More on PCE

In light of Del’s challenging new question, Ref21 decided to invite exciting contemporary theologian, Rev Dave Trendy, a self-proclaimed `theological barista’to give his considered opinion on the question. Dave is an obvious choice to address the question, being described on his website (www.ageingbutstillintouchwiththekids.org as `An author no Christian leader can ignore’ (Rev Sanc T Monious) and `One of the fifty most brilliant theologians since the very beginning of time’ (Agnes Trendy [definitely not Dave’s mother – same name but totally different woman]). He is also author of numerous books which have received stunningly good reviews in Christianity Today, including Semiotic Coffee for the Post-Starbucks World, Semiotic Starbucks for the Post Coffee World, and his latest, Semiotic World for the Post Starbucks Coffee.

We caught up with Dave giving a seminar at Hollywood Tans in `The Village:’ Dave, what do you think of post-conservative theology?  Does it enable us to `connect with the kids'?

`Well, hey, the first thing the mainline evangelicals need to realize is that, since the death of Cobain (that’s spelled C-O-B-A-I-N) and the rise of Bono (he’s the lead singer of U2, by the way), everything’s changed. I mean, the kids of today no longer dress smart for work, mindlessly submit to authority, or listen respectfully to their elders and their parents like they did back in the sixties. I mean, wake up, old people: kids aren't interested in listening to Ray Conniff or watching the Lawrence Welk Show any more.  That stuff went out with the eighties. And they don’t read books anymore; that’s why there are so few bookshops today compared to twenty years ago. This is a post-book generation, my friend – and the church needs to get real, get with the program or lose it’s young people. If you want to know more, I lay out in detail the death of the printed word in my next book, Starbucks Coffee for the Post Semiotic World. I mean, strictly entre nous, moi et le post de la lamp, the kids don’t like the pretentiousness, superiority and parading of learning of traditional Christian leaders, or permiers Chretiien traditonalle, as avant-garde punk rocker Plastique Bertrand might have said. They prefer guys me who can talk their language, who can talk about hip dudes of today like Curt Cobain (that’s spelled C-O-B-A-I-N) and who hang around at Starbucks, prophetically critiquing modern consumerist culture while drinking triple moccachino lattes (made with 2%). They want guys like me who are on first name terms with symbols of contemporary youth culture, young, hip guys like Bono and Sting and David Bowie. I mean, I deal with this in my book after next, Starbucks Semiotics for a …… (That’s enough `connecting with the kids’ for today – Del Boy ThomasI)