Rethinking Worldview

Shore Youth Ministry Review

Brandon Schmidt read Rethinking Worldview in his seminary class on Ministry in a Cultural Context, then posted a review at Shore Youth Ministry. Here's his conclusion:

"Overall, I felt that the book served as a helpful guide to a Christian worldview. For the novice, the author not only provides a guide, but also explains why a Christian worldview is important. And for someone familiar with studying worldviews, Bertrand challenges your thinking and causes you to reevaluate your own worldview. While reading this book, I was constantly looking at my own life and evaluating how I see the world. I have now been noticing more how I view the world, and how that affects myself, my relationship with others, and in my role in my ministry."

He gives it a 4 out of 5 rating. Thanks, Brandon!

Equip to Disciple Reviews Rethinking Worldview

The First Quarter 2008 issue of Equip to Disciple, the quarterly publication of the Presbyterian Church in America's CEP (Christian Education and Publications), includes a review of Rethinking Worldview. It's on page 21 of the print journal (available in PDF) and also online. The conclusion:

There are 12 chapters providing good material for group study. The book will not only help you fine tune your worldview and how it impacts the transformation of your thinking but it will also provide good teaching on communicating your worldview to those around you. If there is any truth in the idea that the medium is the message, we must work doubly hard to develop our worldview, which will impact the way we think, which in turn will impact knowing what God would have us do. You will appreciate this book.

To Talk Without Shame

An Amazon reviewer named EDHreader created a list of books for "Humble Apologetics" which included Rethinking Worldview. Here's why:

"Refreshingly clear in its approach to worldview, this book exemplifies the sort of thinking needed to live in this present world without being conformed to it, and to talk without shame in the marketplace of ideas."

I'm grateful that my book has been included in such a worthy list. Thanks, EDHreader!

Jollyblogger Reviews Rethinking Worldview

David Wayne has posted a very kind review of Rethinking Worldview at Jollyblogger. Here's his conclusion:

"If you've read the others, you can still profit from this book as he covers valuable new ground and packages some of the familiar in new ways. He is very well read, pulling illustrations from daily life, to movies, to great literature and beyond. I'm frankly amazed at how such a young man (well, he looks young to me) has such a breadth of reading. This book can be profitably read by college students and up. Atlhough it would be a reach for some high schoolers I still wouldn't hesitate to give it to smarter, older high schoolers as an introduction to some higher level reading."

For the record, I'm thirty-seven going on seventy. Thanks for taking the time to read and review the book, David!

The Portable Seminary reviews Rethinking Worldview

Back in February, Paul Luedtke, a doctoral student at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School reviewed Rethinking Worldview for The Portable Seminary. He writes: "...Re-thinking Worldview remains an important book and deserves a serious read because Bertrand’s approach is fresh, informed, and anchored in a global context." I particularly appreciate this observation:

"This book is of particular interest to those trying to understand, and engage the culture that surrounds them. In view of the current 'culture wars', where Evangelicals often see culture as something to either battle against or be isolated from, the author shows how correctly understanding a Biblical worldview and 'asking worldview questions' can be 'a way to open up the culture to deeper scrutiny. It ought to provide a fuller, richer experience of the world around us.'"

He does take me to task for not demonstrating why correspondence, coherence and productivity are good tests for the validity of a worldview, and he found the alliteration (worldview, wisdom, witness) forced. My response? You may have a point.

I should take this opportunity to point out what a great resource The Portable Seminary is. If you want to take your theological education further, it's an excellent starting point.

DiscerningReader.com: "A truly literary author who writes sophisticated non-fiction..."

Mark Tubbs at DiscerningReader.com has posted an extraordinarily positive review of Rethinking Worldview, as well as an interview he conducted with me after reading the book. It's hard not to blush in response to such lavish praise: "...my only complaint about this book and this author is that there’s only one of each." I'm especially pleased with his assessment of the way I've handled Scripture in the book, since it was very deliberate:

Rethinking Worldview definitely isn’t short on doctrine, but it’s not the hit-you-over-the-head kind. Bertrand freely admits where his theological and intellectual allegiances lie – be warned, he’s not afraid of labels. But there’s never an inkling of superiority in the text, which is as it should be, since Bertrand is trying to usher the reader towards a humbler, holistic – and dare I say, humane – approach to worldview. His nudging is always in concert with, and never opposed to, the fundamental doctrines of the faith. The biblical passages he brings to bear on his insights (or more accurately, the biblical passages that have informed his insights) never pop up extraneously; rather, they are seamlessly woven into the text and appear only in appropriate and helpful places. Bertrand never shoehorns a biblical reference into the text for the sake of having a biblical reference.

The interview is well worth reading, too. Mark probes into my take on "mystery," explores the importance of reading, and makes me defend my view that creative contribution should be the culmination of good worldview thinking. If you've read Rethinking Worldview, the review and interview should stimulate your thinking -- and if you haven't, then perhaps they'll inspire you to pick up a copy.

Irish Calvinist Reviews Rethinking Worldview

A new review of Rethinking Worldview has been posted at IrishCalvinist.com, Erik Raymond's blog. It's written by Matt Fudge, who is a deacon at Omaha Bible Church. Here's a taste:

I really enjoyed Bertrand’s foray into the Christian’s view of art. He manages to embrace the post-modern emphasis on storytelling over dogmatism while maintaining the Christian’s responsibility to communicate truth.

For more, check out the link. Thanks, Matt, for taking the time to read and review the book -- and thanks Erik for posting it!

Thumbs Up from Reformation21

Reformation21, the online magazine of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, has posted a review of Rethinking Worldview written by assistant to the editorial director Nate Shurden. I was thrilled to read it for a number of reasons: (a) I'm an avid reader of Reformation21, (b) like me, Shurden is a worldview-junkie, with twenty-eight worldview tomes on his shelf, and (c) his conclusions are very positive. The whole review is worth reading in detail, but I'll quote the final paragraph as a summary:

"Amazingly, I never sensed I was being sold some neatly packaged argumentation that emphasized 'solutions' and ignored inconsistencies or mysteries. Rather, I believe I had the unique opportunity to walk alongside a man who wonders Christianly as he wanders through all the intersections of life. Among recent contributions of this kind, (Re)Thinking Worldview is most assuredly a mark above. Leaving hardly a stone unturned, Bertrand proves to be an able guide through the sometimes murky waters of worldview, wisdom, and witness—and he does so as a man who strives to take his own thoughts captive, exercise wisdom in fearing God, bearing witness for Christ. A man who practices what he preaches . . . a rare combination indeed."

I'm grateful to Nate for taking the time to read the book and review it for Reformation21.

Steve Bishop Blogs Through Rethinking Worldview

For the past few weeks, Steve Bishop has been blogging his way chapter-by-chapter through Rethinking Worldview, wrapping up the series on January 5. He gives a generous series of reviews that highlight the book's strengths and weaknesses. It's a little arrogant of an author to agree with a reviewer's praise, so I'll limit myself to saying that, where Steve is critical of what I've written, I tend to think he has a point. The posts make for interesting reading, and I recommend them highly. Here's a list of direct links:

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12

Thanks, Steve, for taking the time to share your thoughts on the book!

Pulpit Magazine Gives Rethinking Worldview the Nod

Nathan Williams has posted a thorough -- and thoroughly positive -- review of Rethinking Worldview on the Pulpit Magazine site. Follow the link to read the whole thing. Here's a taste:

"(Re)Thinking Worldview is structured in a very intentional manner to help the reader see the progression from right belief to right practice to right witness. Bertrand also writes in a style which is engaging and easy to read. He mixes didactic sections with interesting illustrations and stories to keep the pages turning and the reader on his toes."

When people ask me what's different about the book, one of the things I emphasize is the way it's written. Rethinking Worldview is not a dusty old textbook. (Not that I don't love textbooks; the dustier the better!) It's an accessible and entertaining look at ideas that aren't as abstract and cerebral as they might at first seem. Hopefully, it brings worldview thinking down to earth, without dumbing it down.

Thanks, Nathan, for taking the time to read and appreciate the book. I encourage everyone to take a look at the full review: (Re)Thinking Worldview.

And don't forget: from now until December 14, when you buy an ESV Bible from Crossway you can get a copy of Rethinking Worldview at 50% off! See the details.