The Mook-Malone's Version?

Going to Malone, there seems to me, to be somewhat a reversal of what the film, "Merchants of Cool" says the mook is. The party frat boys seem to be in the minority. As a christian college, that isn't too overpowering on rules, and regulations, many Christian guys at Malone have a sense of their intrinsic worth in Christ, and realize that they don't need to do anything that any form of media dictates as "cool". There appears to be ample room to think at Malone, and I think most students have taken advantage of that room. However, I think that the idea that the Christian community has of what it means to be a Christian guy (though much less of an issue than what it means to be an MTV-ified mook)seems to dictate to some students what they should listen to, wear, and watch. It seems some male students think that Christianity is about listening to Christian music, and wearing shirts that have a witty Christian saying on them. "Christian" media, more than anything else, appears to cut off unbelievers than bring anyone in. Christian marketing, just like secular in some respects, seems to be creating what they think the ideal male should look like, and some males buy into it. A shirt that says "God Doesn't Believe in Atheists" wouldn't start up any dialogue between a believer and non-believer, but just frustration. Neither would a Christian rock song that is going for a cross-over hit mean anything to a non-believer if the song contains nothing more than a few references to Jesus in it among lyrics of no substance, and/or uninspired, run of the mill music.

The Christian version of the mook is much less harmful to society than the secular version of the mook, but the Christian version is still quite harmful nonetheless. He makes Christianity look like a large marketing gimmick, rather than a way of life that should be evident solely through one's actions, demeanor, and outlook on life (that doesn't need to be written on a shirt). A Christian doesn't need to listen solely to music that speaks about God, because "secular" music also contains many truths, untruths, and ideas that Christians need to understand, and chew on in order to be "in the world". If we live solely through the world of Christan marketing, it would be nearly impossible to relate at all to most of the amoral issues that concern an educated unbeliever.