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    Christians Are Hate-Filled Hypocrites...and Other Lies You've Been Told: A Sociologist Shatters Myths From the Secular and Christian Media
    Christians Are Hate-Filled Hypocrites...and Other Lies You've Been Told: A Sociologist Shatters Myths From the Secular and Christian Media
    Christians Are Hate-Filled Hypocrites...and Other Lies You've Been Told: A Sociologist Shatters Myths From the Secular and Christian Media
    Audiobook4 hours

    Christians Are Hate-Filled Hypocrites...and Other Lies You've Been Told: A Sociologist Shatters Myths From the Secular and Christian Media

    Written by Bradley R.E. Wright

    Narrated by Bradley R.E. Wright

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    What if all the bad news you've been hearing about Christians isn't true?

    Here are some facts that may surprise you: Evangelicals are more respected by society today than they were 20 years ago. Divorce rates of Christian couples are lower than those of nonbelievers. The percentage of young people who attend church has held steady over the past 20 years. All these statements are true, yet we’ve been told the opposite time and time again.

    Why is the church being misled? And what is the true state of Christianity in America today?

    Sociologist Brad Wright shatters popular myths by sifting through the best available data. He reveals how Christians are doing when it comes to everything from marriage and morality to church growth and public perception. While not all the news is good, it turns out there is a wealth of encouraging information that we’re not being told.

    Get the truth behind the statistics you’ve been hearing and how the numbers are being manipulated, and discover what is really happening in American Christianity.


    ©2010 Bradley R.E. Wright (P)2011 Oasis

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOasis Audio
    Release dateJul 22, 2010
    ISBN9781608147144
    Christians Are Hate-Filled Hypocrites...and Other Lies You've Been Told: A Sociologist Shatters Myths From the Secular and Christian Media
    Author

    Bradley R.E. Wright

    Bradley R. E. Wright is a professor of sociology at the University of Connecticut. He’s the author of books and articles about the interface between Christianity and social science. His current research explores how people find their purpose in life.

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    Reviews for Christians Are Hate-Filled Hypocrites...and Other Lies You've Been Told

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    • 4/5
      As the title suggests, Wright decided to set the story straight on Evangelical Christianity. Too many statistics are misinformed and misinterpreted. A sociologist familiar with the proper use of statistics, Wright provides the reader with up to date stats and interpretation.Did I mention that he's genuinely laugh-out-loud funny? Here's my favourite quote: "At this point, allow me to interject that there is a crucial distinction between extramarital sex and extra marital sex. One is committing adultery, the other represents a better-than-average week, and they have very different consequences."At times the sheer volume of stats and graphs became overwhelming. This isn't a criticism—it's the nature of the book. This is a volume worth pondering by anyone frustrated with the negative views of Evangelical Christianity portrayed by the media, and indulged in by ourselves.Disclaimer: A review copy of this book was provided at no cost through LibraryThing's Early Reviewer's program.
    • 3/5
      Although this book turned out to be different from what I thought it would be, it was still worth reading. The main idea throughout the book is for the author to challenge the way that statistics are presented in regards to Christianity, and especially how they are often used to paint a different picture than the truth.The author challenges readers to question such things as the motives of the writer, the accuracy of what is being presented, and how what is being presented matches with ones personal experience. Although this may seem obvious, the author points out that quite often these types of things are ignored when Christianity is the topic being discussed.The book is not an easy read, but is rewarding if one is willing to keep at it until the end.
    • 5/5
      Really good in depth statistical analysis of modern surveys about religion, esp Christianity. Should be must reading for anyone who chooses to quote some of the surveys that spread mis-information around.
    • 4/5
      Bradley Wright. Christians Are Hate-Filled Hypocrites...and Other Lies You've Been Told: A Sociologist Shatters Myths from the Secular and Christian Media. Bloomington, MN: Bethany House, 2010. 180 pp. $14.99.The dominant thought of the book is "Don't believe every statistic you hear!" Wright opens the book with an example of this provocative headline: "Only prostitutes rank lower than evangelicals in terms of respect in the mind of the public." Bradley Wright is a sociologist who sets out to demonstrate how headlines such as this one mislead the public.Wright, himself an evangelical Christian, states, "The thesis of this book is that Christians are exposed to many inaccurate statistics about our faith." He points out how Christian research organizations such as The Barna Group, Lifeway Research, Reveal and Open Tomb are partially staffed by employees who are not formally trained in social research. Furthermore, their findings are seldom peer-reviewed for an external quality check (Unedited Galley Proof, 17).Inaccurate statistics make headlines because such negativity is provocative and creates an audience. For example, plane accidents make the news while plane safety does not. Christian authors and ministers use such negative statistics to "prove" their book, sermon or seminar is relevant and helpful in solving the specific problem addressed. Such men and women willingly accept the statistic without verifying the truthfulness of such statements.In the chapter "Is American Christianity on the Brink of Extinction?" Wright charts the 2008 Pew U.S. Religious Landscape Survey. In it, the survery shows which religious groups Americans associate themselves with: Evangelical Christian (26%); Mainline Protestant (18%); Catholic (24%); Unaffiliated (16%). Jews, Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Buddhists and Hindus make up less than 5% combined. The author is careful to point out how unaffiliated does not mean atheist, as the majority, 56%, believe in God while another 14% are agnostic.In this chapter as in others, we find our kids and marriages are not as bad as some would have us believe. This is encouraging news that should be shared within our churches! The media is discouraging enough. Why must our churches be so negative as well? As a preaching minister I found this book's analysis fascinating. I believe seminarians, professors and even elders will benefit from reading this volume. The multiple charts and graphs will undoubtedly scare some away from reading the book, but the content is not complex. Christians will benefit from Wright's insightful read, especially George Barna fans!
    • 4/5
      For a book filled with sociological data, statistics, and charts on nearly every other page, I found this book to be surprisingly engrossing. To be sure, this book is by no means an easy read, and requires a certain amount of intellect to understand the plethora of data that Wright provides on every conceivable topic related to the image of Christianity - whether it be from the perspective of Christians or non-Christians.Wright also uses the book to teach the reader not only the correct data about many of the misconceptions of the image of Christianity, but also how to respond to the blind faith that many have when quoting others' seemingly statistically-based beliefs. He gives examples of this in conversation and how to enlighten others all throughout the book. He describes how many people, when addressing topics in Christianity, will use embellished or misinterpreted statistics to draw attention to themselves as an author or preacher just like the fear-mongering of the news on television or newspaper. He also discusses how the power of personal prejudices and stereotypes can override the blatant evidence to the contrary for many people.Without getting into all of the detailed statistical findings that Wright reveals, I can easily say that most claims about the image of Christianity are exaggerated or completely false. But don't take my word for it - read it for yourself.
    • 5/5
      Through careful research and much re-interpretation of faulty explanations of existing research, sociologist Bradley Wright paints a new picture of Christianity in America that will be a great encouragement to believers. His work refutes much of the doomsday scenarios carelessly spouted out by Christian authors, pastors and speakers.As an example, just the other day, a friend of mine tweeted:Today, fewer than 20% of Americans attend church regularly and only 22% have a positive view of church. #ExponentialbookThis is a fantastic example. In reality, only about 40% of people have a negative opinion of evangelical Christians today. However, it all depends on how someone defines “evangelical” because that is the term used in most of the survey questions asked. For example, according to the 2008 Gallup Poll, less than 12% of the respondents had negative feelings toward Methodists, Jews, Baptists, or Catholics.Wright points out that much of the research used to say that people have a faulty view of Christians is spurious and unreliable. In addition, Wright deals with topics ranging from the divorce rate in the church to whether the church losing its young people.You’ll be pleasantly surprised as I was to learn that good interpretation of these studies reveals that the church in America is in much better shape than we’ve been led to believe. The conclusion of the Wright’s book urges us to think critically again and not to believe stats, polls and “research” – especially when our intuition tells us that this may not be accurate.He points out that bad news sells. It sells newspapers, it boosts media ratings, and unfortunately, it also sells Christian books and helps advance speakers. Sensational statistics have been used to urge pastors and Christian leaders to buy books which advocate “solutions” when in actuality, the entire thesis seems to be one of promoting fear and worry.Of particular concern to me were Wright’s findings about some organizations that many Christian organizations depend upon for research (and quote often) – the Barna Research Group and Lifeway Research being two. I’d encourage you to check out Wright’s blog and keep up with his material for another perspective.In conclusion, I predict that 90% of people who read this entry will think twice about reading another statistic. Like I said, 90% of people who read this entry will think twice about reading another statistic.
    • 4/5
      This is a good read because it is different from all the doom and gloom about Christians. Although it is ache y read as it is full of statistics and charts, it paints a good picture. I enoyed an honest look at the way Christians are portrayed in the media. The book can get a bit cumbersome with all the facts but is worth the read.
    • 3/5
      Interesting debunking of common myths people have about Christianity.
    • 5/5
      Dr. Wright gives an excellent, eye-opening explanation about the use and misuse of statistics about Christianity. He addresses exaggerations that often make headlines or are the bases of books about how bad Christians (especially evangelicals) are or how much they are hated. He shows from major surveys of the American population how in most areas Christianity has a positive influence versus other religious groups and particularly versus religiously unaffiliated people.Any Christians who are interested in thinking critically about popular portrayal of Christians in the media (general or religious) and the role of faith in American culture should read this book.Christianity Today selected this book as the top for 2010 in the Christianity and Culture segment. It is a well-deserved recognition.One criticism of the advanced copy that I read is that the graphs were often hard to read and not on the page where they were discussed. The final version may have been better.(This book was sent to me for free as part of the Earlier Review program.)
    • 4/5
      Thank you Brad, for giving us something other than doom and gloom. Having spent most of life under pastors who used fear and failure as a way to keep people captive and serving, it is great to see a text that outlines alternatives readings to the messages we are always spoonfed. Christian media depends heavily on an us/them mentality, and the fear of "losing the battle."What lends credence to Brad's work is he is coming from the sociological perspective, rather than a Christian cultural perspective. It would be interesting to have a companion book series called Democrats are Social Welfare Sell-outs... and Republicans are Greedy Capitalists...
    • 4/5
      I recently finished reading Dr. Bradley R. E. Wright’s new book titled Christians Are Hate-Filled Hypocrites… and Other Lies You’ve Been Told. Now that is a title that most certainly grabs your attention. It is the written work of a sociologist’s attempt to shatter myths from the secular and Christian media. It is a critique on the common statistics referenced about Christians in America today. Dr. Bradley R. E. Wright is associate professor of sociology at the University of Connecticut. You've probably heard the many negative media reports about the evangelical church, such as-Christian young people are leaving the Christian faith in record numbers.-The divorce rate among Christians is as high as those of nonbelievers.-Christians today are watered down in their beliefs and actions.But are these truly accurate? In this book Wright shatters these popular myths along with many others. Using the current best data available he reveals to readers why and how some of the many commonly quoted statistics are incomplete and inaccurate when quoted. We all know that the media tends to stretch and exaggerate information. The book attempts to give us a new set of lens to look at the stats we are thrown each day by the media. Wright is very critical of the likes of George Barna and others like him who blindly provide surveyed stats to the public as complete truth.A book like this does accomplish its purpose in it stirs up controversy and a critical outlook when a person uses stats to validate there point. Wright says for example, that the divorce rate amongst Christians is actually lower than those who don't claim any religious affiliation. This of course goes against the information most of us have heard about the divorce rates being the same for believers and non-believers. Being a sociologist professor, Wright offers plenty of his own stats to combat the information that has long presented Christians in a negative light.Wright though in a gentle tone gives his criticisms and his delightful sense of humor springs up in the pages of his book. His encouragement is refreshing when he challenges everyday people to have a healthy skepticism when hearing statistics. He is not against the use of statistics but its sloppy use wither by secular media or Christian propagators.The book is clearly presented and allows for a bridge between academic sociology and the wider reading public, including plenty of statistical data, illustrative charts, humor, and (most importantly) relevance for anyone interested in modern American Christianity. I recommend it for those desiring to gain a better grasp of where Christianity really is in this country. It provides plenty of statistical data, illustrative charts and a connection between sociology and the Christian public. It is a great and relevant read to assist in gaining a better idea of where we really are in this country as Christians.-As per FTC Guidelines, I must state that I was given a review copy of "Christians Are Hate-Filled Hypocrites...and Other Lies You've Been Told". My opinions are expressly my own, and are in no way positively or negatively influenced, due to receiving this Book to review-
    • 4/5
      Bradley Wright has done the evangelical Christian community a great service by publishing this book. Evangelicals are so often bombarded with negative numbers and statistics representing the world around us, the behaviors and beliefs of fellow Christians, and worldly perceptions of Christianity. As a young seminary student preparing for the pastorate, there is the temptation to form my thoughts on ministry, church, and future congregations based on such statistics. These numbers go almost unquestioned when used by prominent leaders. Wright not only debunks some of the wrong and skewed statistics that are being put forth as factual, but he actually teaches the reader how to think critically about statistics. By pointing out where specific statistics go wrong, he sets forth great examples of not only what factors to consider when determining the reliability of statistics, but also how to watch for statistics that are possibly being put forth to merely push an agenda.I appreciate the fairness of Wright in his critique of the wrongful use of statistics. Even the most well respected evangelical figures, such as Al Mohler, were found not to be above reproach concerning this issue. The range of topics he covered was also very helpful.Overall, this is a worthwhile read for anyone in ministry. Critical thinking about the information we receive as pastors is a must. This book certainly encourages that.Nevertheless, just because Wright shows that things may not be quite as bad as some would portray, some statistics are still clear. 100% have fallen short of the glory of God and 0% of those outside of Christ will spend eternity in heaven.
    • 4/5
      Statistics are frequently bandied about in conversation as though they represent some type of unassailable truth. "Statistics show Christianity is a dying religion." "This might be the last Christian generation, because teenagers are leaving the church at alarming rates." "Just look at the number of stories in the news and you'll see that Christians are nothing more than a bunch of hypocrites." Bradley R.E. Wright, in his work Christians are Hate-Filled Hypocrites...and Other Lies You've Been Told, takes a hard look at many of the popular conceptions about Christianity and holds them under the light of statistics collected over the past several decades. He concludes that many of the statistics used to paint a negative picture of Christianity are ultimately unsupported by more in-depth research. A sociology professor at the University of Connecticut, Wright offers a comprehensive analysis of Christianity today that dispels many myths about the church today, i.e. the divorce rate among Christians is lower than the society at large, in spite of popular misconception. While Wright's writing style can be somewhat stiff at times, Christians are Hate-Filled Hypocrites...and Other Lies You've Been Told is a thought-provoking read worth the effort for anyone involved in the current and future state of the church.
    • 5/5
      This is quite an encouraging book, I'm glad it's in my library. It debunks a lot of statistical myths that evangelical Christians are viewed negatively by the public. Wright is an academic, but this book is easily read. With an endorsement from Jenkins, we should all perk up and pay attention.
    • 2/5
      To me, this book came across as having two goals: first, to disprove the stereotypes about Evangelical Christians, second, to measure the "success" of Evangelical Christians (ECs). The audience for the first goal is non-ECs, for the second goal it is ECs. I'm not convinced that Wright fully met either of his two goals completely, and I think his audience/readers will be a smaller group than he'd like. Yes, some of the stereotypes about ECs are disproved, mainly because those stereotypes grew out of conflated statistics or a few sensational news items. The message "don't believe everything you hear/read" is well supported in this book. Other stereotypes are not disproved, but they are not solidly proven, either. The weakest "disproof" is that of the poor, uneducated ECs. The stats do support this stereotype, and Wright redirects the reader's attention to a tangential matter in the hopes the reader won't notice. The introduction to the book explains that Wright's goal is to present data, not explain the causes. He does seem to explain or at least suggest explanations for many stats. Sometimes I agree with his rationale, but often it's just speculation or hypotheses. Given his "authoritative" position, these speculations could be misused or misunderstood to be more factual than they are intended: a difficult position to avoid in this type of writing. There is nothing overly profound in the book, but there are a few matters presented that are interesting to note. Overall, the strongest lie that is debunked is that the church is losing its youth. Wright's data suggests that youths are always "lost" in each generation, but as the individuals mature and settle down with families, they return. It's the single people the church loses.
    • 5/5
      This is a very helpful book. Prof. Wright has presented something that I strongly believe we need to sit down and think about. As an academic who studies evangelicals I am constantly weighing through alarmist self-condemnation and finally someone has had the guts to say that it simply isn't true. Whatever else I say about this book, I think it needs to be read and taken very seriously. Wright calls us to love the truth and be suspicious of statistics, especially when someone is trying to sell you something. Wright wades through a variety of claims made about Christians, with careful attention to Evangelical Christians. He shows how these claims are often based on erroneous, suspicious or poorly interpreted statistics. He draws on large sample statistics to try and get at what the real situation might be. To his credit this could be very tedious writing, but Wright moves us along at a pace that avoids bogging us down in the details but gives us enough information to see whether or not there is any substance to the claims. I find he is fair. He doesn't paint an overly rosy picture, but he also doesn't paint the doom and gloom we often hear from pulpits. Wright could have spent a bit more time on the disconnection between his statistically measurable aspects of Christian action and morality. The reality is that the agendas for negative publicity are often filled with strong assumptions about the nature of Christian action and morality. This isn't as much a critique of Wright's choices here as it is of the ideologies behind the internal negative reports on Christian morality. He does get at this with his lovely term "cranky nostalgia", I would simply call it ideologically driven romanticism. For me the litmus test in terms of bias came when Wright addressed the powder-keg issue of homosexuality. I felt he was very focused, not presenting his own bias but sticking to his task of evaluating Christian attitudes, as measured by the statistics, towards gay individuals. I wonder if he could have been as unbiased towards Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses as well - he seems to lump them in with other religions despite the fact that they are Christian sects which emerged around the same time as many other "evangelical" sects. Historically it is more helpful to lump them in with the groups they are most related to, regardless of their adherence to classical categories of orthodoxy. The only reason I point this out is that it is a place where Wright's bias does show through.All in all this is an excellent book. Wright punctuates it with humour (albeit fairly geeky humour) and keeps his analysis succinct and relevant. I highly recommend this book.
    • 4/5
      Excellent topic, great conclusions and a much needed message for the media to hear.However, the book collapses under the sheer weight of its own statistics and numbers so that it becomes unreadable.
    • 3/5
      this was an easy read and the author has many funny comments through out the book easing the fact it is a numbers and stats book. he does a good job at showing both sides of the story.
    • 4/5
      A book (more soberly written than its title would suggest) regarding the use and abuse of statistics in the presentation of challenges and advantages of Christianity. The author presents an overall more positive presentation of the situation of "Christianity" in culture than one would see from media outlets or from the Barna Group. In so doing he provides a helpful corrective for the distortions that one does find in the media and that one gets from statistics provided from the Barna Group. The author is to be commended for being willing to associate the rise of the unaffiliated and negative perceptions of Christianity in the 70s-90s with the growing association with the political right and to warn against such association. He also does well at showing the challenges that still exist among Evangelicals regarding matters of race relations and attitudes toward homosexuals. The presentation itself has many challenges, however. The author attempts to present himself as objective and unbiased, but the book presents things a bit more positively than it exists in reality. This was especially noticeable in the section regarding Christians and their understanding of Christianity/practice of Christianity. The author presents his statistics as a foil to books by The Barna Group and others, but the contrast is not really accurate. The author contents himself with statistics regarding the polled "Christians'" views on belief in the Bible as the literal word of God and regarding heaven, hell, angels, and miracles, whereas the books he's contrasting goes into more depth with people's views on God, exclusivity of Christianity, and so on. The questions with more depth show the problems that the author, however consciously or unconsciously, does not present. Including the church of Christ in the "Evangelical" fold did not sit too well with me. The author's constant shifting from casual, almost jocular language to more formal language was jarring. As an early reviewer I received an advance reading copy, and I certainly hope that for the final edition there is a bit more smoothing out of the language of the author and much better graphics in terms of the charts. Many of the charts in the early review edition could not be read or understood because of the way they were presented on the page.In the end the book is a helpful corrective. Yes, the picture presented in the media and often by the Barna Group is overly negative and sensationally so; no argument there. But the picture is also probably not as rosy or as good as is presented by Wright. Ironically one does well to follow the author's advice in the end: bring a healthy sense of skepticism toward any and all arguments based on statistics, including this author's.