Title: Christians Are Hate-Filled Hypocrites …and Other Lies You’ve Been Told: A Sociologist Shatters Myths from the Secular and Christian Media
Author: Bradley R.E. Wright
Released: July 1, 2010
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Pages: 249
Overall: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
According to the media, the church is rapidly shrinking, both in numbers and in effectiveness. But the good news is, much of the bad news is wrong. Sociologist Brad Wright shatters popular myths by sifting through the best available data. He reveals how Christians are doing when it comes to everything from marriage and morality to church growth and public perception. While not all the news is good, it turns out there is a wealth of encouraging information that we’re not being told. Wright explains to readers why and how statistics are distorted, and shows that God is still effectively working through his people today.
I was fascinated with this book. It challenges conventional thinking on the morality of evangelical Christians and presents statistics which are all at once surprising, encouraging, and sometimes a little puzzling. This is no puff-piece; there is ample evidence that believers still have a lot to work on, but the cultural mindset that evangelicals are morally inferior to the general population is staunchly challenged.
Organization: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Chapters and the sub-headings within are arranged logically and graphs are appropriately placed.
Usefulness: ☆ ☆
The purpose of this book is to prove that contrary to popular belief, Christians are morally superior to the rest of society most of the time. The statistics that prove this are certainly interesting, but I’m not exactly sure how this translates in real life. Are we supposed to act differently because we’re not as hypocritical as we think we are?
Accuracy: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Seeing as how this book is all about correcting inaccuracy, I would hope that it is indeed truly accurate. I personally wouldn’t debate its accuracy. I’m no sociologist, but Wright seems to use the best available statistics to draw his conclusions, and it’s pretty hard to argue with all those charts, graphs, and percentages.
Writing: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
When I requested a review copy, I expected to read a fact-filled albeit somewhat boring book stuffed with endless statistics and sociological analyses. Christians Are Hate-Filled Hypocrites is certainly fact-filled, stuffed with endless statistics, and heavy on sociological analyses, but Wright’s refreshing humor lightens the mood and lends personality to an otherwise monotone subject.
Format: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Good cover overall; I like the color contrast and the general layout. The dozens of graphs found throughout the book are really cool and a great visual aid.
Read it? Rate it yourself!
Other things you can do:
Visit Brad Wright’s website.
Purchase a copy of Christians Are Hate-Filled Hypocrites.
Source: This book was provided by Bethany House Publishers.
oh, this does sound like an interesting read. I believe from a sociological standpoint and a religious one, this would appeal to me.
Great review, Kate. Books like this interest me from a sociological standpoint more so than from a religious one, and so objectivity would definitely be a draw to me. And, of course, the fact that the book is reader friendly and not overly academic is a giant plus.