Name: Nancy R. Pearcey
Why you should know her: Pearcey is an astute cultural critic and one of the few female public intellectuals in evangelicalism.
Position: The Francis A. Schaeffer Scholar at the World Journalism Institute; Visiting scholar at Biola University's Torrey Honors Institute; Senior fellow at the Discovery Institute.
Previous: Founding editor of BreakPoint, a daily syndicated radio commentary program hosted and voiced by Chuck Colson; Policy director and senior fellow of the Wilberforce Forum; Coauthored a monthly column in Christianity Today; managing editor of the journal Origins & Design; Editorial board member for Salem Communications Network; Commentator on Public Square Radio
Education:
M.A. Covenant Theological Seminary
Graduate work in in history of philosophy at the Institute for Christian Studies in Toronto
Studied violin at Iowa State University and in Heidelberg, Germany.
Area of expertise/interest: Worldview analysis; Intelligent design theory
Books: Total Truth (2004); With Charles Colson: How Now Shall We Live? (1999); A Dance with Deception; The Christian in Today's Culture (2001); Science & Evolution (2001); With Charles Thaxton: Soul of Science: Christian Faith & Natural Philosophy
Assessment: While she hasn’t yet become a household name, Pearcey is not only one of the handful of women who are shaping conservative Christian thought but also one of the sharpest public intellectuals in evangelicalism.
A protégé of the late Francis Schaeffer, she has spent the bulk of her career in the shadow of another evangelical giant, Charles Colson. Pearcey co-authored many of Colson’s books and Christianity Today columns, and worked as an editor and writer for his Breakpoint radio program. Her recent book “Total Truth: Liberating Chrisitanity from its Cultural Capitivity”, however, may finally earn her the recognition she so richly deserves. Pearcey's intellect and passion for truth has helped her blaze a path in a subculture that is dominated by male thinkers.
(This post is #12 in the "Know Your Evangelicals" series. Coming next: Tony Campolo)
1
I believe it should be protegee for a woman, but that's inferred from fiance and fiancee. I don't really know any French.
posted on 08.26.2004 8:52 AM2
Does anyone know what her relationship is with Charles Colson at this point - is she still working with him or have they gone their separate ways. As I have been perusing through Total Truth I haven't found him mentioned at all - that surprised me.
posted on 08.26.2004 9:22 AM3
David,
My understanding is that they had a bit of a falling out over _How Now Shall We Live_. The story I heard was that she pretty much wrote the thing and felt that she didn't get enough credit, so she left Colson's organization. But that's all second- (and probably third- or fourth-) hand info.
posted on 08.26.2004 9:29 AM4
That's what I heard as well, and from someone I believe to be in a position to know. Actually, as I was reading How Now, I kept on hearing a female voice speaking in my head. But then I would come across a first-person reference to something Colson had experienced, and I found it a little jarring.
posted on 08.26.2004 2:16 PM5
David,
As I have been perusing through Total Truth I haven't found him mentioned at all - that surprised me.
That surprised me too. I though it was odd that she didn't mention him in the acknowledgement section or even in the extensive footnotes.
If it really was over the book she co-authored I can't say that I blame her. I'm a bit tired of the trend of popular Christian authors having someone else write a book and then slapping their name on the cover. I can just imagine how it must feel to the person who did all the work.
posted on 08.26.2004 2:47 PM6
I heard one of the ID movement's leaders refer to How Now... as being written by Pearcey even though COLSON was printed boldly on the spine. Yet, how much say does the author have in this matter? From the publisher's point of view, wouldn't it make sense, in terms of potential sales, to promote the Colson side of the equation?
posted on 08.26.2004 3:31 PM7
Note to Evangelical writers. Try to get a FAMOUS NAME on the spine next to your own. Everyone sees Tim Lahaye's name on the spine of a political thriller and figures they can trust the tale to not trod over dispensationalist premillenial sensitivities. I had to see Gary Smalley's name on the spine of a romance novel to grok the pattern. No doubt the buyers of the book can do so with confidence that all bodices shall remain intact. Imagine how much more quickly Frank Peretti could have gotten famous had he hooked up with someone who'd written a demonology tome.
Evangelicals are not quick to trust new names. Thus a co-author gig is a good intro. I have not heard of Ms. Pearcy heretofore, but her association with Mr. Schaeffer and Mr. Colson stand her in good stead with me.
posted on 08.29.2004 5:23 PM8
Really enjoyed "How Now..." except for her assertion that rock music is deconstructionist and therefore, wrong.
Any comments on the idea?
posted on 09.03.2004 4:35 PM