The Future of Christian Faith in America

Rating:
Summary: Mile-wide, Inch-deep
Review: I do not wish to sound overly critical of this book. It does provide a fairly good overview of the Christian faith in 21st century America. But my opinion of this book is similar to Mr. Yount's description of the American religious experience today: it is "mile-wide and inch-deep." Mr. Yount's point is simple: American faith in the early 21st century is "not only shallow and uninformed, but unauthentic" (p.7). In his attempt to provide support for his point, Mr. Yount covers too much ground and comes across overly simplistic. At times he looks at history with rose-colored glasses. For example, in talking about the need for the churches to develop a moral consensus, he cites the anti-slavery movement of the 19th movement and the civil rights movement of the 20th century as times when churches in America were able to achieve a consensus (p. 87). Doesn't he remember that major denominations divided over slavery and that Dr. King's letter from the Birmingham jail was addressed to white clergy who thought that it was best to wait?

Mr. Yount concludes by saying that America is overdue for another Great Awakening. He suggests that the next awakening ought to take place along the lines of Loren Mead's "Five Challenges for the Once and Future Church." You might want to read Mr. Mead's book instead of this one.

Rating:
Summary: Mile-wide, Inch-deep
Review: I do not wish to sound overly critical of this book. It does provide a fairly good overview of the Christian faith in 21st century America. But my opinion of this book is similar to Mr. Yount's description of the American religious experience today: it is "mile-wide and inch-deep." Mr. Yount's point is simple: American faith in the early 21st century is "not only shallow and uninformed, but unauthentic" (p.7). In his attempt to provide support for his point, Mr. Yount covers too much ground and comes across overly simplistic. At times he looks at history with rose-colored glasses. For example, in talking about the need for the churches to develop a moral consensus, he cites the anti-slavery movement of the 19th movement and the civil rights movement of the 20th century as times when churches in America were able to achieve a consensus (p. 87). Doesn't he remember that major denominations divided over slavery and that Dr. King's letter from the Birmingham jail was addressed to white clergy who thought that it was best to wait?

Mr. Yount concludes by saying that America is overdue for another Great Awakening. He suggests that the next awakening ought to take place along the lines of Loren Mead's "Five Challenges for the Once and Future Church." You might want to read Mr. Mead's book instead of this one.