Product Description

Based on groundbreaking Barna Group research, unChristian uncovers the negative perceptions young people have of Christianity and explores what can be done to reverse them.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #358 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-01
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Kinnaman, president of the Barna Institute, was inspired to write this book when Lyons (of the Fermi Project) commissioned him to do extensive research on what young Americans think about Christianity. Lyons had a gut-level sense that something was desperately wrong, and three years of research paints exactly that picture. Mosaics and Busters (the generations that include late teens to early 30-somethings) believe Christians are judgmental, antihomosexual, hypocritical, too political and sheltered. Rather than simply try to do a PR face-lift, Kinnaman looks at ways in which churches' activities actually may have been unchristian and encourages a return to a more biblical Christianity, a faith that not only focuses on holiness but also loves, accepts and works to understand the world around it. It would be possible to get lost in the numbers, but the authors use numerous illustrations from their research and life experiences and include insights at the end of every chapter from Christian leaders like Charles Colson, John Stott, Brian McLaren and Jim Wallis. This is a wonderful, thoughtful book that conveys difficult truths in a spirit of humility. Every Christian should read this, and it will likely influence churches for years to come. (Oct.)
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Publisher's Weekly, starred review
"This is a wonderful, thoughtful book that conveys difficult truths in a spirit of humility. Every Christian should read this, and it will likely influence the church for years to come."--Publisher's Weekly

From the Inside Flap
The New Testament writer Paul told the first-century Christians: "You yourselves are our letter . . . known and read by everybody." When a person "reads" your life, what does it say? What does your faith look like to outsiders? A major new research project, unveiled for the first time in this book, describes the increasingly negative reputation of Christians, especially among young Americans. The research shows that Christians are best known for what they are against. They are perceived as being judgmental, antihomosexual, and too political. And young people are quick to point out they believe that Christianity is no longer as Jesus intended. It is unChristian. It shouldn't be this way. What Christians believe may not be popular, but Paul also advised the first believers to "live wisely among those who are not Christians" and to "let your conversation be gracious and effective." In this eye-opening book, David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons--along with more than two dozen leading voices within Christianity--unpack the major criticisms leveled against Christians. Understand why those negative images exist and how you can best represent Jesus to your friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Your life is an open book. Is it unChristian?

Customer Reviews

A Sobering Look
In their book, "unChristian", authors Dan Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons, use research data gathered as part of the femri project's commissioning of a study by the Barna Research group to examine the attitudes of persons aged 15-49 towards Christianity in the United States. As the title implies and the authors report, the data does not paint a positive picture.

The strength of this book is that the conclusions drawn by the authors about the six broadly negative attitudes held by members of the last two generations are based on solid statistical research (that can be accessed by the reader through a web site). While some of the definitions and questions betray a specific paradigm from which the research is conducted, the results are founded on good data. Additionally, the conclusions drawn from this data, while again stated from within a specific paradigm, can be taken as following fairly straightforwardly from this data.

With these data in mind, Kinnaman discusses the broad scope of each of the attitudes, their effect on the interaction of generational members with much of American Chritianity and some solutions focused towards changing the attitudes from broadly negative to more positive. Refreshing, Kinnaman does not make excuses for or try to explain the appropriateness of the behaviors from those who call themselves Christians that has contributed to the negative perceptions discussed but challenges those actions and calls for individuals and churches to examine their biases and modify them according to broad scriptural principle.

The one caveat I would have regarding this book is that it is written by people associated with evangelical Christianity for readers familiar with and involved in that particular brand of of the Christian faith. Those coming from the emergent church conversation or from churches that have already begun to face up to some of the challenges the authors mention may find that some of the conclusions they have reached have already been identified within their own traditions. What is good about this book in that context is that while many of those arguments have heretofore been based in anecdotal information, the fermi project has gathered the statistical data to support the conclusions reached. However, much of Kinnaman's discussion still comes from that evangelical perspective of getting people saved (especially ironic given one of the chapter topics) rather than working with God to redeem all of creation back to Him. Finally, I would have liked to have seen more information on how Christians ought to practice their faith outside of the six somewhat narrowly defined topics. While issues like social justice, climate change, poverty and the like are mentioned, they are rarely discussed in more than a passing mention and, as such, the reader may be left that those outside the church only have complaints when, in fact, they are looking for the church to take the lead in issues that are deeply meaningful to them. Perhaps the authors will write another book addressing issues evangelical churches can address that will resonate with new generations of seekers.

In closing, this a book I think every leader within Christianity should read. This especially true for those in "middle management" (as it were) who lead small group studies and ministries. If the attitudes and perceptions the authors mention are to be changed, this is where such change will begin.

Hope that Christians can change the way outsiders perceive Christianity by the way they live their faith
Christianity in the U.S. has an image problem, and it stands to lose an entire generation of young people if things don't change dramatically and soon. That's the conclusion of a three-year study by the Barna Group examining attitudes toward Christianity expressed by Mosaics and Busters, those in the late-teen-to-30 age group. Barna's findings should give evangelical Christians pause, but only briefly. Given the seriousness of the situation, believers can't pause for too long, because it seems they have a lot of work to do.

Here's one finding that shows just how negative an image we project to the world around us: "The primary reason outsiders feel hostile toward Christians, and especially conservative Christians, is not because of any specific theological perspective. What they react negatively to is our 'swagger,' how we go about things and the sense of self-importance we project. Outsiders say that Christians possess bark --- and bite.

Christians may not normally operate in attack mode, but it happens frequently enough that others have learned to watch their step around us. Outsiders feel they can't let Christians walk over them." That's pretty devastating stuff, though it really should come as no surprise to any Christian who has been listening carefully to outsiders under 30, and even some insiders over 30, in recent years.

The short version of the research findings is this: Mosaics and Busters most often expressed disenchantment (or outright hostility) toward Christians because they perceive them as hypocritical, only interested in people as potential converts, uncharitably anti-homosexual, sheltered from cultural and societal realities, too political, and judgmental. Before you get defensive, David Kinnaman is quick to remind Christians that this is how they are perceived. Your perception may differ, but that doesn't change the fact that outsiders often reject Christianity because of the image it projects.

The long version is what makes this book a must-read for...well, for all of us. It always sounds hyperbolic to say that "everyone" should read a particular book, but trying to narrow down the audience for this one is difficult. Let's just say that any thinking evangelical Christian with an open mind --- even half open --- would do well to read UNCHRISTIAN. It's vitally important for anyone in leadership to do so, but even those who are not leaders need to share some of the responsibility for giving Christianity a bad image.

One case in point is Christians' attitudes toward homosexuality --- and homosexuals. The "hate the sin, love the sinner" attitude so often expressed by Christians just doesn't wash with Mosaics and Busters. They see little love and compassion toward gays. From what they've observed, Christians hate both the sin and the sinner. Again, this is the short version and hardly does justice to the detailed, compelling and convincing research results.

And lest you think this is a dry read, full of statistics that will make your eyes glaze over, let me assure you that this is not the case. Yes, there are lots of numbers to wade through, but the authors did a masterful job of surrounding those numbers with eye-opening anecdotes and highly accessible analysis. And they included sidebars featuring commentary from other authors who have their ear to the ground on all this, including Rick Warren, Andy Crouch, Brian McLaren and FaithfulReader.com reviewer Margaret Feinberg. Their insights help enliven the chapters and put a human face on the stats.

Despite the depressing statistics, David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons offer hope that we can change the way outsiders perceive us by changing the way we live out our faith. Chapters end with a "Changing the Perceptions" section that offers practical steps we can take to turn the situation around. The book also includes an appendix on the methodology of the research and a short but helpful glossary of terms.

There is little question that the authors are correct in saying that Christianity has an image problem. But the problem is far more serious than mere image. The reality is this: evangelical Christianity has an attitude problem. And until that is corrected, until we begin to live out our faith more authentically, until we lose our swagger, the image --- the negative image --- will remain in the minds of outsiders.

--- Reviewed by Marcia Ford

Un Christian
Speaks directly to the person who feels a need to reach people on the outside. The writer uses research data obtained from people on the outside to determine how we "church" folks are preceived. I really did not learn anything new, but this book creates within me thedesire to change who I am in Christ in order to be Christ for those on the outside. The research data is clear and useful in pointing out the preception problem. The problem is me. In the way I live as a Christian. No Christian could read this book and honestly disagree with the results of the data. The church is made up of people like me, well accepted, leaders, business men and women, middle class, conservative who live our lives as we choose but profess a spiritual belief that is not used. Those on the outside have good eyes, Excellant book that will cause you to take inventory of your life.
Thomas L Moore