Unchristian : what a new generation really thinks about Christianity– and why it matters /by David Kinnaman. [book review]

Unchristian : what a new generation really thinks about Christianity– and why it matters /by David Kinnaman.

I had mixed feelings about this book – on several levels. Despite its flaws this is a powerful and even important book.

The basis of the book is research on what people think about Christians. The results opened the eyes of the author, though they probably would be less surprising to non-Christians. Christians are thought to be unChristian, not only by those who don’t share their faith, but by many Christians under 30.

What words did those surveyed who were 16-29 most often use to describe present-day Christianity? Antihomosexual (90% of “Outsiders” / 80% of churchgoers), judgmental (87%/52%), hypocritical (85%/47%), old-fashioned (78%/36%), too political (75%/50%), out of touch with reality (72%/32%). This is the worst kind of news for Christian churches.

The author advises against defensiveness. Of course religion is old-fashioned, it must judge and doesn’t the Bible condemn homosexuality? Even so, none of these descriptions makes it attractive to new adherents. Indeed, they are positive barriers to reaching most people with Good News.

At its best, the result is a book that calls for every Christian to examine their life and change it so as to live a more Christ-like, open, accepting life, one that is a beacon to the world and an advertisement to those of other or no faith. It is a call to change oneself and one’s church to be more Christian and to specifically avoid what the author terms unChristianity. Short reflections from various religious writers call for a larger agenda – caring for the sick, priority for the poor, love for the outcast – in short the social gospel.

It also calls for humility, a trait I both value and lack. Humble Christians would not be called to impose their will, but lead others to the truth and the way. Their friendships would extend throughout the community and not be limited to their church. They would listen to those who disagreed with them and not seek quick conversions, but conversations.

Now that I can be sure that I am not damning this book with faith praise, I can express my misgivings. Christian often means born again real Bible Christians, though maybe they could ally with those “other” Christians. Real Christians have no doubt that homosexuals are evil, unless they are pledged virgins. The book fudges on Bible inerrancy – Bible “principles” are inerrant, leaving the way open to accepting modern science and evolution. Christianity sometimes means those “true” or born again Christians and sometime leaks over to mere mainline Protestants or even Catholics.

I think that the book uses a too narrow definition of Christianity and should just identify its subject as a US based group of sects and denominations. I have doubts about identifying people who are made in God’s image as inherently evil unless they turn their back on a normal need for companionship, though that is what my priest and bishop preach. As a Catholic, I believe that the Church precedes the Bible, not the other way around.

Despite my misgivings, I was touched by this book and its sincere efforts to work out what Christianity should be and where it should be headed. None of my misgivings affect the reality of the statistics, the benefits of deep consideration of how to continue reforming a sinful church or the prayerful sincerity of the authors. While this book may suffer in comparison with EJ Dionne’s Souled Out, that is not faint praise

Souled Out: Reclaiming Faith and Politics after the Religious Right by E. J., Jr. Dionne.

Souled Out: Reclaiming Faith and Politics after the Religious Right by E. J., Jr. Dionne.

I have read a number of political and religious titles in the past year and this is among the best in both categories. Dionne is a political analyst of the first rank, not at all like the many talking/shouting heads that populate cable news. He is also both knowledgeable and even pastoral when he discusses religion.

He definitely has opinions, but he never moves into attack mode. He can understand why many religious people are social conservatives, since religions are innately conservative. Again and again throughout the book, he not only gives the other side of an argument its due, but even declares how necessary his opponents are to a balanced viewpoint. Rather than try to use religion to support his views, he argues against any who do so without the humility to recognize the right on the other side. Religion deserves to be more than a tool for either political party.

Dionne provides a nuanced narrative of the use/misuse of religion by politicians. That doesn’t mean he sees no role for faith based politics, both progressive and conservative. Indeed he says they both have a part to play. He deplores the restriction of religious fervor to gay marriage and abortion, without pretending that those issues are unimportant or irrelevant.

In case you think this all seems namby-pamby and wishy-washy, be prepared for his section on Terry Schiavo, which is scathing. He is not above a jeremiad, but the center of his book is pastoral, more pastoral than some pastors I’ve endured.

This is a book to rile you up and calm you down. To move you to action, but humility too. Simply the best book on religion and politics I have come across.