Book Review - 10 Things I Hate About Christianity: Working Through the Frustrations of Faith by Jason T. Berggren
Category Book Review Jason T. Berggren 10 Things I Hate About Christianity: Working Through the Frustrations of Faith
10 Things I Hate About Christianity: Working Through the Frustrations of Faith by Jason T. Berggren is not quite the book you'd expect on first glance. Its provocative title suggests that you're about to get one man's rant about dealing with the current state of the Christian church and culture. And in a way, you are to some degree. But it's written from the perspective of a practicing Christian, dealing openly and truthfully about the struggles he has in trying to live out his life as a follower of Jesus and what that means in today's society. An eye-opener for those who are having a hard time dealing with the stereotypes and expectations that so often abound...
Berggren approaches his topics from the view of someone who is human, who has questions, and who struggles with tough concepts that don't have clear answers. For instance, he has a chapter called "Answers" (it's #8 on his list) where he takes on some of those age-old questions like "why would a loving God let bad things happen to good people" and "is Christianity the only way". There are certain pat answers that are often used to address these questions, but you wonder if the person giving them has really struggled or thought about it. Berggren has, and he's not afraid to say he doesn't have a solution book to everything. But he explains how his questioning has led him to the answer he gives, readily admitting that others may come up with other answers based on different perspectives. For him, these are the answers that work, and that explain how following God plays out in his life. Whether you agree or not, you're not just arguing semantics or tradition. That's what makes the writing interesting and fresh...
This is a book that works for both those who believe and those who don't . Believers will be challenged to put away the pat answers and admit they've also struggled, while those who don't will see that stereotypes don't always fit. Either way, it's a good read.
10 Things I Hate About Christianity: Working Through the Frustrations of Faith by Jason T. Berggren is not quite the book you'd expect on first glance. Its provocative title suggests that you're about to get one man's rant about dealing with the current state of the Christian church and culture. And in a way, you are to some degree. But it's written from the perspective of a practicing Christian, dealing openly and truthfully about the struggles he has in trying to live out his life as a follower of Jesus and what that means in today's society. An eye-opener for those who are having a hard time dealing with the stereotypes and expectations that so often abound...
Berggren approaches his topics from the view of someone who is human, who has questions, and who struggles with tough concepts that don't have clear answers. For instance, he has a chapter called "Answers" (it's #8 on his list) where he takes on some of those age-old questions like "why would a loving God let bad things happen to good people" and "is Christianity the only way". There are certain pat answers that are often used to address these questions, but you wonder if the person giving them has really struggled or thought about it. Berggren has, and he's not afraid to say he doesn't have a solution book to everything. But he explains how his questioning has led him to the answer he gives, readily admitting that others may come up with other answers based on different perspectives. For him, these are the answers that work, and that explain how following God plays out in his life. Whether you agree or not, you're not just arguing semantics or tradition. That's what makes the writing interesting and fresh...
This is a book that works for both those who believe and those who don't . Believers will be challenged to put away the pat answers and admit they've also struggled, while those who don't will see that stereotypes don't always fit. Either way, it's a good read.
| Permalink |
