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A review by jmcphers
Unchristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity...and Why It Matters by David Kinnaman
4.0
If you're an average, churchgoing evangelical Christian, you may have felt a sneaking suspicion that young people outside the church don't think much of your Christianity. This book confirms everybody's sneaking suspicions with solid research.
Kinnaman addresses the major negative perceptions that young people outside the church have about Christianity: that it is too judgmental, that it is antihomosexual, that Christians only want to win converts, that the church is too political, etc.
For each perception, Kinnaman describes what he learned from his research. Then he conjectures (usually without any support) about what is causing the trends he's observed. Finally, prominent Christian leaders weigh in with their ideas about how to change the perception. It's an effective organization for the book, and by the end I was both a little depressed about the perceptions and a little hopeful about how they can be changed.
The suggestions outlined by Christian leaders are excellent but not mind-blowing: become a force for social justice. Stop making so much noise about being against bad things; spend more energy on being for good things. Love everybody. Be like Jesus. Get outside the Christian bubble. Be humble. Get out into your community and serve. You get the picture.
Kinnaman's writing is logical but full of cliches and amateurish writing. Hopefully, though, you're not reading this book as literature. It's important information for a church that is feeling less and less relevant to the next generation.
Kinnaman addresses the major negative perceptions that young people outside the church have about Christianity: that it is too judgmental, that it is antihomosexual, that Christians only want to win converts, that the church is too political, etc.
For each perception, Kinnaman describes what he learned from his research. Then he conjectures (usually without any support) about what is causing the trends he's observed. Finally, prominent Christian leaders weigh in with their ideas about how to change the perception. It's an effective organization for the book, and by the end I was both a little depressed about the perceptions and a little hopeful about how they can be changed.
The suggestions outlined by Christian leaders are excellent but not mind-blowing: become a force for social justice. Stop making so much noise about being against bad things; spend more energy on being for good things. Love everybody. Be like Jesus. Get outside the Christian bubble. Be humble. Get out into your community and serve. You get the picture.
Kinnaman's writing is logical but full of cliches and amateurish writing. Hopefully, though, you're not reading this book as literature. It's important information for a church that is feeling less and less relevant to the next generation.