First off, let me disclose that I am not a Christian any longer, but before I decided to follow another path, I was a member of a very conservative, evangelical Christian church for years. Considering how religious the area I currently live in is, it is not good to be a former Christian. To detail my bad experiences with Christians would take a book of its own; to be brief, I have been threatened with physical violence more than once, mocked, ridiculed, insulted, ignored, and generally hated - all by True Christians(tm).

So, when I found this book by chance while searching for Dawkins, I was a little floored. Christians who actually believe that they aren't perfect? No way!

There's no doubt that this book is written more for Christians than "outsiders" like me. However, as an "outsider," I found it fairly interesting. The writing style was dull at times, and I found myself skipping over most of the graphs since the statistics were all cited in the text anyway.

In theory, there's some good advice in here for Christians. I don't know about anyone else, but I'd certainly have a more pleasant experience in life if I could go to grocery store without a True Christian(tm) telling me that the world would be a better place if I never be born since I "gave up on god," or go into McDonald's without a True Christian(tm) throwing a bible at me (both events really happened, by the way).

Still, sometimes the book seems painfully naive. Maybe it's just the area I live in, but I just don't see Christians being widely known as loving, accepting people...ever. That is definitely not my personal experience, and when the author was detailing some of his hoped-for perceptions of Christians, I felt like laughing. And then I felt bad for wanting to laugh at him.

There were some really problematic parts for this outsider, though. The author mentions teaching people how to think, which in this context, just made me think of brainwashing.

Another part that bothered me was one of the "guest" speakers at the end of the chapters mentioning that he's never met a Christian who wanted a theocracy and that Christians don't really want one in place. In a book supposed to be full of statistics and data, this personal observation was out of place and unsubstantiated. I've met several Christians who want a Christian theocracy established in the United States, for example. The author himself spent a good deal of time talking in the "politics" chapter about how Christians apparently want laws based on "biblical principles," which is hedging closer to a theocracy. I'm also puzzled by how so many Christians decry governmental interference but are also in favor of "nanny laws" regulating moral behavior (the book discussed anti-gay laws briefly and how many Christians support them).

Also, a lot of people who most likely think of themselves as Christians (Catholics, Mormons, pro-choice Christians, gay Christians, etc) will find that they're dismissed as "outsiders" just like me.

The author tends to have a martyr complex in some parts of the book, and some of his phrasing really rubbed me the wrong way. At least he did note that many non-Christians are more versed in the bible than Christians; I can't tell you how many times I've been able to outquote Christians trying to convert my heathen self back into the fold.

And the fact that their statistics vary so much in the span of just a decade seems troublesome.

Still, I think this book is a good first step. I'd love for some of the True Christians(tm) around here to read it. ( )

NCLA Review - Ever wonder why Christians are viewed so negatively, especially by young people? The sad news is that a vast majority of them have had a painful experience involving Christians or church that turned them against Christianity. When the Barna evangelical research firm interviewed 16- to 29-year-olds, they discovered that Christians “are widely distrusted by a skeptical generation.” Three years of research convinced the authors that the attitudes, actions, and values of far too many self-identified Christians is no different than that of those outside the church. If the perception of Christian is to change for the better in the coming years, the Body of Chris t must take seriously its failure to reflect Christ. Devastating as this book’s message is, it holds forth hope (and ways) that Christians can regain the credibility they had when they were known for their compassion and hospitality rather than for actions they opposed. I feel this is the most important book I have ever reviewed. Every reader needs to ask sincerely, “Is it I, Lord?” and examine his or her own interactions with others regarding the perceptions of Christians he or she may be sending. Rating: 4 —DKW  . 255p, Baker 2007, $17.99 [248.4] ( )

A good read on the perception of Christians in society by other Christians and more importantly those who are not Christian. The main perceptions is of a people that are hypocritical, anti-homosexual, sheltered from the real world, too political, judgmental of others, and only concerned with getting people saved. The most interesting part of the research was that each of these perceptions were based on real interaction with Christians and many times warranted.

Ins response to the findngs, the author and many Christian leaders (Colson, Stanley, Warren and others) called the church to radically change. To be the ones that reach out in love to everyone, to care for the sick and dying, those afflicted with aids, help the poor and needy, and just live out Christ's calling. ( )

Loaded with statistics, this book reports on a survey of what Christians and non-Christians think/believe about a number of issues. It can be eye-opening to know that others think! ( )

This book is written by the president of the Barna Research group and is the result of conversations that they've had with people inside and outside of the church since 2004. The research substantiates what we're all feeling -- and the anectodal evidence that Dan Kimball has captured in "They Like Jesus but not the Church." At the end of each section, people from around the country respond. I've found it helpful to hear what various churches and pastors (All Soul's Fellowship in Georgi, Imago Dei in Portland) are trying to do to counteract the negative image that Christians have in America. ( )