The Evangelical Imagination

How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis

By: Karen Swallow Prior

Narrated by: Susan Hanfield

Contemporary American evangelicalism is suffering from an identity crisis—and a lot of bad press.

In this book, acclaimed author Karen Swallow Prior examines evangelical history, both good and bad. By analyzing the literature, art, and popular culture that has surrounded evangelicalism, she unpacks some of the movement's most deeply held concepts, ideas, values, and practices to consider what is Christian rather than merely cultural. The result is a clearer path forward for evangelicals amid their current identity crisis—and insight for others who want a deeper understanding of what the term "evangelical" means today.

This book explores ideas including conversion, domesticity, empire, sentimentality, and more. In the end, it goes beyond evangelicalism to show us how we might be influenced by images, stories, and metaphors in ways we cannot always see.

©2023 Karen Swallow Prior (P)2023 eChristian

Fantastic Content, Unfortunate Narration

Wonderfully illuminating without being overly prescriptive. Invites deep consideration of the cultural waters we swim in and makes me want to discern assumptions in me and about me.

Alas, the slow, stilted and breathy reading embodies (in my perspective) a sentimentality the author would have us avoid. A 1.1x or faster listen is recommended.

Great insights.

Really honest and insightful view of the faith journey. Much to be learned in this book.

Ariel

The maudlin narration is pathetic and spoils a brilliant book. The content is well written but it is shear agony to listen through each chapter. I'm rather going to read it myself.

An eye opening review of how Evangelicals got to where we are today.

Swallow Prior often brings a personal perspective to a literary/historical analysis of evangelicalism. That’s neither good nor bad - it’s just an attribute of the book. Tracing the literary roots of much of what evangelicals believe to the Victorian era was fascinating and enlightening.

Thinking About How We Think

This book is an elegant metacognative analysis of the evangelical mind. In reading this, I became increasingly aware that many of my fellow evangelicals are meta-blind and haven't stopped to think about how they think.

The Notorious KSP does a wonderful job of weaving parallel ideas from Scripture and classic literature to create a tapestry of imaginary.

Thoughtt-provoking. Don't miss this one!

The reader makes it impossible for me to finish.

The reader is just not a good choice for the material. I can't put my finger on it, but her voice just seems misplaced for this book.