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Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World's Largest Religion by Rebecca McLaughlin
nicole_schmid's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
1.0
[read in the German translation by Sara Kreuter]
I did not enjoy reading this book at all. Please excuse my rant as I try to explain.
For something presumably about Christianity, it spent a lot of time focussing on Buddhism, Hinduism and especially Islam. This was most notable in the chapter about religion leading to unmoral actions. Why is the question about religion when the book is about Christianity? The chapter kicks off with a woman suffering immensely under IS rule - but why is an example taken from Islam? Christians, too, did morally reprehensible things (witch burnings, to name just one), so why was the first and most detailed example about a religion this book isn't even about? Why is this chapter arguing that atheism isn't moral, either? It's supposed to prove that Christianity is moral, not that other beliefs aren't!
This is just one of many gripes I have about this book. It rejected many criticisms of Christianity by pointing at the Bible and saying, "Look, this isn't Christian behaviour at all!" Yes, theoretically, Christianity isn't about racism and immoral behaviour. That hasn't stopped Christians from doing and believing such things, however, nor has it stopped them from interpreting Scripture in such a way that it supports their beliefs. What this book is defending is theoretical Christianity, if I may call it that, not the reality of what Christianity is.
When talking about Hitler and how he abused Christianity and Scripture to support his regime and belief system, the author mentions that Christians fought against him and spoke up against him. That many, many more Christians supported him or at least silently stood aside is only brought up peripherally. And what about all those who protested etc. who were not Christian? The author also brought up a lot of scientists who are Christians as she tries to disprove that science and Christianity exclude each other. Here, too, she makes no mention of all the other scientists who are not Christian, but who still achieved great things.
Her chapter on LGBTQ+ caused me the most consternation. She argues that God made man and woman in order for them to join up in marriage, so that you either get married to the opposite sex or you stay single. Sure, I can see that argument. But then she goes on that queer people should still marry the opposite sex and just... lay back and think about Jesus when it comes to the bedroom? If she does advise queer people not to act on their desires (which I disagree with, but sure), then why does she tell them to get married and have sex anyway? Why not just advise them to stay single and celibate? Maybe to marry a person they don't plan on having sex with (even reproductive sex) and just adopt children instead?
The author also claims that Christianity is the world's largest religion. That may be so, but she makes no mention of how different the denominations are. The religion has spread over the Earth, yes, but many of the ways it's expressed, many of the beliefs one denomination holds, the others would decry as blasphemy. One need only take a look at how many YouTube videos exist of Christians of one denomination accusing another denomination of not following the Bible or not being Christian etc. But there is no mention of that; McLaughlin acts like Christianity in Nigeria, China, Italy and the US is the same when it most decidedly isn't. How can Christianity therefore be spread across the world if half the denominations think the others are making a mockery out of Christianity?
This book is also filled with anecdotes. Why should the reader care about what your friend thinks about X or how your other friend converted because of Y reason or that your child does Z thing or that there is a professor - who is Christian, by the way - that once claimed to you A? Why do you keep making Harry Potter references (but only in one chapter so that it looks like you just put a chapter from a different book into this one) and quoting literature and movies? Why do you so often write around the very question you posed so that you can come to a conclusion that doesn't have anything to do with what you asked, but that makes Christianity look great? Why do you keep mentioning contentious topics like abortion or trans-ness with a note that it would be much too complicated a topic to mention it here, but then still write about it?
I had high hopes for this book, but they were sorely disappointed.
A few words about the translation:
Mir hat die Übersetzung sehr gefallen! Alles war flüssig und leicht zu lesen. Die einzigen Meckereien, die ich habe, sind wahrscheinlich eher dem Verlag geschuldet. So wird zwar angemerkt, dass die Bibelübersetzungen hauptsächlich die Elberfelder und die Neue Evangelistische Übersetzungen sind. Es wird aber nirgendwo angemerkt, welche Bibelstelle aus welcher Übersetzung kommt. Auch in den Quellenangaben, die im Buch verteilt sind, fehlen mir die Informationen. Manche Bücher, Artikel usw. wurden mit deutschem Titel angegeben, ohne zu sagen, wer sie übersetzt hat und ob die Textstellen von Sara Kreuter oder jemand anderem übersetzt sind. Manchmal werden die englischen Titel übersetzt, meist nicht. Ein Hinweis darauf, welche Quellen auf Deutsch verfügbar sind, wäre für Personen ohne ausreichende Englischkenntnisse sicherlich hilfreich.
I did not enjoy reading this book at all. Please excuse my rant as I try to explain.
For something presumably about Christianity, it spent a lot of time focussing on Buddhism, Hinduism and especially Islam. This was most notable in the chapter about religion leading to unmoral actions. Why is the question about religion when the book is about Christianity? The chapter kicks off with a woman suffering immensely under IS rule - but why is an example taken from Islam? Christians, too, did morally reprehensible things (witch burnings, to name just one), so why was the first and most detailed example about a religion this book isn't even about? Why is this chapter arguing that atheism isn't moral, either? It's supposed to prove that Christianity is moral, not that other beliefs aren't!
This is just one of many gripes I have about this book. It rejected many criticisms of Christianity by pointing at the Bible and saying, "Look, this isn't Christian behaviour at all!" Yes, theoretically, Christianity isn't about racism and immoral behaviour. That hasn't stopped Christians from doing and believing such things, however, nor has it stopped them from interpreting Scripture in such a way that it supports their beliefs. What this book is defending is theoretical Christianity, if I may call it that, not the reality of what Christianity is.
When talking about Hitler and how he abused Christianity and Scripture to support his regime and belief system, the author mentions that Christians fought against him and spoke up against him. That many, many more Christians supported him or at least silently stood aside is only brought up peripherally. And what about all those who protested etc. who were not Christian? The author also brought up a lot of scientists who are Christians as she tries to disprove that science and Christianity exclude each other. Here, too, she makes no mention of all the other scientists who are not Christian, but who still achieved great things.
Her chapter on LGBTQ+ caused me the most consternation. She argues that God made man and woman in order for them to join up in marriage, so that you either get married to the opposite sex or you stay single. Sure, I can see that argument. But then she goes on that queer people should still marry the opposite sex and just... lay back and think about Jesus when it comes to the bedroom? If she does advise queer people not to act on their desires (which I disagree with, but sure), then why does she tell them to get married and have sex anyway? Why not just advise them to stay single and celibate? Maybe to marry a person they don't plan on having sex with (even reproductive sex) and just adopt children instead?
The author also claims that Christianity is the world's largest religion. That may be so, but she makes no mention of how different the denominations are. The religion has spread over the Earth, yes, but many of the ways it's expressed, many of the beliefs one denomination holds, the others would decry as blasphemy. One need only take a look at how many YouTube videos exist of Christians of one denomination accusing another denomination of not following the Bible or not being Christian etc. But there is no mention of that; McLaughlin acts like Christianity in Nigeria, China, Italy and the US is the same when it most decidedly isn't. How can Christianity therefore be spread across the world if half the denominations think the others are making a mockery out of Christianity?
This book is also filled with anecdotes. Why should the reader care about what your friend thinks about X or how your other friend converted because of Y reason or that your child does Z thing or that there is a professor - who is Christian, by the way - that once claimed to you A? Why do you keep making Harry Potter references (but only in one chapter so that it looks like you just put a chapter from a different book into this one) and quoting literature and movies? Why do you so often write around the very question you posed so that you can come to a conclusion that doesn't have anything to do with what you asked, but that makes Christianity look great? Why do you keep mentioning contentious topics like abortion or trans-ness with a note that it would be much too complicated a topic to mention it here, but then still write about it?
I had high hopes for this book, but they were sorely disappointed.
A few words about the translation:
Mir hat die Übersetzung sehr gefallen! Alles war flüssig und leicht zu lesen. Die einzigen Meckereien, die ich habe, sind wahrscheinlich eher dem Verlag geschuldet. So wird zwar angemerkt, dass die Bibelübersetzungen hauptsächlich die Elberfelder und die Neue Evangelistische Übersetzungen sind. Es wird aber nirgendwo angemerkt, welche Bibelstelle aus welcher Übersetzung kommt. Auch in den Quellenangaben, die im Buch verteilt sind, fehlen mir die Informationen. Manche Bücher, Artikel usw. wurden mit deutschem Titel angegeben, ohne zu sagen, wer sie übersetzt hat und ob die Textstellen von Sara Kreuter oder jemand anderem übersetzt sind. Manchmal werden die englischen Titel übersetzt, meist nicht. Ein Hinweis darauf, welche Quellen auf Deutsch verfügbar sind, wäre für Personen ohne ausreichende Englischkenntnisse sicherlich hilfreich.
clairezavoyna's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
jencunn2024's review against another edition
2.0
I was really excited for the 12 hard questions and the premise and title of the book. I had high hopes that this would feel like a conversation, especially having the author read it herself in audio. I found some enjoyment in listening to many of her thoughts and perspective but unfortunately I ended up feeling like the presentation of this book was dishonest as it wasn’t really challenging Christianity at all; it was just praising instead of engaging critical thinking an manner that promotes thoughts and discussions. However, I still think Rebecca McLaughlin offers some unique ideas that would be better in interview or small group discussion. Her one-way presentation was circular and stretched out like bubblegum about to pop. And it would explode over the incredible lack of research, cross-cultural or cross-lifestyle study, and under representation of comparative religion and secular understandings. After the great reviews I felt this was overrated and was disappointed that her 12 questions didn’t spark much for me. I was really looking for something that did confront Christianity in a meaningful way that strengthens faith. It just didn’t do it for me. Unfortunately, I found some of her personal claims and conversion of her faith out of those experiences to seem false as presented to others within the book but also to herself and in her relationship with God and friends. And I have hope for her that there is a more genuine reality that she was just lacking in conveyance to me as a reader. Overall, this was average on my scale.
madmath's review against another edition
5.0
Winner of the 2019 Christianity Today's book award, Rebecca McLaughlin's "Confronting Christianity" is an excellent apologetic for Christianity. The questions McLaughlin tackles are by no means easy or simple, but she approaches them with frankness, depth, and nuance.
I especially appreciated her treatment of human suffering. After briefly comparing atheist, Buddhist, and Christian frameworks to suffering, McLaughlin dives into Christianity's multifaceted approach to this topic using the story of Lazarus as a lens (when Jesus doesn't come). By the end of the chapter, she's calling on Christians to take on Jesus' call to enter into the suffering of others, the way He did for us.
Not all the chapters were equally interesting. Some of the questions like "How can you take the Bible literally?" and "Doesn't religion hinder morality?" were not serious questions for me (but, they might be for you). Even on most of these, however, I learned something new and found my appreciation for Christianity deepened. For example, in "Doesn't the Bible condone slavery?", McLaughlin (while acknowledging Christian failures through history in this regard) shows how the Church has actually done much to undo slavery, and how when blacks in America found freedom, they found Christianity not as a symbol of their oppression but as a reason for their hope. Moreover, she shows how condoning slavery is not simply one of many legitimate interpretations of Scripture, but rather a blatant twisting of Scripture.
The hardest questions for me were those concerning gender relations ("oppression of women" and "homophobia") and the question on hell. While these chapters did leave me wanting a bit more, I greatly appreciate what McLaughlin has added to the conversation. These chapters certainly left me with a bite to chew on as she roots marriage in the Gospel and ties God's judgment into God's love.
This is another book that I would heartily recommend to all. More than just an apologetic, this book has deepened my faith as McLaughlin roots her answers in the goodness of God and the Gospel itself.
It also would make great discussion, so if you decide to give it a read, feel free to engage with me on it.
I especially appreciated her treatment of human suffering. After briefly comparing atheist, Buddhist, and Christian frameworks to suffering, McLaughlin dives into Christianity's multifaceted approach to this topic using the story of Lazarus as a lens (when Jesus doesn't come). By the end of the chapter, she's calling on Christians to take on Jesus' call to enter into the suffering of others, the way He did for us.
Not all the chapters were equally interesting. Some of the questions like "How can you take the Bible literally?" and "Doesn't religion hinder morality?" were not serious questions for me (but, they might be for you). Even on most of these, however, I learned something new and found my appreciation for Christianity deepened. For example, in "Doesn't the Bible condone slavery?", McLaughlin (while acknowledging Christian failures through history in this regard) shows how the Church has actually done much to undo slavery, and how when blacks in America found freedom, they found Christianity not as a symbol of their oppression but as a reason for their hope. Moreover, she shows how condoning slavery is not simply one of many legitimate interpretations of Scripture, but rather a blatant twisting of Scripture.
The hardest questions for me were those concerning gender relations ("oppression of women" and "homophobia") and the question on hell. While these chapters did leave me wanting a bit more, I greatly appreciate what McLaughlin has added to the conversation. These chapters certainly left me with a bite to chew on as she roots marriage in the Gospel and ties God's judgment into God's love.
This is another book that I would heartily recommend to all. More than just an apologetic, this book has deepened my faith as McLaughlin roots her answers in the goodness of God and the Gospel itself.
It also would make great discussion, so if you decide to give it a read, feel free to engage with me on it.
shubbard116's review against another edition
4.0
Mclaughlin is someone I deeply respect and admire. I’ve heard many of her talks and interviews, but did not, until now, pick up one of her books. But I am so glad I did! Mclaughlin is immensely brilliant, and yet does a great job of “dumbing things down” without being patronizing or cutting out the meat. She somehow managed to dive into some of the toughest topics in apologetics with poise and elegance. I really appreciated all of the research and insight she offered. I did not give 5 stars because I personally struggled through the first few chapters— whether it be due to less interest in the topics or maybe less ability to understand the abstract concepts.
rustadmd's review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
Mostly boilerplate apologetics, but a few insightful thoughts.