Scan barcode
ccoelophysis's review against another edition
3.0
Not much new here...sort of a modern "history of Christianity," bringing us up to the present day.
Young earth creationism was very briefly mentioned and I would have liked to see that explored further.
Young earth creationism was very briefly mentioned and I would have liked to see that explored further.
sharlappalachia's review against another edition
5.0
Douthat convincingly outlines the history of Christianity in America since 1900, then offers persuasive analysis and prescriptions. This book is far better and more interesting than The Decadent Society, and also might have convinced me to apply to grad school.
arnizach's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of the best popular level books on religion I've ever read. Beginning with his insight about heresy (as the attempted streamlining of Christianity's inherent paradoxes and mysteries), Douthat applies his keen eye and sharp pen to a number of topics relating to religion and American society - the rise of vibrant Christianity in the post-war period, its decline into liberal irrelevancy and conservative tribalism, and all the crap that followed. I found myself nodding along to most of his points. He reminded me just how conservative I really am, which I was thankful for. The last two chapters were the best ones. His treatment of nationalism (with both its messianic and its apocalyptic streaks) was acidic. And just when he's filled you with despair about the future of Christianity in America and the Western world, he comes up with a number of genuinely hopeful and plausible scenarios of Christian reinvigoration. This book comes highly recommended for anyone seeking to understand America's current religious predicament.
radbear76's review against another edition
5.0
An interesting perspective on orthodox religion and American culture that really made me think.
reasonpassion's review
4.0
The author, an avowed believer, loses himself at times in blind devotion to his particular version of his faith, lamenting the cry of personal interpretation by liberal and conservative thinkers of the gospels but not applying this very notion to the writers of the gospels themselves for instance, but his criticism from within the halls of Christendom echo amazingly well overall. Exploring the heresies he identifies: 1) prosperity gospel, 2) god within 3) nationalism, Douthat does what many are fearful of doing, noting the difficulties that are within both sides of the theological/political spectrum. While his criticism is most assuredly delivered from a place of a more traditional Christian theology, this very position indicates how this particular religion has been co-opted by so many who focus on merely one aspect of dogma rather than acknowledging the nuance and multiplicity of the thoughts involved. God being equated with success can indeed be a cause of great suffering, as greed becomes supplanted with God's will. The adolescent self-worship of the god within movement can be a cause of rampant individualism and narcissistic activism. Nationalism can clearly become a rationalization for any form of global intervention. However, all of these are but aspects of the eternal struggle humanity has, not new manifestations of a nation forgetting it's divine original locus. In yet another moment of blind devotion, Douthat notes that while these heresies should not be looked at as creating the current social crises they have done nothing to curb them either, but then ignores the fact that traditional Christianity hasn't done so either and lumps a great host of nuanced views into overarching categories, a charge he levels against those who oppose religion in general.
I do not agree with Douthat's conclusion that we need a return to some idealized version of Christianity who's monumental existence resides almost entirely in the mind of the author, but his analysis does point to a profound need to watch our hubris, to note when progress becomes pandering and when change becomes chaos. The history of heresies documented here is better looked at as a profound declaration of humanity's propensity to create self-indulgent ideological maps, regardless of their political stripe. In that is found great concern but there is also great hope.
I do not agree with Douthat's conclusion that we need a return to some idealized version of Christianity who's monumental existence resides almost entirely in the mind of the author, but his analysis does point to a profound need to watch our hubris, to note when progress becomes pandering and when change becomes chaos. The history of heresies documented here is better looked at as a profound declaration of humanity's propensity to create self-indulgent ideological maps, regardless of their political stripe. In that is found great concern but there is also great hope.
michael_kelleher's review
5.0
So, it took me awhile to finish this book (including having to return it to the library and then eventually getting it back to finish). It is a jam-packed history session on Christianity in America and the various movements, revivals, trends, etc. the second part of the book and the discussion of four main heresy trends was probably the best part for me, aside from the concluding chapter on recovering Christianity.
I’m so many ways this was the book I needed to be reading these past few years as I have even more than usual been confronted by these trends in the church and all the ways that politics have shaped our Christian culture. I believe Douthat was very fair in his assessment and it was at times heartbreaking, but not without hope. The last chapter in recovering the faith was excellent and just what I needed to hear.
I’m so many ways this was the book I needed to be reading these past few years as I have even more than usual been confronted by these trends in the church and all the ways that politics have shaped our Christian culture. I believe Douthat was very fair in his assessment and it was at times heartbreaking, but not without hope. The last chapter in recovering the faith was excellent and just what I needed to hear.
marcy_kelleher's review
5.0
So, it took me awhile to finish this book (including having to return it to the library and then eventually getting it back to finish). It is a jam-packed history session on Christianity in America and the various movements, revivals, trends, etc. the second part of the book and the discussion of four main heresy trends was probably the best part for me, aside from the concluding chapter on recovering Christianity.
I’m so many ways this was the book I needed to be reading these past few years as I have even more than usual been confronted by these trends in the church and all the ways that politics have shaped our Christian culture. I believe Douthat was very fair in his assessment and it was at times heartbreaking, but not without hope. The last chapter in recovering the faith was excellent and just what I needed to hear.
I’m so many ways this was the book I needed to be reading these past few years as I have even more than usual been confronted by these trends in the church and all the ways that politics have shaped our Christian culture. I believe Douthat was very fair in his assessment and it was at times heartbreaking, but not without hope. The last chapter in recovering the faith was excellent and just what I needed to hear.
fdterritory's review
5.0
When you first find out that the author is an op-ed columnist for the New York Times, you might think that you know what you're getting yourself into...that a book named Bad Religion would be about how all religion, and especially the Christian Church, is bad. But that's not what you get here. Instead, you get a well-researched and insightful look into the current state of what passes for the popular Church why she ain't what she used to be. The author argues that the Church's main issue in America is that she has been taken over by many heretical strains, whether accommodation or hyper-politization. The text is well-argued, easy to follow, and even the author's conclusions are excellently put. Highly, highly recommended.
essinink's review against another edition
4.0
Read this book as part of a class on "The History of Religion in America."
The key to understanding this book is the knowledge that A. Douthat is Catholic, and that informs his viewpoint, and B. small "o" orthodox christians believe in an objective truth.
With some minor exceptions, Douthat hits the nail on the head. I found it to be an interesting and enlightening book. More importantly, it provides a perspective not often seen in newsrooms or casual conversation.
The key to understanding this book is the knowledge that A. Douthat is Catholic, and that informs his viewpoint, and B. small "o" orthodox christians believe in an objective truth.
With some minor exceptions, Douthat hits the nail on the head. I found it to be an interesting and enlightening book. More importantly, it provides a perspective not often seen in newsrooms or casual conversation.