Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Being Hip

So tonight, Sandra and I hung out at the Delta Lion Pub.
We're cool like that. 

We shared a table with (24 year olds) Jer P and Dan G who are cool like that too. (Although they would probably argue that they are cooler because they have tattoos and skinny jeans.) 

Pfffft. 

Also at our table was Donna (Hi Donna! She's been reading this blog for years) and Craig (who does lighting).

We were there for The Kindlings. (The Kindlings is a movement inspired by C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Williams, Dorothy Sayers and a diverse group of gadflies and friends called “The Inklings,” who met in an Oxford pub each week for lively conversation and friendly disputation.
This grassroots movement communicates online and through our live events and podcasts. Like "The Inklings," it seeks to ignite intelligent, imaginative, hospitable exploration of ideas that matter in contemporary life.
Each podcast features a diverse panel of thought-provoking culture-shapers and observers, anchored by author and former talk-show host Bill Hogg.)

And tonight's topic was Hipster Christianity. (In the premier Kindlings Muse Canada West broadcast of 2011, we will discuss Brett McCracken’s Hipster Christianity. Hipster Christianity, McCracken’s debut book, deconstructs evangelicalism’s quest for cool and considers the trends the church openly embraces. McCracken alleges that we are, "turning Christianity into a shape-shifting chameleon with ever-diminishing ecclesiological confidence and cultural legitimacy." In an increasingly post-modern society, how should a thoughtful Christian respond? Can church be cool? Should church be cool? Bill and our cadre of gadflies, Dr. Allyson Jule, film critic Peter T. Chattaway, and filmmaker Kevin Miller, will add their wit and wisdom to the discussion.)
There was alot of discussion on what  "Hipster" is,  and according to my notes:

 - If you call yourself a hipster, you probably aren't one.
 - Commercial Drive in Vancouver; most hipster neighbourhood to live in.
 - Hipsters are young, independent, rebellious, individualistic people who all listen to certain bands (or certain specific types of music), have favorite movies, wear a particular style and brand of clothes. In other words, hipsters are defined by and dependent on consumerism. 

- Hipster = exclusivity. Which is the opposite of Christianity... = inclusivity.  

 - Being a hipster is all about image management. It's selfish. Self-centred. 

Then there was some discussion on Hipster Churches. And if they are "dummying down" the gospel message in order to be relevant to a hipster audience. What is the longevity of a Hipster Church - will they have to reinvent themselves to become relevant to the next generation of 'cool kids'? 

And speaking of relevancy... has 'being relevant' become an idol? Are churches putting more emphasis on being relevant than being Christ-like?

The panel discussion was good, but the chatting around our table was better; thanks to a diverse assortment of table mates who were very kind to some old ladies.

Just now, while typing out my notes, I googled Hipster Christianity to link to the book, and guess what I found? 

Uh huh. 

A quiz!

And guess what this traditional, middle-aged Mennonite mama who buys her clothes in the fat store got for a final score...

Yeah. That's right.


Your Christian Hipster Quotient:
74 / 120

High CHQ. You are a pretty progressive, stylish, hipster-leaning Christian, even while you could easily feel at home in a decidedly un-hip non-denominational church. You are conservative on some issues and liberal on others, and sometimes you grow weary of trendy "alt-Christianity." But make no mistake: You are a Christian hipster to at least some degree.




What'd you get?

Three things I'm thankful for:
1. Fun evenings
2. Start of a new semester Drew, Danica and Halee. Go get'm guys...
3. The mountains. Oh. My. Goodness. The Mountains.

Shalom,



1 comment:

Anonymous said...

My Christian Hipster Quotient:
61 / 120
Low CHQ. You probably belong to the purpose-driven, seeker-sensitive, Hawaiian shirt-wearing Christian establishment, even though you are open to some of the "rethinking Christianity" stuff. You seem to like edginess in some measure but become uneasy when your idea of Christian orthodoxy is challenged by some renegade young visionary who claims the virgin birth isn't necessary.

This happened only because most of the questions were skewed toward some kind of mainstream christianity. Amusing, anyway.