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Discover a conversational guide to theology in the postmodern context and in the emerging church that will help you shape, understand and live out practical Christian theology.
Description: Theology should breathe life and unity among God's people, but today’s culture creates a barrier of ignorance and misunderstanding in the study of God. Author Ed Cyzewski seeks to build a method for theology that is rooted in a relationship with God and thrives on dialogue.
Other Links of Interest:
An interview with author Ed Cyzewski.
Listen to Ed's Neal Boron Live radio interview
Watch a video of Ed discussing his book with a small group.
Coffeehouse Theology
ISBN-13: 9781600062773
Trim Size: 5 1/2 x 8 1/4
Cover: Paperback
240 Pages
Percentage Discounts for Bulk Purchases of Single Items
Downloadable
Part of a Series
Available in Spanish
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View all reviewsCustomer Reviews
book review
“Coffeehouse Theology” represents an attempt to bring knowledge of and perspective on the study of God to the marketplace, for use by the average person. For the reader short on time, I will say briefly that the attempt was not successful and I would suggest you find another book to read. For those interested in why I have this impression, read on.
It took me a long time to read this book because it did not seem to be written for me. From the outset, it is not clear who the intended audience is. The author shows little insight into the needs or perspective of the average reader. The plethora of seminary jargon and failure to translate the need for the information presented into the context of the average person makes this read like a term paper that only others taking the class could understand or appreciate. There is some useful information buried deep within its pages, but honestly, I would never have made it that far without obligation. “Coffeehouse” implies information of interest to the average person. “Theology” is a topic primarily of interest to those in seminary. The title fits this book which fails to connect the two.
Posted by Curtis Snook on 2/6/2010 3:56:29 PM
Great Contextual Theology Book!!!
Book Review: Coffee House Theology by Ed Cyzewski
Coffee House Theology is a wonderful book that engages a conversation with the postmodern Christian mind in asking questions about theology. I felt it was more of an introduction to contextual theology than an in-depth study. It left me wanting more depth from this writer. The book gave a clear description of what contextual theology is about… I love this statement “Our local settings and cultural values-in other words, our context-influence how we read God’s Word.” Pg. 19 The Global viewpoint of our view on God and scripture was insightful. On pg. 62 Ed raises an important point about culture, “Every culture has opportunities and challenges.”
The author Ed Cyzewski (MDiv Biblical Theological Seminary, BA Taylor University) is a freelance writer and speaker who has contributed to numerous magazines and book projects. He blogs at the Christian Post, as well as his personal blogs on writing (www.edcyz.com) and theology (www.inamirrordimly.com).
My favorite chapter was Chapter 3 titled “Mission why the church needs theology” by far is worth the price of the book. I love this excerpt taken from pg 34--“Instead of asking how we can get people to church, mission asks how we can get church to the people.” It would be great for the author to write a book using only Chapter 3!
To compare The Andy Griffith Show to the Real World on MTV was a great analogy of how modern and postmodern viewpoints exist and clash. I was challenged to reinvent the way I dialogue with nonbelievers in this new postmodern world. I appreciated his clarity in that sometimes the Word of God will be prophetic and go against the grain of culture. The goal as stated on pg. 101 was to be relevant and prophetic. I had to repent from this truthful statement “We can’t hope to keep the church precisely like its early predecessors anymore than we can keep bell-bottoms or togas in style.”
Being a conservative orthodox Christian I had concerns over several liberal ecumenical undertones. Chapter 11 dealing with catholic and charismatic experiences was for me extrabiblical. I would not discount the book for this as I believe the church needs to begin dialogue in a postmodern world today more than ever! This book begins that needed discussion. The end of every chapter had a web link to the author’s blog to further study that chapter out…that is just too cool!
Jason Rigby
http://northwestpastorjason.blogspot.com/
Posted by T. Jason Rigby on 7/6/2009 10:30:21 PM
Great Contextual Theology Book!!!
Book Review: Coffee House Theology by Ed Cyzewski
Coffee House Theology is a wonderful book that engages a conversation with the postmodern Christian mind in asking questions about theology. I felt it was more of an introduction to contextual theology than an in-depth study. It left me wanting more depth from this writer. The book gave a clear description of what contextual theology is about… I love this statement “Our local settings and cultural values-in other words, our context-influence how we read God’s Word.” Pg. 19 The Global viewpoint of our view on God and scripture was insightful. On pg. 62 Ed raises an important point about culture, “Every culture has opportunities and challenges.”
The author Ed Cyzewski (MDiv Biblical Theological Seminary, BA Taylor University) is a freelance writer and speaker who has contributed to numerous magazines and book projects. He blogs at the Christian Post, as well as his personal blogs on writing (www.edcyz.com) and theology (www.inamirrordimly.com).
My favorite chapter was Chapter 3 titled “Mission why the church needs theology” by far is worth the price of the book. I love this excerpt taken from pg 34--“Instead of asking how we can get people to church, mission asks how we can get church to the people.” It would be great for the author to write a book using only Chapter 3!
To compare The Andy Griffith Show to the Real World on MTV was a great analogy of how modern and postmodern viewpoints exist and clash. I was challenged to reinvent the way I dialogue with nonbelievers in this new postmodern world. I appreciated his clarity in that sometimes the Word of God will be prophetic and go against the grain of culture. The goal as stated on pg. 101 was to be relevant and prophetic. I had to repent from this truthful statement “We can’t hope to keep the church precisely like its early predecessors anymore than we can keep bell-bottoms or togas in style.”
Being a conservative orthodox Christian I had concerns over several liberal ecumenical undertones. Chapter 11 dealing with catholic and charismatic experiences was for me extrabiblical. I would not discount the book for this as I believe the church needs to begin dialogue in a postmodern world today more than ever! This book begins that needed discussion. The end of every chapter had a web link to the author’s blog to further study that chapter out…that is just too cool!
Jason Rigby
http://northwestpastorjason.blogspot.com/
Posted by T. Jason Rigby on 7/6/2009 10:09:16 PM
Tired of Systematic Theology books? Read this.
Recently a friend pointed me to NavPress suggesting that I might write a review on a new book they published called, Coffeehouse Theology. The last thing I wanted was to read another systematic theology book, but as I looked closer I recognized that this was a book about the study/need/role of theology in our lives, and not another book full of it. I thought it might provide me the opportunity to process some of my systematic angst so I asked them to send me a copy. The book has helped me process, so has the author.
What I want, maybe need in my journey more than authoritative experts are people that will be sincere, honest, and humble. I found that the author, Ed Cyzewski, fit this description. We have had several discussions about what he wrote, what he didn’t write, and what others have written down. This book really does a good job at helping a student understand what has already taken place in the study of God and lays out hope for a healthy steps moving forward.
One of the best things this book offers its readers is the chance to understand contextual theology, of really coming to terms with how the environment impacts a readers understanding of scripture. Ed also does a fantastic job of walking through the major cultural changes throughout history and explains in a simple way of how those shifts have impacted our theological understanding and practices. Finally, Ed ends the book with great examples of how we need conversation, diversity, and love permeating our study. Without it we just have dogma, and I think that study has taken us just about as far as it can.
Grab some friends, a few copies of the book and get yourself out to a coffee shop today. Ed’s given you some great food to digest as you fellowship together.
Posted by Chad Estes on 7/1/2009 10:24:26 PM
Great Overview of Contextual Theology
I was really prepared not to like Ed Cyzewski’s Coffeehouse Theology, Reflecting on God in Everyday Life. I don’t even really know why. I guess I just wasn’t in the mood to read a theology book. Theology literally means “words about God.” Theology books come in two main types: books that tell you words about God and books that help you with a framework for your own words about God. This is the latter. I wasn’t expecting that and I have to say I was pretty impressed. The author has not broken any new ground in this book, but he does a pretty amazing job of introducing the concept of contextual theology in a way that I believe is understandable to the average lay person.
Contextual Theology makes some people nervous. They believe that it has to do with changing the message of the gospel and scripture to match the current context. Cyzewski clearly points out that we can’t help but contextualize our understanding of God. We all see God through some “cultural lens” and if we better understand that lens, we are better equipped to understanding how it shapes and/or distorts our image of God.
Many of us want to read and trust scripture as it is, but we fool ourselves if we don’t believe that our understanding of God and our reading of scripture is affected by the fact that we are Americans living in 2009. If we truly want to do justice to what God is trying to teach us; if we really want to do theology, we need to come to terms with what we bring to the table. We can’t just expect to leave who we are behind while we enter God’s presence and then pick it up on the way out. “Christians who claim to be separated from culture face the danger of not noticing its influence on their thinking.” (p.122)
I don’t know if the author would agree, but I see his methodology as very Wesleyan. As United Methodists, we believe that we bring three things to the table when we study scripture: tradition, experience and reason. Cyzewski speaks instead of a “web of beliefs.” (p 104.) He mostly focuses on the tradition part and experience and reason, in his model, become context. The main point of agreement here is that we never do theology or study scripture in a vacuum. Theology is a conversation with voices past and voices present.
There is a discussion guide available for the book. I think that would be a fantastic group study. Theology is a conversation. This would be a great conversation starter.
Posted by Will Rice on 5/4/2009 7:18:49 AM
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