Shaving and the Gospel . . . really . . .

ahc · Post by **ahc** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 4:42 pm

I've been lurking here, with great results for my shaves, for several months. Thanks to all the regulars for the great tips and the spirit of the place.

I'm a writer for, among other outlets, the magazine Books & Culture: A Christian Review and recently wrote an essay about the world of wet shaving. In a humorous sequence of events, a pastor friend of mine named Daniel Harrell picked up the article and used portions of it for a sermon, which was subsequently picked up by none other than the ShaveBlogger himself.

For those of you interested in reading the full piece (which starts out with some of the nuts and bolts of the wet shaving movement and moves on to reflections on manhood, the Odyssey, and the Christian doctrine of salvation, believe it or not), it's now available here: The Best a Man Can Get.

Cheers -

Andy Crouch

Hugo · Post by **Hugo** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 4:52 pm

Andy,
Wonderful piece. I enjoy your style of writing. I hope you stick around SMF to learn and share knowledge. All voices here are equal and welcome.
Pull up your favorite chair, sit back, and sit for a spell.

DEF · Post by **DEF** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:20 pm

Hey, Andy!

Welcome to SMF, and thanks for sharing your article. I did pick up the sermon through Shaveblog, and with all respect to Pastor Harrell, I thought the transition was a bit forced. How interesting it is to read your original and find what had been missing. As a writer myself who was raised in fundamentalist Christian churches before becoming steeped in more humanist perspectives, I respect anyone who can approach the feast of redemption via wetshaving, Camus and Homer. It's good to see doctrine draw context from these cultural touchstones, rather than be at odds with them. Very nice work -- well conceived and well executed!

honkdonker · Post by **honkdonker** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:41 pm

are you the Andrae Crouch?

Onion · Post by **Onion** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 10:20 pm

Andy, Great article... Please stick around and add to the mix here.

Gramps · Post by **Gramps** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 4:00 am

Thanks for that Andy!
Wonderfully put together and even with my limited understanding.... I understood it!

Great stuff.

- Gramps

murchmb · Post by **murchmb** » Fri Apr 14, 2006 7:23 am

Andy,

That was a very enjoyable read. Thanks for sharing.

Mike

growler · Post by **growler** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 6:46 am

Very nice piece. Enjoyed it thoroughly.