Being a hipster Christian is so the new cool. Tatoos, Wendell Berry, NPR, Trader Joe's, etc. This is what is means to be a "not lame" Christian.
Dude, I know whole churches in my town that think they are cooler than sliced bread and definitely fit the hipster profile. I can't wait for this book.
Writer Brett McCracken is writing a book related to this subject and posted this recently on his blog about hipster Christians:
"Things they [hipster Christians] don't like: Christian hipsters don't like megachurches, altar calls, and door-to-door evangelism. They don't really like John Eldredge's Wild at Heart or youth pastors who talk too much about Braveheart. In general, they tend not to like Mel Gibson and have come to really dislike The Passion for being overly bloody and maybe a little sadistic. They don't like people like Pat Robertson, who on The 700 Club famously said that America should "take Hugo Chavez out"; and they don't particularly like The 700 Club either, except to make fun of it. They don't like evangelical leaders who get too involved in politics, such as James Dobson or Jerry Falwell, who once said of terrorists that America should "blow them all away in the name of the Lord." They don't like TBN, PAX, or Joel Osteen. They do have a wry fondness for Benny Hinn, however.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. They prefer "Christ follower" to "Christian" and can't stand the phrases "soul winning" or "non-denominational," and they could do without weird and awkward evangelistic methods including (but not limited to): sock puppets, ventriloquism, mimes, sign language, "beach evangelism," and modern dance. Surprisingly, they don't really have that big of a problem with old school evangelists like Billy Graham and Billy Sunday and kind of love the really wild ones like Aimee Semple McPherson.
Things they [hipster Christians] like:
Christian hipsters like music, movies, and books that are well-respected by their respective artistic communities--Christian or not. They love books like Resident Aliens by Stanley Hauerwas and Will Willimon, Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger by Ron Sider, God's Politics by Jim Wallis, and The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis. They tend to be fans of any number of the following authors: Flannery O'Connor, Walker Percy, Wendell Berry, Thomas Merton, John Howard Yoder, Walter Brueggemann, N.T. Wright, Brennan Manning, Eugene Peterson, Anne Lamott, C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, Henri Nouwen, Soren Kierkegaard, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Annie Dillard, Marilynne Robison, Chuck Klosterman, David Sedaris, or anything ancient and/or philosophically important.Christian hipsters love thinking and acting Catholic, even if they are thoroughly Protestant. They love the Pope, liturgy, incense, lectio divina, Lent, and timeless phrases like "Thanks be to God" or "Peace of Christ be with you." They enjoy Eastern Orthodox churches and mysterious iconography, and they love the elaborate cathedrals of Europe (even if they are too museum-like for hipster tastes). Christian hipsters also love taking communion with real Port, and they don't mind common cups. They love poetry readings, worshipping with candles, and smoking pipes while talking about God. Some of them like smoking a lot of different things.
Christian hipsters love breaking the taboos that used to be taboo for Christians. They love piercings, dressing a little goth, getting lots of tattoos (the Christian Tattoo Association now lists more than 100 member shops), carrying flasks and smoking cloves. A lot of them love skateboarding and surfing, and many of them play in bands. They tend to get jobs working for churches, parachurch organizations, non-profits, or the government. They are, on the whole, a little more sincere and idealistic than their secular hipster counterparts.
This reminds me of something David Brooks might write but Mr. McCracken is showing true brilliance here. So on point.
guilty as charged, but i can't apologize for being awesome. ; )
Uh-oh.
I fit a lot of these sterotypes. Some, not so much (Ron Sider), but the others (Chesterton, A'Kempis, Hauerwas, Sedaris) too much.
I'm interested in what he thinks.
One other thing they like:
Reading Anthony Bradley's blog ;)
Quite on target, and quite amusing on some levels. Forgot to mention ignoring the suburbs for the cities (which could be a swing against their parents' emphasis).
It says they don't like "Christian films (except ironically)." What was the ironic film? Bet it isn't Fireproof. Or maybe it is.
I guess I qualify as a hipster at some point....
Now...again please.... hipster vs emergent or emerging?
I can't keep up with all the terminology! It takes a couple of years before each new fad reaches The Land of Eternal Spring
guilty
A broad brush paints broad strokes is my first thought. Seems to describe college life.
There are cool Christians? That is news to me, we are not so cool out west.
hey Ant,
what does the black christian 'head' (black version of 'hipster'?) look like?
I love many of those authors and call myself a Jesus follower. I am annoyed by much of what the hipster rejects, i have one tattoo, quit smoking about 6 months ago cold turkey, HOWEVER, i pastor a church in the suburb of all suburbs and I love it (most days), and the church is the most aesthetically immature group of Christians I have ever encountered . What's up with that? Perhaps I just like to dip my toes into hipsterville.
Hey... can you check this guy out...
http://edwardg.wordpress.com/
Can't figure out if he's ON Target... or must making fun of us...
Love hipsters. Love many of the things they like. E.g. So grateful for Mr Chesterton, and Ron Sider's ideas.
But can't stand their snootiness when it comes. Like a leaky wound.
Lets see who else we can label and categorize ... why does this feel so tiring?
I think he's on to something. But at the same time this list is a mix of christian hipsters with the contemporary christian. The contemporary christian are those dudes with the spiky hair and graphic filled t-shrits..almost trendy. Trying really hard to be cool. Much different from a hipster.
Where I come from we call them Disgruntled Children of Southern Baptists
guilty and totally okay with it.
"Dude, I know whole churches in my town that think they are cooler than sliced bread and definitely fit the hipster profile."
Who on earth could you be talking about?
Well, I'm definitely part-hipster and not really all that sorry about it.
Well done, McIntosh.
I have (in the last few years) gained a lot of friends/social circles that are to a T "hipster" (wonderful people). I defintely side with them on most things... but not all. I actually remember feeling like a "fish out of water" with that crowd for the longest time because I wasn't a "total" hipster... sometimes I still feel that way. At the same time, I don't mind not being labled as one either.
haha, actually McIntosh I had another church in mind, but you're might work too:)
the description is a bit like reading a horoscope. . . something for everyone to say "oh yeah that's me!"
benny hinn??? really?? I hope the Coen brothers get a reference on the positive side. . .
I think he should replace "hipster" with "socially relevant." I think that's the motivation for so many Christians who engage in the hip/trendy authors/movies/music/social causes/etc. Also, it's no big secret that generations are reactionary against the faulty/flawed happenings of the previous generation, a.k.a. the Pat Robertsons and door-to-door evangelisms and the spirit of separatism from culture.
Sorry, but I'm not a big fan of labels and stereotypes, however helpful they might be.
So, basically he's come up with the Christian version of Stuff White People Like?
add to list: hipsters like to point it out when Christians do something they think is original and cool but has actually already been done by a non-Christian.