blankcrayon's review against another edition
3.0
This book makes Christians and non-Christians alike feel OK for disagreeing with the directive of today's churches.
kmg365's review against another edition
3.0
I suppose it shouldn't have surprised me, but it still did: in a book advertised as a balanced, open discussion about church between a pastor and an atheist, the pastor did most of the talking.
He certainly was more respectful to the atheist viewpoint than most Christians, and for that, I'm thankful. But I think he told a pretty big fib near the beginning of the book. Before they embarked on their Churchapalooza tour, Casper the Friendly Atheist said that he would be open minded about what he experienced, and leave the possibility open that he might change his views. He asked Jim-the-Preacher if he could approach the project with an equally open mind. Jim asserted that he could, and would-- and I didn't believe that for a nanosecond.
He certainly was more respectful to the atheist viewpoint than most Christians, and for that, I'm thankful. But I think he told a pretty big fib near the beginning of the book. Before they embarked on their Churchapalooza tour, Casper the Friendly Atheist said that he would be open minded about what he experienced, and leave the possibility open that he might change his views. He asked Jim-the-Preacher if he could approach the project with an equally open mind. Jim asserted that he could, and would-- and I didn't believe that for a nanosecond.
sxtwo's review against another edition
4.0
Jim, a former pastor, and Matt Casper, an atheist, travel around the country to several famous and not-so-famous churches to determine how the church environment and service feels/looks to an atheist.
rpdonald's review against another edition
4.0
A fast, easy read. I would hesitate to say that this is a look on how churches treat new comers. Mostly because once you tell people that you are writing a book( which they do a few times) then the way you are treated will change. I would at, though, that this book is an interesting look at how churches do their thing in different parts of the country.
I would recommend it.
I would recommend it.
bickleyhouse's review against another edition
4.0
This is a very interesting little book. Jim, a former pastor, and Casper, an atheist, travel around the country and visit quite a few churches, rating them along the way. I learned a lot about some of our major "megachurches," as well as even more about how "church" should be and should not be done. Don't read this book if you are locked into traditional church. You won't like it one bit.
davidewright_philosophy's review against another edition
2.0
Readers can figure out pretty quickly what they are getting with this book (the shtick stays the shtick throughout the book), and while it is now a bit dated I found some parts of it helpful. I came away with two ideas to ponder raised in the course of the book. First, when it comes to schools and other learning communities, it is often taken to be a good thing that people have a *low* teacher to student ratio whereas in churches, success is often measured by having much high ratios. Perhaps many churches should re-think their stance on this. Of course, the Church should grow in numbers but that doesn't entail that your church should grow in numbers. Dorothy Day emphasizes it regularly in her writings on what Christians should be up to, and I think it is for good reason. Second, the book suggests that churches regularly invite insiders and atheists or skeptics to visit (even if it means paying them to do so) and write some substantive remarks about what they observe and how they are treated, possibly posting these remarks online for the congregation and the community to consider. Taking up that role themselves, the book's authors demonstrate just how bizarre some church's practices can seem to Christian visitors and non-believers.
As other reviewers have rightly noted, several of the conversations between people are pretty wooden, and the reviews of the churches they provide are more sketchy and impressionistic than I was hoping for (so choose your professional Christian and atheist visitors carefully!). I also can't say that I enjoyed the company of both of the authors, though if one did then the book would be more enjoyable. That said, it was a fairly gentle and well-meaning tract that prompted some reflection, and I think that many pastors and other church leaders could benefit from breezing through this, taking note of some family resemblances they might find to their own communities.
As other reviewers have rightly noted, several of the conversations between people are pretty wooden, and the reviews of the churches they provide are more sketchy and impressionistic than I was hoping for (so choose your professional Christian and atheist visitors carefully!). I also can't say that I enjoyed the company of both of the authors, though if one did then the book would be more enjoyable. That said, it was a fairly gentle and well-meaning tract that prompted some reflection, and I think that many pastors and other church leaders could benefit from breezing through this, taking note of some family resemblances they might find to their own communities.
nchinnici's review
3.0
I had mixed feelings on this one. The concept was incredibly interesting and it was a quick and easy read but I wanted it to dig a little deeper.
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