Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler
ISBN 0-8423-7088-9
Read 2002 September 19 – 2003 August 6
Reviewed 2004 January 13
It was probably Viannahs last Family Camp. Well see. I bought the Satinover book about homosexuality and culture. Viannah bought this. We were to each read and discuss both.
It was a tough year; this would be her way of rebellion. Nobody can help these things. I challenge you to try.
She didnt know what Josh McDowell was likely to say but found out soon enough and was writing extensive commentary in the margins. This degenerated to name-calling and she finally gave up about 2/3 way through. I took it up and was soon writing lengthy responses both to Viannah and the author. The pre-notated text is a sermon written up by a near-ghost writer. As with most religious leaders, McDowell has Gods answer.
Tolerance is the root of much modern evil, the contemporary sin. Of course, as with anyone, hes right on some points. Tolerance, being the main virtue of todays secular morality, is not applied fairly. Much must be tolerated such as the implicit (and inaccurate) equality of all humans regardless of sex, race, orientation, religion, and so forth. Something that cannot be tolerated is anybodys religious symbol in a public financed place, a crche on the lawn at City Hall or the Ten Commandments in a state courthouse rotunda.
I found myself wondering what Josh and the guys would be writing about if we had statues of Budda gracing the National Mall. Religious Freedom?
My view is that everyone has a religion and that all religious battles are fearful miscommunications. All the effort that went into this book and the fear it must stir up among a particular type of faithful seem to me, at best misdirected. Viannah was somehow threatened by all the nonsense.
I gave up about 2/3 way through myself but, just before leaving for Family Camp 2003 without Viannah, I finished it off without further comment and put it away.
Christianity is true and the God of Christianity is God. This is proven once again by the fact that the faith survives such as this.