Rating: 
Summary: Mixed focus weakens powerful message
Review: I read this book from the vantage point of being both a Christian who attends Southern Baptist churches (though not a southern baptist myself) and a "liberal" who believes in a God of love. Therefore, I was very excited by the premise and the beginning of Bawer's work. The first several chapters are outstanding in their information and history, developing Bawer's argument against a legalistic church while at the same time promoting his desire for a church of love.However, the book loses its focus to an astounding extent in the middle chapters. Bawer moves away from his relatively objective stance as an historian and into a highly subjective, critical, and downright mean observer of other Christians. His description of a southern church service is so full of personal interpretations and attacks that it weakens the point of his entire book. How can someone arguing for a church of love be so cruel? He mocks their songs as too simplisitic (as though hymns are! ever complex--who wants to hear a congregation of hundreds attempt a Mozart aria?), chides the congregation as uneducated (I'm completing a Ph.D. and am not famililar with the history of ancient Rome--this does not, in my opinion, make my opinions invalid), and reads anger, disgust or disapproval into every congregational response when he expects it. The chapter goes beyond pointless and into damaging to his cause. The attack continues in subsequent chapters, and Bawer is as guilty as his targets when it comes to judging others in black-and-white terms. Promise Keepers, for all its controversial stances, is staunchly anti-racism, yet Bawer basically writes this off and focuses on the areas he does not like about them. Though racism is a point of contention with others he dislikes, Bawer cannot accept that Promise Keepers takes an appropriate stance on this topic. No organization or person is completely good or evil, and Bawer needs to recognize the strengths in those of w! hom he disapproves if he wishes to convince readers that he! desires a church of love. The final chapter in the book is excellent, as Bawer pulls together his concepts of what a church of love would look like: if this had been the focus of the entire book, he could have had a masterpiece. Instead, he has a book whose weaknesses severely distract from a much needed message.
Rating: 
Summary: Bawer's Stealing Jesus a pleasant surprise
Review: When I first picked up Stealing Jesus, I expected a mostly political book that would attack fundamentalism. As a Liberal Christian, I'm always interested in attacks on the "Christian" Right. Usually, when I read these attacks, however, I find my self criticizing the author more often than agreeing with him/her. I find that most attacks on fundamentalism are made by paternalistic secularists who see people of faith as pathetically misguied at best and downright evil at worst. From the first page of Stealing Jesus you'll realize that this book is different, and much better than, most attacks on fundamentalism. Three important factors make Stealing Jesus unique. Frist, Bawer is a devoted Christian himself, and he acknowledges that the recent fundamentalist movent in America is a reaction to the unprecedented secularization of American culture. Bawer devotes an entire chapter to this subject titled "These Secular Times". Second, Bawer has created ! his own unique understanding of modern Christianity. The book does not simply lash out at fundamentalism and condem it. Instead Bawer uses stealing Jesus to explain his veiw that fundamentalism is not just misguied, but that it is taking Christianity away from its central figure's message: to love your neighbor as yourself. Finnally, Bawer's book is supirior to many others on the subject because it is not consumed with the political implications of the Christian right, but rather what is happening to American society at the end of the twentieth century. Bawer's book is not perfect, however. He does not document the quotes that he attributes to the Christian right's leaders. Without footnotes, Bawer's claims on who said what are a little suspect. I believe them, but fundamentalist critics may choose to deny that they were ever said. Without documentation, it is difficult to argue with them. Bawer's other mistake was not emphasising the fact that most fundamentalist ! churches do incorporate some of Jesus' love into their mini! stries. I believe that there is not enough of that love in them, but personal experience tells me that most fundamentalists can be very loving and forgiving at times. Bawer neglets this reality. Still, Stealing Jesus is one of the most intellectually sound and compelling books I've read in a long time, and I highly recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: An absolute "must-read"
Review: This book is a clarion call to those of us who value our freedom of self-determination. There is a genuine threat in this country from these religious fanatics. The threat is as real as any, anywhere in the world. Bawer does a fine job of pointing out the seriousness of what they are up to. Pay attention to a fine work. We have been warned.
Rating:
Summary: Intelligent book, but misguided focus & facts
Review: Bruce Bawer is an excellent writer. He knows history andreligion like the back of his hand. He is impressive. His book isimpressive. Yet I must admit that the ideas that lie within are not always as true as they might first seem. There is one major problem with his book that I see. He misrepresents true christianity. He seperates his form of christianity as the church of love, and the "evil fundamentalists" are in the church of law. This is a HUGE over generalization. I do agree with him that some fundamentalists can make christianity as a whole look bad. But to throw them in the "church of law" because they believe in set boundries of doctrine and conduct is foolish. Christian love in all traditions is seen as a love that follows the path that God has laid for us. That means set principles. To Bawer that automatically becomes dogma. It is easy to see that Bawer is part of a crowd that is not the majority in christianity (which doesn't make his perspective any less valid) so he is always striving to "inform the masses" about his revelations. I would invite every type of christian to read this book. It definetly will fire up the fundementalist. I will tell you why. Beyond what I've already written, Bawer uses the Bible in a modernist fashion. Which means he doesn't agree with sections of the scriptures. It's easy to understand his perspective of christianity when you know he doesn't like the writings of Paul. That kind of blots out a large section of the new testament. Fundamentalists will also find that his use of language might be offensive to them. They need to be prepared to be called shallow, uneducated,"unscholastic", fearfull, hatemongers. They will also disagree with Bawer's form of "tolerant" love which to them will seem completely unbiblical. But nevertheless it is a good read. Bawer brings up some great issues. Read it. If you're a fundamentalist you will disagree with 75% of it (and rightfu! lly so), but a powerfull book it is.
Rating: 
Summary: Christian washing hung out to dry
Review: What a breath of fresh air Bruce Bawer brings to present day Christianity. It is time the fundamentalist washing was hung out to dry. Admittedly Bawer presents the darkest picture of this fundamentalist resurgence, but it does ring with a certain truth. Bruce Bawer is in distinguished company with Richard G. Patton and his wonderful "The Autobiography of Jesus of Nazareth and the Missing Years". Patton does for the historical Jesus, what Bawer does for the 'Institution' that now claims to represent the Teacher. If you, like me, are also an escapee from fundamentalism, then both these books will help you regain faith in one of the greatest Spiritual teachers that ever walked this earth.
Rating:
Summary: Required Reading
Review: A Review of Stealing Jesus by Neil Wilkinson If the government could mandate reading any one book, Bruce Bawer's Stealing Jesus: How Fundamentalism Betrays Christianity would be a suitable candidate. It is a must read for any American who takes seriously such basic Constitutional tenets as freedom of speech, expression, and religion. The Right Reverend John Shelby Spong writes: "Bawer emerges as one of this nation's premier religious commentators. One by one he parades the leaders of America's Religious Right--Falwell, Robertson, Reed, Dobson--before our eyes, and without rancor or hostility makes his readers listen to their own words... Bawer's background as a practicing Christian gives this volume a disarming brilliance." What does Bawer mean by "stealing Jesus?" "In recent years, legalistic Christians have organized into a political movement so successful that when many Americans today hear the word Christianity they think only of the legalistic variety. The mainstream media, in covering the so- called culture wars, generally imply that there are only two sides to choose from: the God-of- wrath Christian Right and the godless secular left." It is "a dangerously misguided notion" to take the Christian Right lightly, as simply a holdover from traditional Christianity that will eventually fade away. By distinguishing between nonlegalistic and legalistic Protestantism, that which concerns itself with doctrine, authority, and law, at the expense of love as Christ preached it, Bawer observes, "Born out of anger, modern legalistic Christianity has, over the long arc of the twentieth century, become steadily angrier in reaction to spreading secularism." Tracing fundamentalism from its earliest roots to the present day, Bawer explores the origins of such nonscriptural precepts as "the rapture" that emanated from a book known as the "Scofield Reference Bible," a 1909 document written by Texas preacher C. I. Scofield and ! upon which much of modern fundamentalism relies. An overriding theme in Stealing Jesus is the question of love. It is Bawer's assertion that fundamentalism does all it can to convert the spirit of Christianity into vengeance, a mainstay of legalistic fundamentalist thought. The views of Robertson, Reed, Dobson, and others are devoid of love, but heavy on buzz words and arcane inconsistent rules-bound pseudo-theology, one of the major reasons that devout people become defensive when asked the question, "Are you Christian?" The fundamentalist intrusion into the American political process by wealthy, powerful zealots is of particular concern to Bawer. He pays close attention to the "esoteric theology," of "God's Generalissimo," Pat Robertson, It is through flagrant historical, scriptural, and factual distortions to a constituency upon whom such alterations of reality are lost, that fundamentalists have parlayed themselves into a position of incredible political power. They have infiltrated the Republican Party to such an extent that many traditional Republicans find the party unrecognizable, much the same as Christianity is becoming unrecognizable to many of its followers. Crisply written, succinct, and well-organized, Stealing Jesus is a unique and provocative work that leaves behind partisan or, special interest politics in favor of a clear, concise, and even- handed social commentary. Stealing Jesus, published by Crown Publishers, Inc., is three hundred and twenty-eight pages, with an exhaustive bibliography and index. It is available in hard cover only. Neil Wilkinson lives in Cobb County, GA, in the absolute heart of Gingrich territory (he was here before Newt). He practices law (one day he might get it right) and he is in the Master's of Professional Writing Program Kennesaw State University. He has published poetry, short fiction, essays, book reviews, and features.
Rating:
Summary: Power, politics and control make the fundamentalist trinity
Review: Mr. Bawer's book thoughtfully examines the roots of christian fundamentalism as it has developed in the United States. Like its Muslim counterparts elsewhere in the world, religious fundamentalism has no room for thought or questions: authority and orthodoxy are the watchwords. Watch out when such fundamentalist views are combined in an explosive mix with political power. Separation of church and state, regardless of whether the christian coalition believes in it, has saved our country from the usual warfare associated with religious intolerance and our screeching toward theocracy. Mr. Bawer explores these issues as a christian. He uses the writings of the fundamentalists who have "stolen" Jesus as evidence; for their words, like Hitler's in Mein Kampf, were truthful expressions of intent. Let the difference be that the present-day fundamentalists who label, categorize and legislate their views of morality onto a mostly naive public are not as successful in their plans. Mr. Bawer's book serves as a warning that fundamentalist views are irrational, unscriptural, and reminiscent of cults: Jesus would have had to have been a rich Republican. The Christ who walked the earth about 2000 years ago would not be welcome in any fundamentalist church today: he was not rich, he challenged the "conservative" Roman government of the day, he criticized the orthodox Jewish religious leaders (the harshest words of Jesus were ALWAYS reserved for the religious leaders: "brood of vipers", "hypocrites", etc.) and he espoused socialist ideas. All of this is anathema to the religious right of our day. Christ told the woman caught in the very act of adultery that He would not judge her and told her "to go and sin no more"; our politico-religious leaders advocate prison sentences for adultery, among any other personal choices you can think of with which they disagree. Mr. Bawer juxtaposes their views with those stated by Jesus in words or in action. Natura! lly some who rate the book poorly haven't actually read all of it (and admit it themselves); this is typical of the fundamentalist mindset Mr. Bawer describes: "if a view deviates from what our leaders tell us, we must not question our leaders (preacher, husband, televangelist) we must refuse to hear more of the deviant view; above all, we must not learn more along the lines of such views lest we contaminate our pure beliefs". "Know the truth and the truth will set you free" sometimes the truth is not as clearcut or as easy as the fundamentalist worldview would have one believe. Mr. Bawer's book certainly presents some truths to be considered carefully.
Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece
Review: Bawer shows the reader the contrast between the real Jesus of love and tolerance and those who use the writings of his followers who were less tolerant and dogmatic. I am reading this book for a second time as it arms me for the conflict I encounter with many so-called christians whose aim in their so-called christianity is to oppress. Bawer shows the reader how dangerous the fundamentalist dogma is harmful to us as a society.
Rating:
Summary: Mainline and liberal Christians should read this book NOW!!!
Review: I found it nearly uncanny that many of my own thoughts about the growth of "legalistic" Christianity and its rising stranglehold on all things Christian was so well documented in this important book. This book should be required reading for all mainline and liberal Christians. Bawer suggests that we can no longer sit idly by and allow legalistic Christians to co-opt Jesus for their own purposes. He candidly, and with clarity, documents the history and philosophy of this sect of modern Christianity to illustrate the danger of remaining silent. So armed, a Christian can counter media arguments that this brand of Christianity speaks for all of us. Read the book, and then challenge the media to portray legalistic, fundamentalist, evangelical and charismatic Christians as merely one sect of our religious tradition, who DOES NOT speak for all peoples of faith. I have long believed that some of the people on the legalistic side of the argument present some of the largest dangers to our society today. This book will help a reader intelligently and forcefully counter their arguments. It is time for Christ's teachings of love to gain dominance over the practices of bigotry and hate practiced by some legalistic Christians towards other people of faith. This book can help all Christians articulate matters of their faith when confronted with the errancy of views from the legalistic right.
Rating: 
Summary: BAWER HACKS AWAY WITH REVISIONIST AXE
Review: Of all the false dichotomies I have ever seen, this tops them all. Liberals such as Bawer envision a mealy-mouthed Jesus who represents a kind old man sitting in God's chair and allowing us to do just exactly what our evil natures want us to do. People like Bawer revise and select some insipid caricature of Jesus. They conveniently forget the Jesus who implicitly condemned Sodom, or the one who swung his whip at the moneychangers in the temple. Bawer's ilk strip religion down to what is now called "tolerance", the morally relativistic tripe that leads only to chaos. Where is justice and holiness in this Jesus? What is special or majestic or even god-like? No, Mr. Bawer is just turning to another realm to rewrite history to fit his world where anyone may do anything without guilt or sin. I must confess I had to skim sections of the book to avoid gagging. Trying to portray the Lord of the universe as Mr. Rogers has to be one of the world's worst crimes ever perpetrated.
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