Coffeehouse Theology by Ed Cyzewski
Reviewed by Marshall Hughes
"Ed Cyzewski’s Coffeehouse Theology challenges us to have a broader, global perspective of modern-day theology, especially as seen in the context of the challenges of post-modernism."
With much of some Christian circles having been reduced to either emotions,
interpersonal relationships or a pursuit of prosperity, it is refreshing
to have someone write a Christian book on something closer to the target
- like theology.
Ed Cyzewski’s Coffeehouse Theology challenges us, after a slow start,
to have a broader, global perspective of modern-day theology, especially as
seen in the context of post-modernism. He challenges us to think from a world
perspective since Christianity is not limited to North America. (This book
should not be confused with another book of the same title written in 2000
by Jim Thomas.)
The Bible itself contains cultural context, and the author discusses what we
can and must do to separate that cultural context from Christ’s message.
The writers of the Bible, says Cyzewski, “formed their own kind of contextual
theology that shared the story of God using the literary forms, language and
shared experiences of their times.”
An in-depth discussion of post-modernism is probably the highlight of the book.
If you can make it past the wandering first stages, this part is thought provoking
and well worth waiting for.
Although the overall effect of Coffeehouse Theology is quite good, there are
a few minor points with which one could quibble.
First, the author’s use of the term A.C.E. (After the Common Era) instead
of A.D. (anno domini, more commonly know as After Death) strikes me as political
correctness at best, pretentious surrender monkey at worst. But I digress.
Second, at the end of most but not all chapters is a less-than-helpful diagram
called, “A Web of Theology” which “illustrates the interconnected
nature of Christian theology’s sources and contexts.” The diagram
is the same each time, with only one sentence in each chapter being printed
in bold.
Fortunately, each chapter, regardless of whether or not it has the unnecessary
diagram, has a detailed “for further reading” list for the reader
who wants to do more in-depth study. There are also a few helpful websites
listed for those seeking biblical commentaries and resources as well as church
creeds and historical documents.
Last but not least, the author gets high points for his mostly hubris-less
style which makes it easy for even the layman to understand... in most cases.
As he acknowledges, “sometimes theology debates are little more than
contests to show off who knows more.”
However, early in the book Cyzewski slips up a few times and gives us an over-the-topper
or two such as, “If all mystery, divinity, and subjectivity could be
removed, the enlightenment’s quest for certainty could be fulfilled,
removing the free radical of divine intervention from the works of objective
observation.”
Um, right.
Skip over a few gobbledygookers like that, and you have a good, thought-provoking
read.
Marshall Hughes is a former sports writer for the Honolulu
Advertiser. For most
of the past 17 years he has taught English in Japan. He has taught at the university
level in America, Japan and China. Among his hobbies are sports, traveling and
photography. He has been to 40 countries and is always hoping to go somewhere
new. He is an award-winning photographer in both Japan and America. His bi-lines
include The Washington Post, The Pacific Daily News (Guam), The
Contra Costa
Times and several sports publications.
