Rating: 
Summary: Falling into his own trap
Review: While Bruce Bawer's critique of much of the religious tradition is true and reasonably well written, this book reads as if he became angry one weekend, and wrote it while ranting. It is important that when one critiques others for not seeking to understand the positions of those they disagree with, that one try to do this oneself. His critiques of much of the history of Western Christianity, while they contain some truth, require much greater nuance and care.
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing Fundamentally Christian About Fundamentalists
Review: Fundamentalists have long been a thorn in the side of all religions. Despite their good intent to in some sense refurbish their faiths back to their pristine form, their zeal ultimately causes them to distort their faith to such an extent that it hardly resembles what it originally was. Most of the time this distortion always works to the moral detriment of the faith. Whether it be the Muslim radical who callously runs a plane into a building full of innocent people or Jewish hardliners that seek to seize land occupied by Palestinians, the actions and rhetoric of these self proclaimed saviors of old time religion do more to efface the redeeming aspects of their respective faiths than any outsider. It's unfortunate that modern Christianity, with all its claim to civility and compassion, has not eluded this phenomenon. The Crusades and Inquisitions maybe buried deep in the annals of our history, but the sanctimonious, legalistic, and accusatory mentality that characterized their age lives on in a form that I dare say is far more dangerous, because it represents itself as being so innocuous. The modern Crusader no longer brandishes a sword, but instead a leather bible and caustic rhetoric. The current Inquisitors no longer enforces religious edict at the guillotine but seeks to alter the law to sever people from ideas they believe to be inimical to their fragile belief system. In any case the battle is no longer a physical one but one of rhetoric. But make no mistake; the stakes are just as high. This is still as much a battle for the minds and hearts of humanity as it was during the dark ages. Remember that the Islamic terrorist, the Jewish militant, and the white Christian supremacist do not exist in a vacuum; they are the progeny of an environment that fosters negative theology. In such an environment, where successful polemical style is paramount, I believe Bruce Bawer's "Stealing Jesus" sets the standard for the type of writing that is necessary if we are to battle the fundamentalist on this argumentative battlefield and reclaim our faith. The book is written from the standpoint of a Christian whose aim is to explicate the historic milieu that was the impetus behind the creation and success of today's so called "fundamentalists Christians".
Furthermore the book is structured to present a vividly accurate depiction of every facet of today's fundamentalists. Bawer's prose illustrates the rigid doctrinal, clerical, political, and cultural distinctions that separate fundamentalist Christians from mainline
Christian denominations. Far from just teaching the lay public about these not too familiar topics, he formulates cogent arguments against the fundamentalist Christians. Bawer makes an adequate critique of the fundamentalist's inane fidelity toward the verbal inerrancy of the bible and scriptural literalism. Though these topics maybe covered ad nauseam in religious literature and discourse, the author of "Stealing Jesus" tends to provide new insight into the subject, not to mention a humorous way of delivering his objections against them. However, the subject that makes "Stealing Jesus" noteworthy is not his objections to the doctrine of inerrancy that is embraced by fundamentalists. Instead what makes Bawer's book so novel is that he incisively cuts through the edifice of fundamentalism and has revealed what is at the core of this reactionary belief system. So what is at the center of the Christian fundamentalists position according to Bawer? At the heart of their position is an incessant attempt to find security in life by enveloping their theological perspective around what Bawer and American theologian Paul Tillich call a "horizontally oriented" worldview. This worldview entails that everything that is essential to true spirituality (whatever that may mean) must be brought down in terms of fleeting human desires. The proclivity for the fundamentalist to reduce the transcendent aspects of Christian spirituality to the cheap, finite, and all too superficial yearnings is what Bawer describes as the definitive and trademark aspect of the fundamentalist. It is this inclination that leads to their dogmatic adherence to scriptural literalism, intense legalism, and vindictive mindset. The fundamentalist's subscription to this narrow worldview is the very thing that leads them astray from what Bawer PERCEIVES to be the true message of Christ: The law of love. It is no wonder that Bawer has entitled his book "Stealing Jesus". By deviating from Christ's central message, and yet by still invoking his name, fundamentalists have effectively done just that. The way in which Bawer uses his prose is in and of itself worth the price of the book, regardless of whether you concur with his perspective or not. It is well written and is a great instrument for anyone, whether theist or nontheist, who wants to learn about the dynamic nature of Christianity as it relates to the culture that it inhabits.
Rating: 
Summary: Good book, but faulty printing and binding
Review: I was very much in sympathy with the message of this book, but was disappointed when I got to page 182 and found that there was evidently another book's text that been inserted that had nothing to do with Stealing Jesus. It appeared to be pages from a novel or short story, and on page 197 was a short story by Dorothy Erdman! The Bawer text following page 182 is nowhere to be found. I would suggest that if you buy this book, you make sure you have a copy without this flaw.
Rating: 
Summary: Love vs. Law, Welcome vs. Challenge
Review: I just read Bruce Bawer's "Stealing Jesus" and am impressed by Bawer's pesonal journey to faith in Jesus Christ. It is clear he has encountered both the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith (which are, of course, inseparable from one another, united as they are in single person). Bawer has wrestled with and learned from this encounter, occuring (as it must for everyone) in a particular context - an individual life, lived in a personal, historic and cultural context. In Bawer's case that context is as a homosexual, modernist and literary critic. It is clear that none of these facets of life necessarily inhibit Christian faith, but they do color that faith, and one's views of the controversies within it. I agree, in the main, with Bower's convincing critique of what he calls "legalistic Christianity," favoring a "Church of Love" over a "Church of Law." But I suggest "Stealing Jesus" sits light to the "challenge" inherent in Jesus' Gospel by favoring the "welcome" of love. A wise pastor I knew once said Christian communities, in their worship, shared life and struggle to live for others, must balance the welcome of the Gospel - God loves you, you are welcome here, with the challenge of the Gospel - having experienced, in some form or fashion, God's love in the person of Jesus, how then should we live? More specifically and personally, how does my behavior need to change in response to this overwhelming, undeserved love? The answer, more often than not, is a return to basic practice - to the specifics behind the Great Commandments and the Great Commission, starting with the Decalogue - honor God, honor your family, don't kill, don't steal, don't lie, avoid sexual irresponsibility, don't covet, don't slander. If its not clear how to love, this list is always a good place to start. I would like to have heard more about how the Church of Love calls people back to this basic practice, and what the consequences of this call are for personal and societal behavior. Love perfects the law and completes it, it does not replace it. There is no welcome without challenge.
Rating:
Summary: Perpective-Changing and Uplifting
Review: Bawer contrasts the ideology of Christianity's legalistic and fundamentalist factions with Christ's - and Christianity's - ultimate edict (i.e. to love God with all heart, soul and mind, and love neighbor as self). This book offers a kinder, more loving Christian perspective/vision and exposes the weaknesses of legalistic Christian ideology. It improved my perspective on God and life; I'm happier because of this book. I also highly recommend Peter Gomes' "The Good Book" (about the Bible and Christianity). He is a world-renowned minister and offers the most spiritually sound, uplifting vision of Christiniaty I've come across.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books on Christianity I've ever seen
Review: To most religious or secular liberals, saying that the religious right is wrong is like shooting fish in a barrel. Bawer goes beyond the usual point-by-point debunking to make a more arresting point: the "Christian right" is not really all that Christian, either. Bawer does a wonderful job of explaining the history of Christianity in this country and the unfortunate eclipse of the Social Gospel brand of Christianity by the toxic fundamentalism of Falwell and his forerunners. He also sketches a more appealing theology of a God of Love and of Jesus Christ as the wisest man who ever lived and as a person whose collected sayings (in the synoptic gospels) add up to a remarkably coherent and compelling theology. Along with Stephen Mitchell's _The Gospel According to Jesus_, this is truly essential reading for anyone who thinks they might be a Christian.
Rating:
Summary: A good counterpoint, but not objective
Review: This book is a well-written and researched analysis of the Christian religion of today and how it reached this point. It is also a text with a very clear bias against the fundamentalist churches. To Bawer's credit, he makes no pretenses towards objectivity on the matter, but if you are looking for a balanced review of both sides' arguments please do not acquire "Stealing Jesus" alone. Have someone recommend a text that looks at religion from the other end of the spectrum and draw your conclusions based on comparisons of both. That out of the way, Bawer draws up a very solid argument for the nonlegalistic viewpoint he espouses and does so with a minimum of pointless sidetracking. His writing style is smooth, if a little dry, and readable by those without theology degrees. My one complaint about the book is his constant references towards the fundamentalists opposition of gay rights. Being gay myself, I can understand why he does it, but I found myself getting rather annoyed at this because the repetition ends up adding very little to his premise. Its relevant, but not *that* relevant. Overall it is a very worthwhile book and I'd recommend it for any who seek to learn more about the nonlegalistic point of view.
Rating:
Summary: Treats one of the most important happenings of our times.
Review: The author essentially is saying that some preacher-leaders have unworthily and dangerously used themselves as substitutes for Jesus.
The book might be useful, in some of its parts, to: a) Those who are puzzled about religious preaching they see on certain TV programs; b) Those unaware of the very recent historical roots of the some widespread movements in American religion; c) Those who at some stage of their lives were once, but no longer, in fundamentalist societies; d) Anyone who has ever been asked: "Are you a Christian?" e) Non-fundamentalist Christians who would like to know what fundamentalists think of them; f) What the connection is between American politics, power, and fundamentalists; g) and more.
Rating:
Summary: And The Truth Shall Set You Free...
Review: In the 1970s, as a young teen, I was literally and unmindfully being terrorized into fundamentalist Christianity by Hal Lindsey's book, "The Late Great Planet Earth" (see my review), and also by an older co-worker. In my early 20s I had attended a couple of Fundamentalist churches during a time in my life when I was hungrily seeking God. While I was there, I was further indoctrinated and terrorized by the types of churches Bruce Bawer brilliantly and superlatively exposes in his book "Stealing Jesus." I wish this book had been written back then. Perhaps I could have avoided more emotional pain. The mind-set of fundamentalist Christianity was creatively and accurately brought to light by the author. It is a mind-set where correct dogmatic belief and accurate Biblical interpretation and literalism is valued above virtues such as compassion, love, understanding, and forgiveness. It is about being "right" instead of loving. The Law versus Love. Bawer demonstrates throughout the book that beneath the fundamentalist rhetoric lurks the shadow side of humanity, the ego. The ego is about control and being right. When we view ourselves as "saved" and others as "lost" that establishes a dichotomy in where the worst of humanity can thrive. The subtitle "How Fundamentalism Betrays Christianity" is a bold and daring statement. It is also very accurate. If you believe that Jesus was guiding us toward a sacred experience of an all loving God, and that Jesus was demonstrating the complete and inclusive love of God from which we are to live in and to love others, then that is the type of Christianity that fundamentalism betrays. My experience of Fundamentalist Christianity in sermon after sermon was of being persecuted into the right way of believing, thinking, and acting, with the sometimes not so subtle threats of what would befall the person who fails to believe, think, and act, as a "true believer" should. That is manipulation and control through fear and guilt and ultimately it is a betrayal of Christianity. One of the characteristics of fundamentalism is that it is supported through loyalty and a desire to be told what to believe. Critical and analytical thinking, coupled with a heart that yearns to uncover its own truth, is not usually tolerated. But if you are someone who has had trouble breaking away from a legalistic and fundamentalist religious system then this book will bring comfort to your journey.
Rating:
Summary: Soothing to anyone who's suffered under fundamentalism
Review: I wish this book had been available years ago. I was raised in a fundamentalist household and attended a private "Christian" academy where we would sing "Onward Christian Soldiers" during chapel. Then, afterwards, the kids would pour out into the playground and beat the ... out of the less popular kids. This was viewed as "OK" by the school's religious teachers. What particularly struck me at that time was not my own experiences, but the blatant immorality attributed to God. Even as a child I KNEW that the idea of God slaughtering millions of people just because they didn't believe a certain thing -- even though they were good people overall -- was just wrong. If God was that way then I wanted no part of it! If you can relate to anythig I've just written then you'll love "Stealing Jesus." It's nothing less than cathartic to read the author's explanations of how, why and where these warped religious beliefs came from. I do have two issues with the book. First, I have to ditto another reviewer's statements that it's hard to understand why it's necessary for the author to insist upon "Christian" as a label. Secondly, and more importantly to me, this book, while it's great for those of us who are recovering from fundamentalist extremes, is still a poor choice for those who need it most. What is soothing to me as a "survivor" would only be enraging to someone who might otherwise be open to other viewpoints. I suppose this is not a criticism as much as a clarification. This book is best used to empower people to respond to funamentalists. It's a poor choice to offer to fundamentalists to explain your views or change their minds, if such a thing is possible. I highly recommend this book. It presents the concept of God in a completely sensical way -- with no moral hypocrisy.
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