Hanna Rosin reviewsa new book by Daniel Radosh called Rapture Ready!, a book about Christian pop culture.  The review, and presumably the book, ask the question: Can Christians participate in pop culture and still be good Christians?  And the corollary question is, can Christians make their own pop culture without it being kitschy?

In the ’80s, Christians were known as the boycotters, refusing to see movies or buy products that offended them. They felt about commercial culture much the way a Marxist might: that it was a decadent glorification of money and meaningless human relationships. Then, sometime during the ’90s, when conservative evangelicals started coming out of their shells, they took a different tack. The boycotters became coopters and embarked on the curious quest to enlist America’s crassest material culture in the service of spiritual growth.

A good review and book to read.  Rosin thinks there’s hope for us poor believers, at least for the youth among us.

Raised on iPods and downloadable music, they find it difficult truly to commit to the idea of a separate Christian pop culture. They might watch Jon Stewart or Pulp Fiction and also listen to the Christian band Jars of Clay, assuming the next album is any good. They are much more critical consumers and excellent spotters of schlock. The creators of Christian pop culture may just adapt and ease up on the Jesus-per-minute count, and artistic quality might show some improvement.

But never underestimate the bad taste of good people.