Prophetically Incorrect: A Christian Introduction to Media Criticism

The Bible includes prophetic speech and at times the church and its representatives are called to speak prophetically. But in our media-saturated age when many claim to speak for God, how can we evaluate the avalanche of supposedly prophetic speech? What does it mean to truly be prophetic? And when Christians should speak prophetically, how can they do so in a biblical and effective way? Using vivid examples, this book offers clear guidelines for creating, critiquing, and consuming popular media, as well as practical suggestions for faithful communication. It also helps readers think critically about communication technology. The book includes a foreword by Quentin Schultze and a preface by Clifford Christians.

From the Back Cover

Media Criticism for Faithful Communicators

"Woods and Patton move easily between popular culture and prophetic tradition, doing so in a puckish, knowing manner that engages and delights. For the knowing reader, this prophetic foray echoes and replicates Jeremiah's savage truthfulness against the temple of his day; only now the temple exists in the liturgies of sitcoms, professional sports, advocacy news, and infomercials. The hunger for truth voiced here is an urgent one."--Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary

"In the debates on this side of heaven over presuppositions, over realism and relativism, over the aesthetics and ethics of popular culture, this book will turn heads and contribute a compelling voice."--Clifford G. Christians, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (from the preface)

"A characteristic fault of prophets is that they are so damn clear, and I use that theologically explosive word intentionally, for prophets speak uneasy truth to a complacent world slipping into damnation. Woods and Patton have crafted a cogent argument for the prophetic imagination. Prophetically Incorrect strikes with keen and accurate insight and disturbs our tiny universes."--Terry Lindvall, Virginia Wesleyan College

"As consumers and critics of the media, we must develop a prophetic voice, say Woods and Patton. This isn't a book for those who are given to knee-jerk reactions or bumper-sticker slogans. But for Christians willing to be courageously reflective, Prophetically Incorrect is a gem."--Em Griffin, Wheaton College; author, A First Look at Communication Theory

"Prophetically Incorrect presents the radical possibility that a moral accounting is and always has been inescapably human. Social health and personal wellbeing keep it at the very center of entertainment, storytelling, and education. In turn, Woods and Patton offer a powerfully consistent argument that leads readers to ask--whether about U2 or Lady Gaga--what's the moral point? Clear-headed and intellectually competent, these authors want seats at the Cynics' Cafe, the Debate of the Disenchanted, and the Church Council--all of which will be challenged by their presence."--Mark Fackler, Calvin College