurate are the popular images of Satan? How--and why--did this rather minor biblical character morph into the very embodiment of evil? T.J. Wray and Gregory Mobley guide readers on a journey to retrace Satan's biblical roots. Engaging and informative, "The Birth of Satan "is a must read for anyone who has ever wondered about the origins of the Devil.

Author: Nassim Nicholas Taleb
ISBN: 9781400063512
Pages: 366
Summary: Bestselling author Nassim Nicholas Taleb continues his exploration of randomness in his fascinating new book, "The Black Swan", in which he examines the influence of highly improbable and unpredictable events that have massive impact. Engaging and enlightening, "The Black Swan" is a book that may change the way you think about the world, a book that Chris Anderson calls, "a delightful romp through history, economics, and the frailties of human nature." See Anderson's entire guest review below.

Guest Reviewer: Chris Anderson

Chris Anderson is editor-in-chief of "Wired" magazine and the author of "The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business Is Selling Less of More".

Four hundred years ago, Francis Bacon warned that our minds are wired to deceive us. "Beware the fallacies into which undisciplined thinkers most easily fall--they are the real distorting prisms of human nature." Chief among them: "Assuming more order than exists in chaotic nature." Now consider the typical stock market report: "Today investors bid shares down out of concern over Iranian oil production." Sigh. We're still doing it.

Our brains are wired for narrative, not statistical uncertainty. And so we tell ourselves simple stories to explain complex thing we don't--and, most importantly, can't--know. The truth is that we have no idea why stock markets go up or down on any given day, and whatever reason we give is sure to be grossly simplified, if not flat out wrong.

Nassim Nicholas Taleb first made this argument in "Fooled by Randomness," an engaging look at the history and reasons for our predilection for self-deception when it comes to statistics. Now, in "The Black Swan: the Impact of the Highly Improbable," he focuses on that most dismal of sciences, predicting the future. Forecasting is not just at the heart of Wall Street, but it’s something each of us does every time we make an insurance payment or strap on a seat belt.

The problem, Nassim explains, is that we place too much weight on the odds that past events will repeat (diligently trying to follow the path of the "millionaire next door," when unrepeatable chance is a better explanation). Instead, the really important events are rare and unpredictable. He calls them Black Swans, which is a reference to a 17th century philosophical thought experiment. In Europe all anyone had ever seen were white swans; indeed, "all swans are white" had long been used as the standard example of a scientific truth. So what was the chance of seeing a black one? Impossible to calculate, or at least they were until 1697, when explorers found Cygnus atratus in Australia.

Nassim argues that most of the really big events in our world are rare and unpredictable, and thus trying to extract generalizable stories to explain them may be emotionally satisfying, but it's practically useless. September 11th is one such example, and stock market crashes are another. Or, as he puts it, "History does not crawl, it jumps." Our assumptions grow out of the bell-curve predictability of what he calls "Mediocristan," while our world is really shaped by the wild powerlaw swings of "Extremistan."

In full disclosure, I'm a long admirer of Taleb's work and a few of my comments on drafts found their way into the book. I, too, look at the world through the powerlaw lens, and I too find that it reveals how many of our assumptions are wrong. But Taleb takes this to a new level with a delightful romp through history, economics, and the frailties of human nature. "--Chris Anderson"

Author: Peter S. Grant, Chris Wood
ISBN: 9781553650096
Pages: 464
Summary: Unprecedented worldwide distribution of books, television programs, and other cultural products would seem to augur well for the diversity of ideas. Yet a dwindling number of media conglomerates — significantly American controlled — are increasingly herding consumers toward very profitable “blockbuster” films, books, and recordings at the expense of independent and alternative works. Presenting an essential international perspective, "Blockbusters and Trade Wars" reveals links between freedom of expression and intellectual diversity.

Author: Brian Bailey, Terry Storch
ISBN: 9780787984878
Pages: 199
Summary: "The Blogging Church" offers church leaders a field manual for using the social phenomenon of blogs to connect people and build communities in a whole new way. Inside you will find the why, what, and how of blogging in the local church. Filled with illustrative examples and practical advice, the authors answer key questions learned on the frontlines of ministry: "Is blogging a tool or a toy? What problems will blogging solve? How does it benefit ministry? How do I build a great blog?" and "Who am I blogging for?"
"The Blogging Church" is a handbook that will inspire and equip you to join the conversation.
The book includes contributions from five of the most popular bloggers in the world—Robert Scoble, Dave Winer, Kathy Sierra, Guy Kawasaki, and Merlin Mann, as well as interviews with blogging pastors such as Mark Driscoll, Craig Groeschel, Tony Morgan, Perry Noble, Greg Surratt, Mark Batterson, and many more.

Author: Michka Assayas
ISBN: 9781573223096
Pages: 336
Summary: For the first time ever, Bono-the biggest rock star in the world-tells his life story.

Bono's career is unlike any other in rock history. As the lead singer of U2, Bono has sold 130 million albums, won fourteen Grammys, and played numerous sold-out world tours, but he has also lobbied and worked with world leaders from Bill Clinton and George W. Bush to Nelson Mandela on debt relief, AIDS, and other critical global issues. He has collaborated with the same musicians for nearly three decades and has been married to his childhood sweetheart since 1982. His life, at all turns, resists the rock star clichés.

In a series of intimate conversations with his friend Michka Assayas, a music journalist who has been with the band since the very beginning, Bono reflects on his transformation from the extrovert singer of a small Irish post-punk band into one of the most famous individuals in the world; and from an international celebrity to an influential spokesperson for the Third World. He speaks candidly about his faith, family, commitment, influences, service, and passion. "Bono: A Self-Portrait in Conversation" is the closest we will come, for now, to a memoir from the iconic frontman of U2.

Author: Tim C. Leedom
ISBN: 9780939040155
Pages: 446
Summary: It's past time to expose the truth about religion myths, frauds, fantasies and fiction from End-times to Virgin Birth to Sun Worship. Now into its 3rd printing. A Best-seller. This popular anthology tells it all, the textbook of Freethought, edited by Tim C. Leedom.

Author: John Palfrey, Urs Gasser
ISBN: 9780465005154
Pages: 288
Summary: Two leading experts explain the brave new world inhabited by "digital natives"--the first generation born and raised completely wired.
The most enduring change wrought by the digital revolution is neither the new business models nor the new search algorithms, but rather the massive generation gap between those who were born digital and those who were not. The first generation of "digital natives"--children who were born into and raised in the digital world--is now coming of age, and soon our world will be reshaped in their image. Our economy, our cultural life, even the shape of our family life will be forever transformed.
But who are these digital natives? How are they different from older generations, and what is the world they're creating going to look like? In "Born Digital", leading Internet and technology experts John Palfrey and Urs Gasser offer a sociological portrait of this exotic tribe of young people who can seem, even to those merely a generation older, both extraordinarily sophisticated and strangely narrow.
Based on original research and advancing new theories, "Born Digital" explores a broad range of issues, from the highly philosophical to the purely practical: What does identity mean for young people who have dozens of online profiles and avatars? Should we worry about privacy issues? Or is privacy even a relevant value for digital natives? How does the concept of safety translate into an increasingly virtual world? Is "stranger-danger" a real problem, or a red herring?
A smart, practical guide to a brave new world and its complex inhabitants, "Born Digital" will be essential reading for parents, teachers, and the myriad of confused adults who want to understand the digital present--and shape the digital future.

Author: Tyler Wigg Stevenson
ISBN: 9781596270497
Pages: 234
Summary:

Author: James B. Twitchell
ISBN: 9780743243476
Pages: 336
Summary: Branding has become so successful and so ubiquitous that even cultural institutions have embraced it. In this witty and trenchant social analysis, James Twitchell shows how churches, universities, and museums have learned to embrace Madison Avenue rather than risk losing market share.
"Branded Nation" uncovers a society where megachurches resemble shopping malls (and not by accident); where a university lives or dies on the talents of its image makers -- and its ranking in "U.S. News & World Report;" and where museums have turned to motorcycle exhibits and fashion shows to bolster revenue, even franchising their own institutions into brands. In short, says Twitchell, high culture is beginning to look more and more like the rest of our culture. But in perhaps his most subversive observation, he doesn't condemn this trend; on the contrary, he believes that branding may be invigorating our high culture, bringing it to new audiences and making it a more integral part of our lives.
Savvy, sharply observed, and bitingly funny, "Branded Nation" is sure to both enlighten and entertain.

Author: Phil Cooke
ISBN: 9780830745630
Pages: 224
Summary: Have you hit a wall with your church, ministry or non-profit organization? In spite of a genuine calling, an exceptional team and solid investment in the vision, have you noticed that the spark never catches fire? Media and marketing expert Phil Cooke wants every ministry to ask, Who are we? By identifying what makes your organization different from the thousands clamoring for attention, you can get your message heard. Cooke has consulted with many of the most recognized churches and non-profits in the world, and in Branding Faith: Why Some Ministries Impact Culture and Others Don’t, he shares his road-tested strategies for using media and marketing to make your mark on people’s minds and hearts. Whatever the size of your organization, his helpful hints and insider know-how will give you the tools to set your ministry’s strategies ablaze.

Author: Bock, Darrell L.
ISBN: 0785260463
Pages:
Summary:

Author: Thom S. Rainer
ISBN: 9780310257455
Pages: 272
Summary: In Thom Rainer's latest book, he sets out to discover how churches that were once healthy but had stagnated in growth have broken out to become great churches impacting lives and entire communities.

Author: David R. Croteau, William Hoynes
ISBN: 9781412913157
Pages: 336
Summary: The Business of Media presents the critical, yet careful, analysis of the rapidly changing media industry that students need in order to get behind the headlines and understand our increasingly media-saturated society. The writing is clear and jargon-free, accessible to undergraduates without requiring a background in economics. 

Key Features:

Examines the basic dynamics that underlie the changing media industry and the possible influence these changes are having on society (society's insatiable quest for profits and democratic society's need for a media system that serves the public interest) Draws from both social and economic theory to create two conceptual frameworks: market model, and public sphere model Focus on devlopments in the last decade to major media industry trends mapping structural organization, the rise of media conglomerates, and their new strategies   Assesses the impact of recent changes in the media industry using the public sphere model on social and political life Offers clear, concise, jargon-free writing accessible to all students and professionals without an economics background