Rating: 
Summary: Some Good Content, But Needs Some Grace
Review: I'm a 28 year-old Christian woman, and I've only been saved for about two years. In my course of searching for "The Truth" I found a fire in my heart for Christian Apologetics. This book is a pretty good apologetics resource for the Christian trying to reach certain persons, but its' definately not for the Non-Christian. To a Non, it would seem very ungracious and condemning.I believe that Ryan specifically wrote this for the young Christian in today's America. If that was his target audience (which it appears to be) it's a good resource, but he should have added a little more grace into it, I believe. He hit on "love" a bit, but forgot to mention that we're all dreadful, horrible creatures by nature (sinners) and we're all in need of a savior. None of us are any more righteous than the next before we were saved, and the morally lost of our society need to understand the grace that only Jesus Christ can give before they believe they are worthy of this forgiveness. If this "grace" appears abrasive, unreachable, and unworthy many will turn away. I believe that this book will function well for a young Christian seeking to bring a wandering Christian friend (or a luke-warm one) back into a holy life. But I would not recommend it in it's entirety as a tool for trying to save a deeply lost young person.
Rating: 
Summary: self-congratulating
Review: If I could "peek inside," I would do so and seek confirmation of my initial reaction. But I'm guessing that I'm already quite familiar with whatever it is that these people have to say. I remember being a youth group kid and hearing speakers talk to us about the inherent contradiction of relativism. I felt so sanctimonious and smug and secure in my little set of universal beliefs because of my grasp of that rather simple argument. What it took a while for me to realize is that when people base arguments around what sounds like relativism, they're not so much claiming that there is no such thing as universal truth but that they simply disagree about what that truth is. What these youth pastors do, in effect, is demonstrate the fallacy of relativism via the simplest of logical syllogisms and then suggest that whatever set of beliefs they are advancing, because they are universal statements, are therefore true. Now that is stupid. (note: The introduction and first chapter of this book are available at the web site of the co-author, Jefferson Scott. Amazon rules prevent links or URLs but it is the first hit when searching Google with "Jefferson Scott")
Rating:
Summary: Horrid, vapid, and putrid
Review: If there was a "zero star" ranking, this excuse for a book would get it in under a New York nanosecond. Ryan Dobson's stone expression on the front cover is a pretty helpful indication of the overall mood and tone of the book---meanspirited and legalistic to the CORE, which is precisely what the Pro- Hellfire/Eternal Torment brand of "Christian faith" is all about.
If James Dobson was Obi-won-Kenobi from Star Wars, I'd say to Ryan, "Obi-won-Kenobi has taught you well".
This book is nothing new. It's basically like all the other crud in the Evangelical Christian book market, and no doubt Ryan will amass a small fortune from the brisk sales among his far-right youth counterparts. Ryan Dobson represents the "Rock 'N Roll Christian youth" of the 21st Century, and their underlying and repressed sense of rebelliousness seems to influence their own brand of legalism. It's like trying to mix the words of John Calvin with the music of Van Halen. Sure, they'll wear punk-like clothes, bang their heads to metal (Christian metal, that is....) and "hang out n' stuff, dude", but their relation to the goody-two-shoes adult world of legalism is undeniable. And it is NOT what the Lord Jesus Christ taught.
His whole "let's bash moral relativism" notion is a farce. There will ALWAYS be points of grey matter. God is absolute, humans are NOT. He can rail on about things like homosexuality, abortion, and ad nauseum infinitum, UNTIL........UNTIL it happens to HIM PERSONALLY. What if his future son or daughter tells him they are not heterosexual? What if his future daughter decides to abort the pregnancy? (Please keep in mind, I am NOT supporting abortion personally, but simply attempting to illustrate a point). I can just about bet you dollars to donuts that his "moral absolutism" will recieve quite a rude awakening.
Ryan Dobson is, as the old saying goes, "just like all the rest"---but just with a little more bitterness and hatred than most.
Rating:
Summary: turn um away!
Review: if you want to turn people away from christianity get them this book. its horrible. clearly shows why the whole movement of christian intolerance is wrong and full of hypocrisy.
Rating: 
Summary: Sin is sin
Review: It was very refreshing to read a book that's author has grown up in the "I" generation but still hold true to his values of the older generation. Ryan Dobson states it like it is "according to the word of God". "Sin is Sin" to be judged by God despite who commits the sin, be it a celebrity, a criminal, the president or you or I. The author does not sugar coat his findings at all in this book. He backs his statements with Biblical references and you as a reader chose to follow, not what the author of this book states, but what the word of God states. This book is for anyone to read not just teens. For anyone who wants to be reminded that being a Christian means God's way in all areas of your life not just the areas that you are comfortable abiding by. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who is seeking the truth about standing up for God and how to do it in a way that is from the heart.
Rating:
Summary: tells it like it is!
Review: It's time we had a book like this. Some people aren't gonna like it because it tells you just like God intended you to be told. Right is right & wrong is wrong & overlooking things isn't going to help to improve our nation. Good job, man! Read this & experience a revelation as to why people are the way they are. I especially hate the fact that we are having the "gay rights" thing forced on us in the name of tolerance, but the same people aren't "tolerant" of those who don't approve of it.
Rating:
Summary: the author sounds like Jerry Falwell Jr.
Review: my, my, my - this book is like jerry falwell junior. i don't know ryan, but i can only imagine he had a very protective, christian-sub-culture immersed, attend a christian college background - as he certainly does not know the realities of being a missional christian in today's culture. if he did, he wouldn't be so horribly scared and bashing people and instead be wise and loving and still hold to Jesus and His teachings, and believe in the inspired Bible - but demonstrate maturity, love and not be so sensationalistic. the whole "absolute truth" argument is so silly anyway, since even hardcore postmoderns don't believe EVERYTHING is relative. the argument is so weak, and a book like this only encourages fear and it is preaching to choir who applauds something like this.
Rating:
Summary: Be Intolerant: Because Some Things Are Just Stupid
Review: The book was well written and relevant to the times. It was written on a level that Jr high to adult could understand and grasp. It challanged the reader to not only have an openion but to tell others.
Rating:
Summary: some things ARE just stupid
Review: The book's subtitle is correct. "Some things are just stupid"...like thinking that everyone in the world has to think like a southern-Californian right-winger. Potential readers of this book...open up your eyes and minds. The Christian's purpose is not to point out others faults.(See Matthew 7:3, Luke 6:41)Be intolerant of this book. Read the Bible instead.
Rating:
Summary: christian reader
Review: The only negative comments I see written on this book come from people who are written about in the book. Namely, those who won't accept the Christian point of view and say we're narrow minded when we actually take a stand for what we believe in, then they turn around and act just as "narrow minded" (to use their words) and say THEIR opinion is the only correct one. It might not be a best seller (probably won't because it speaks truth) but those who know Christ and stand on Biblical teaching, not what's "politically correct" and "unoffensive", will gain insight from it. Jesus, himself, was not popular with most in his days and when He is spoken about today he's still unpopular. I look at it this way - if speaking the truth about Christ being the ONLY way (He said that himself) makes people uneasy, I must be doing what I'm supposed to be doing. I'm not going to water down my faith or back away from my belief to make someone else feel better (Christ didn't). If I did, I wouldn't be taking a stand. The problem today is too many people are gutless with their faith and don't know how to really believe in something no matter what anyone else feels.
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