Le Sabot Post-Moderne

I saw that review a few weeks ago on PCANews also. I had never heard of the book until I saw the review, but I've been debating whether I should read the book in order to be able to engage in meaningful conversation about it with some others that have made reference to it. Interestingly, I was at the local Half-Price book store last night looking in "Fiction" for some T.S. Elliot poetry when I saw "Wild at Heart" wedged in amongst the fiction books. I thought, "Could this be the book or is there another with the same title that is "fiction"?" I pulled it from the shelf and it was indeed the book we speak of. I wonder if the workers there consider it "fiction"? Maybe they know more than we do. Anyway, it was pretty cheap and I thought seriously about buying it but I figured it would probably still be there when and if I decided I was ready to read it.

Just FYI, there has been an extended and ongoing debate over Wild at Heart at the Thinklings site. We even gave WAH its own category. If anyone's interested, just click on the category listing menu, select WAH, and you'll see all the posts related to the book. We've got several reviews, both from inside and outside the Thinklings circle, and lots of commentary both pro and con about Eldredge's message.

My father-in-law bought me WAH some time ago. I read it and honestly enjoyed it quite a bit. I think the author suffers from an effort to make arguments always Biblical, when he should have confidence that just because something is extra-Biblical, does not mean it is wrong or bad. As Charles Swindoll said recently ... "there are those who would say the Bible is all sufficient for the Christian life ... they are wrong."

WAH is attempting to deal with a certain emasculation that contemporary Western society is dealing with. His appeals to movies like Braveheart resonate with those of us who have a wandering heart, are explorers, adventurers, and who feel today's age robs us of our ability to act on these desires. As the concept of family changes, the roles of men & women must also change. With these changes come generational memories of how things used to be, supposed or perceived freedoms that once existed within distinct roles. Eldredge feels, as I would also, that today's Christian culture is OK with men that want to play in the church basketball league, but that it ostracizes those who are more baudy and reminiscent of GK Chesterton.

But, as someone who grew up with a very, very difficult relationship with his father, this book deserves respect for its discussion of "soul wounds" - those scars men bear that are unique to damaged relationships with our fathers. Where someone does not include this portion of his book in their critique, I would suggest they may have missed what this book has to bring that is positive, constructive, and inspiring.

I would agree w/ some of what is written on the site you reviewed, more from the perspective that the author is not content to argue his point from a concept or logic-only basis. God gave us the Bible and He gave us logic - both can and should be used in discussions about our current day and those struggles we have within it.

I think the author suffers from an effort to make arguments always Biblical

That's interesting, because most of the criticism I see is that Eldredge is not biblical enough, that he relies too heavily on cinematic illustrations and the like. And when he does cite Scripture, he too often prooftexts, using whatever translation "fits" what he wants to say. It has even been demonstrated that Eldredge had willfully twisted a particular verse, changing it to say something other than it does to better suit his stance.
You're the first person I've encountered -- pro or con WAH -- who has said it's too biblical. Even the pro-WAH people I encounter concede Eldredge could have employed more Scripture.

Oops. That last comment was me -- Jared.

Jared - "It's hard to find people who write about God from a position of commitment but still sound as if they're being human and honest, not running every word through the filter of religious subculture." That's from the forward of a book "Blue Like Jazz: Non-Religious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality. My point on WAH is not that he used too much Scripture, but that he is making two foundational errors in his writing. The primary one is that he is attempting to argue a point about our society and filter it through the Christian sub-culture.

One, he is attempting to take a topic (the role of men in today's Western society) and stretch the Bible to make points it is not intended to. His argument about Adam being brought back to the Garden of Eden after Eve was created and the resonant "wildness" this left in Adam is one such example.

The second error I would suggest is that he is writing a book that may have application to a particular group of men (frankly, one I would belong to), that feel disenchanted with the ability to explore and wander in today's structured civilization; however, to say that all fit within this demographic is incorrect. Some may find today's role for men completely OK! This error becomes more aggregious when you consider he attempts to get the Bible to support his contention that applies to a very select group of people.

If you were going to summarize my thoughts on WAH it would be that it is worth reading for the soul wound discussion, and that it touches on parts of certain wandering mens' souls. It has value to those of us who feel that detachment from the role we are called to fill. It over-spiritualizes where it could make its point on the basis of logic and social studies.

Ben, sorry for misunderstanding.

I have heard your clarified argument before, too. Isn't WAH a bit of refined "Alpha-Male" pseudo-pyschology? It seems that Eldredge is 10 years behind the secular movement but has gussied up his book with "Jesus" to make it marketable.

Jared and Ben-

"I have heard your clarified argument before, too. Isn't WAH a bit of refined "Alpha-Male" pseudo-pyschology? It seems that Eldredge is 10 years behind the secular movement but has gussied up his book with "Jesus" to make it marketable."

I haven't yet read the book, so I'm glad to hear from y'all on the subject. I have to admit though, that the vibe I get is similar to Jared's statement. I hear Robert Bly's drumming circles and want to look around for the totemic "sacred spear" that women stole from me whenever I hear about soul wounds. . . Though I'll freely admit I could be off-base. It's happened once or twice in the past.

Could be! Ten years ago the only alpha I cared about was my alpa-bits cereal, and my idea of male was being challenged by my first foray into the real world after 18 years of cultic psuedo-Christianity! WAH's discussion on the soul wound is real and essential for people like myself who lost a lot in having an absent father figure. In places it is extra-Biblical however; while it is an extra-Biblical argument, it is not a vapid or senseless point. Where he attempts to make Scripture say something it does not, is where I would say he goes too far (in these places he should be content to make more social commentary perhaps?). In these sections, I would suggest he is struggling through his own evangelical roots in that he feels a well thought out argument can not suffice. Enough said ...

Eldredge should consider that promoting a filthy talking movie is bad to anyone. This writer was scared by seeing Good Will Hunting:

Betrayed by Oscars
Did the 70th annual Academy Awards scar a nation? This TV special inspired me to go see Good Will Hunting. It was my first movie in years. I was sickened by all the filthy, repulsive words. I felt the awards betrayed me. How could actors with God-given talent of Robin Williams, Matt Damon and the rest of the cast speak such profanity? Yet, those around me rejoiced in laughter at every filthy remark. Has our society become so perverted?
Let the future Oscars glow from words spoken in true excellence, and not drip with sewage. The prophet Isaiah said, “Then said I, woe is me, for I am undone, because I am a man in the midst of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of host.”