Christian Booksellers
Tuesday, June 17th, 2008
Today our guest blogger, Steve Bonenberger continues:
One Man’s Point of View: By Will U. Lysn
Clearly those of us that love Christian topics and adore Christian literature are finding our genres at a crossroads. The cultural biases that once bonded and held our disparate nation state known as America together are frazzled and fraying. Have a look at these discussion starters:
a. Dateline Colorado: Christian thought & premise is under deep scrutiny. The very real risk of seeing the faith statements that we have held dear are under challenge. Right now the discussion of ‘where’ a faith statement can be uttered is being determined. Once a freedom of speech receives a physical boundary…all bets are off
b. Dateline Canada: Christian thought & expression has been severely hampered. There now exists as body of case law Christian ideology being typified as criminal. A pastor is currently under indictment for making faith professions that were deemed to be ‘hate speech’.
When you blow this up to the broader culture, America is now viewed by many to be in a ‘post Christian’ state. The far-reaching implications for those of us that love to read Christian literature and write Christian literature is compelling. How long will publishers continue to take on projects that might be viewed as counter-cultural? How many buyers will continue to pick up and invest in books or Medias that challenge some potion of the cultural meme?
The purpose of this is to nudge discussion along. It seems to me that the larger purpose is to figure out ways to increase and exponentially extend the conversation for Christian literature of all types. My goal, stated outcome, life assignment is to bring Christian topics back into the cultural mainstream. Hearing topics of faith, hope and love spoken round the kitchen table or at the office water-cooler is a heavenly chorus indeed.
WILL U LYSN