The Vanishing Word

The Vanishing Word - The Veneration of Visual Imagery in the Postmodern World - Arthur W. Hunt III  



 In our technologically advanced age the value of the written word is being lost. Arthur W. Hunt III reveals that we have entered a high-tech version of the Dark Ages, but he admits he is not the first to do so. He shows how the Judeo-Christian heritage is characteristically word-dependent, and contrasts this with Paganism, which typically has been image-dependent. The book shows how the Dark Ages of Europe illustrate what can happen when a culture lapses from the written word, and that image has supplanted the word, causing pagan forms to return.

The Bible calls Babylon “the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication” Revelation 17:1,2. Spiritually, Babylon is the relentless competitor of revealed religion and strives to change the truth of God into a lie, by idolizing the creature over the Creator (Romans 1:25). The term mystery Babylon is allegorical for the political religious systems of ancient Egypt, Canaan, Assyria, Greece, and Rome all of which bowed to the image.

The Author shows the reader examples of this by giving a historical account of how this is leading our present society into Idolatry and Paganism. The devaluation of the written word is leaving people defenseless against counterfeits and leaves them open for whatever trend comes along. This book takes a close examination of our media saturated culture.

This book is a clear warning that the church is being cut off from its word-based heritage. We are open to abuse by those who exploit the image but neglect the Word. Thoughtful readers will find this a challenging call to be critical about the images bombarding our senses and to affirm that “the Word is everything.”

© 2003
Published by Crossway Books   http://www.crossway.org/   
The Vanishing Word - Arthur W. Hunt III
ISBN 1-58134-404-X
Christianbook.com: The Vanishing Word

Review Date: June 2006