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Spokesperson needed
Inhabitatio Dei posts an image of the theologian he's discussing in each post. I like that. So embodied. Recently there was a contest for Ugliest Theologian. Pope Benedict won. In the comments someone wrote: "I wonder, Halden, what would happen if there was a surge in pretty-boy and handsome Christian theologians in the Church. Would we be lost in…..Hollywood? Our theology would be just as shallow and lacking substance? God forbid! Lord, keep the uglies coming! Soli Deo Gloria! (Hehe)"
No, no, no - we need some hot spokesperson to go on shows like The Daily Show and be eloquent and charming and engaging and make people want to think, hey, I think I need to think more about this Christianity thing. Nothing shallow about that, right? We need the equivalent of Reza Aslan. When his book first came out, I saw him on The Daily Show and ran out to buy it. I almost finished it too! I didn't convert or anything but such a nice looking young man! He must have something interesting to say!
(Here you may think: Jennifer, your idea of hot seems to be a former junior high school Audio/Visual Club nerd who grew up and got some hip glasses. Yes, it is.). I saw Tony Campolo on The Colbert Report the other week.
Not hot. In a comment over at Avdat, Jonathan mentions hearing Bart Ehrman on NPR yesterday - I heard him too! And I've also seen him on The Colbert Report.
Not hot either, but his message is "sexy" (Oh, this Christianity thing is not what they all think it is!) So obviously to combat this "sexy" message we need someone with an orthodox message who's hot.* A good-looking N.T. Wright!**
(Not hot either.)
*Clean-cut evangelical types need not apply. We are appealing to a different demographic. Equal opportunity employer - male and female theologians needed!
**I'm aware that some don't think N.T. Wright is orthodox. We're not appealing to that demographic either, so I don't care what they think.
Simon Oliver (author of Philosophy, God, and Motion) is quite the smashing
lad:
Oh, I don't know, I think N. T. Wright's bald/bearded look is pretty hot.
I have not heard of Dr. Oliver. A nice looking fellow and I am certain his
accent only adds to his "hotness." Chicks dig accents.
All right, all right - I'll do it...women can't get enough of me, you
know...really, it's true.
Anyone wishing to apply for this position should submit photos, a CV,
letters of recommendation and will need to interview with the search
committee.
Allow me to recommend one of my church mates. (No accent, but half Indian
-- exotic!)
'Anyone wishing to apply for this position should submit photos, a CV,
letters of recommendation and will need to interview with the search
committee.'
Sunglasses are cool. (see: Bono)
Books? Who needs books? Rob can ride horses and catch things with lassoes!
And he can sing! But OK, I'll grant that a singing Indian cowboy theologian
sounds more like something for Bollywood than for the Daily Show.
Write a book? Well, if you're going to be all picky about it...
I was thinking of Lauren Winner too.
Having a "past" or a "persona" (former Jewish Orthodox/world's favorite
evangelical - ahem- floozy/famous-in-certain-circles author or seminary
drop-out/forklift operator/smooth talkin' salesman poet or singing Indian
cowboy theologian) is a bonus.