Chapter 1--- questions, questions, and more questions...

So Hsu asks himself, "Had suburbia been good or bad for me?" This is a question I ask myself quite often. If the answer is "bad" then what do I do now? If the answer is "good" then how do I define the "good" that has resulted from suburbia?

I didn't have the same definition of "suburbia" as what was presented in chapter one. I had never heard the term exburbs. I also thought suburbs were just housing communities outside of big cities. I didn't realize suburbs were really just small towns outside of big cities. If this is the definition of suburbs then what's the difference between a small town in the middle of nowhere and rural america?

Another question that arose--- repeatedly Hsu states that the suburbs are inescapable. If they're inescapable then of course it makes sense that Hsu wouldn't see a need for Christians to return to the cities.

Which brings up another question--- if the Christians started flocking to the cities then wouldn't their money follow? Thus wouldn't a displace of the poor only get worse and worse? I'm still battling this one- any thoughts?

Chapter 1:The Suburban Moment

So I read chapter one and here are some notes/thoughts/questions...

It talked a little bit about the sprawling nature of suburban development as it talked about both the suburbs and cities that were more and more suburban.  Not to say that the suburbs are inherently sinful, but it seems to me that urban/suburban sprawl is a sinful use of land, in that it is using a great deal of resources and space, but not producing for human needs accordingly.  A city is condensed and relies on the surrounding rural area (ideally) for food and resources, while more rural land use may require the use of a lot of land, but that is being used to yield food.  Suburban land use seems to use lots of space just for the hell of it.

What is the difference between gentrification and incarnational urban living (intentional city living)?  How can we be sure to avoid the harmful effects of gentrification?

More than half of U.S. land is either metropolitan or micropolitan.  Depressing.

Why are we OK with the loss of small town life and local culture/economy?

I liked his push to view the metropolitan area as a whole area needing Christ.  This makes sense.

How do you hold onto the missionary impulse (which we need to do as Christians) as you commit to a community or locale (as some would say "settle down")?

The suburbs definitely need the ministry of Jesus, but could the church's best ministry to the suburbs be to work to dissolve them and the "suburban way of life"?