Biola Magazine editor Brett McCracken (pictured) is writing a book about “cool Christianity,” analyzing an under-appreciated corner of American readers: the Christian hipster.
In an excerpt from his book, McCracken lists a few popular titles among young and hip Christians, including: “Resident Aliens” by Stanley Hauerwas and Will Willimon; and “The Imitation of Christ” by Thomas a Kempis. His post has already generated 101 responses from from Christian readers, many of them adding more books to an eclectic, secular reading list that embraces everybody from Chuck Klosterman to Flannery O’Connor.
Here’s an excerpt: “Christian hipsters tend not to like contemporary Christian music (CCM), or Christian films (except ironically), or any non-book item sold at Family Christian Stores. They hate warehouse churches or churches with American flags on stage, or churches with any flag on stage, really … Christian hipsters like music, movies, and books that are well-respected by their respective artistic communities–Christian or not.”