Back in May I spoke at a conference in Portland, Oregon. Among other things I did a seminar based on The Divine Commodity. After returning home someone directed me to a blog post by Pete Tegeler. Pete had attended the conference in Portland and decided to create a “fake” interview with me on his blog based on what I had presented.

It’s always scary to have a stranger putting words into your mouth, but after reading Pete’s fictional interview I was actually impressed. He not only captured my thoughts accurately, he even did a great job rendering me in MS Paint. Here’s an excerpt of my interview with Pete Tegeler about Consumer Christianity.

From Pete Teleger’s blog:

Like I said in my last post, Christian commodification has been on my radar. …

A poll conducted by Time Magazine has revealed that The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart is the most trusted news anchor in America. He beat Brian Williams, Charlie Gibson, and Katie Couric. Walter Cronkite, having just entered his grave, must already be turning over in it.

Stewart won with 44 percent of the vote. Brian Williams came in a distant second with 29 percent. See the results here.

Like many others in my generation I am a fan of The Daily Show. I find Jon Stewart to be intelligent and his irreverence is refreshing if sometimes too snarky for my pallet. Still, I wonder what is says about my generation when we vote someone like Stewart to be the most trusted voice in American news—especially when The Daily Show makes no…

Out of Ur is currently sponsoring a contest related to my book, The Divine Commodity: Discovering a Faith Beyond Consumer Christianity. I’m not surprised that a few readers have posted questions and comments about the possible hypocrisy of publishing, promoting, and selling a book that critiques Consumerism. That’s what I love about Urbanites—you are a sharp bunch.

At least one reader has come to my book’s defense. “Elly at” writes:

It seems far too simple and circular a criticism to say that selling a book about the pitfalls of consumerism is hypocritical. The same could be said about anyone who gets paid for writing a book about the problem of poverty…. Or about rendering any critique of film, books, current affairs, or blog posts, because in order to criticize media, you…

The following article was published in the Spring 2009 issue of Leadership Journal.  I wrote the piece with Brandon O’Brien. What isn’t mentioned in the article is that Eboo Patel and I grew up together in Glen Ellyn, IL. We attended the same elementary, junior high, and high school. We lost touch after graduation and reconnected for this article. The full piece can be read on Leadership’s website.

Eboo Patel is not the most likely seminary professor. His credentials are not the issue. Patel earned his doctorate from Oxford University, and he is a respected commentator on religion for The Washington Post and National Public Radio. He has spoken in venues across the world, including conferences for evangelical church leaders.

What makes Eboo Patel an unlikely seminary professor is that he is…