The Evangelicals You Don't Know

April 8, 2013
A frequent USA Today contributor, Krattenmaker (Onward Christian Athletes) combines reporting and opinion in this analysis of new evangelical leaders and their efforts to engage the culture in a noncombative way. Krattenmaker, who is not an evangelical and describes himself as a secular progressive, says he is keenly interested in evangelicals who “defy the stereotype.” He is convinced that people such as Kevin Palau, Gabe Lyons, Jonathan Merritt, and even Focus on the Family’s new leader, Jim Daly, are moving away from confrontation on such issues as abortion and gay rights. He also suggests evangelicals may be distancing themselves from their unblinking support of capitalism and the Republican Party. And they are also doing good works, whether fighting sex-trafficking or adopting orphans. Krattenmaker calls this “goodwill-mongering” evangelism and salutes these efforts. He convincingly argues that liberals, and especially atheists, should drop their reflexive antipathy toward evangelicals and begin to engage them. The two camps may not agree, but the nation may be better served by a more understanding and respectful posture. While many of the evangelicals he writes about have written their own books, this volume may be more persuasive to left-leaning, secular readers.

May 15, 2013

Mention evangelical Christians--indeed, Christianity itself--and many Americans think of right-wing political conservatism often expressed in its most judgmental forms--opposition to abortion, gay marriage, and a disbeliever in evolution--while promoting school prayer and Christmas creches on the courthouse lawn. Surprisingly, argues Krattenmaker (contributing columnist, religion, USA Today; Onward Christian Athletes), young evangelicals share this criticism of their faith communities and are increasingly transforming evangelicalism from within. Outmoded conceptions of evangelism, hateful attitudes toward gays and lesbians, scorn heaped on those of other faiths or on those who have none, anti-intellectual rejection of science and evolution: such attitudes are being weighed and found wanting by the "next Christian" leaders Krattenmaker encounters. These young evangelicals, says the author, are altering for the better not only evangelicalism's self-presentation but also its self-understanding and commitments. Krattenmaker offers little explanation of the dynamics behind these changes other than to suggest that a younger generation is weary of the "culture wars" of the faith and wary of a dogmatism that thinks it has nothing to learn from nonbelievers. VERDICT Krattenmaker's engaging journalistic survey of kinder, gentler, younger evangelicals working toward cooperation rather than confrontation will hearten secularists and progressive religionists, as well as evangelicals who have long been uncomfortable with the political captivity of their faith.--Steve Young, McHenry Cty. Coll., Crystal Lake, IL

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2013
Journalist Krattenmaker sheds fact-filled light on Evangelical Christians who are more inclined toward socially informed acts and open discussion. While the subtitle suggests this is a generational difference, Krattenmaker notes that this is more about ways of expressing conviction, not necessarily age. Drawing examples from many sources, he discusses Compassion Connect, based in Portland, Oregon; the annual Q conference's attention to service-oriented witnessing over political sparring; and a wonderfully ironic and powerful confessional program developed by Evangelical students at ultraliberal Reed College. Krattenmaker, not an Evangelical Christian himself, is a fair-minded, interviewer and reporter, substantiating his findings in detail but also bringing alive the interviewees and the work they are accomplishing with their new methodology of exercising their religious beliefs.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)