Book Comment: Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers is Telling the American Church

Kenda Dean is an ordained United Methodist pastor and university professor at Princeton University and she is alarmed by the current state of the church. She states that “one of the true miracles of Christianity may simply be that we still recognize it after two thousand years…”

Dr. Dean’s book discusses the findings of the National Study of Youth and Religion (NSYR). One of the things which shocked her about the study is that “For a striking number of teenagers, the NSYR interview seemed to be the first time any adult had asked these young people what they believed …”

Christian Smith, one of the study’s researchers, said “Our distinct impression is that very many religious congregations … are failing rather badly in religiously engaging and educating youth.” Exactly!

Dr. Dean believes that what she calls Moralistic Therapeutic Deism (MTD) is replacing doctrinally orthodox Christianity in many churches, especially those of more liberal leanings.

A simplified definition of deism: Some sort of Supreme Being created the universe and then became totally uninvolved and uninterested in it. Deists usually reject the supernatural, focus on human reasoning, and insist on acting morally.

The actual aim of MTD seems to be to socialize (read as civilize) teenagers and adults and to produce nice people. “We generally approve of teenagers who let us socialize them into younger versions of ourselves.”

Dr. Dean sees MTD as being about us and not about God. She compares it to the rich young man who went away sadly after meeting Jesus. Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30.

She rightly calls MTD “an emaciated faith and a flimsy facsimile” and goes so far as to declare it to be a heresy, and yes, it is. A very simplified definition of a heresy is a belief or doctrine which contradicts an established religious teaching.

“When it comes to vapid Christianity, teenagers are not the problem – the church is the problem. And … the church also has the solution.” And that solution is not Golden Rule Christianity. Dean quotes Martin Luther, “If ever the Church is to flourish again, one must begin by instructing the young.”

The biggest charge that Dean makes is not that teenagers have rejected Christianity but that many have believed the MTD which they have been taught by their churches; be nice and get along with everybody.

Dean declares that MTD is “another faith altogether.” Then she makes a profound statement: “Youth and parents are correct if they think that Moralistic Therapeutic Deism will outfit them better for success in America than Christianity will … being theologically bland helps immeasurably … content with decline … the God of the Bible traffics in life and death, not niceness …” Christianity is not merely a “social lubricant.”

The American theologian, Robert McAfee Brown, died nine years before Dr. Dean's book came out, but he saw much the same thing. In the following quote he was speaking about American Protestantism but what he said is true about much religiosity around the world: "... so transformed by the world that it has become virtually indistinguishable from it." 

MTD runs away from what Paul calls the offence of the cross. We all want to be liked and approved but the Bible tells us that we will not be. Isaiah 8:14-15; John 14:6, 15:18-25; Acts 4:12; 1 Corinthians 1:18, 23-24; Galatians 5:11; 1 Peter 2:7-8.

In Galatians 1:6-9, Paul told us how to respond to heresy.

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As with most books such as this, what you get from the book depends on what you bring with you. You may not agree with everything the author says. Luke (see below) advises you to think for yourself. Read your Bible and to listen to what it says. Do not believe anything just because someone else told to believe it; let the Holy Spirit guide you to the truth.

A general caution: books may give you wonderful new insights and explanations of subjects, but you should never base your Christian beliefs on any one book or the teachings of one person, no matter who they are. All teachings must be consistent with scripture. Read as the Bereans did, with discernment. “… for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11 NASB

To read, study, or even recommend that others read a book does not mean that you agree or disagree with the author. The ideas presented in the book may set you onto a path of discussion and understanding of what you personally believe, and why.

Any doctrines must be consistent with the historical full body of Christian thought. Doctrines or teachings inconsistent with scripture in any way must be rejected. You would not eat cheese which had a fuzzy fungus growing on it.

Information you will need to search for this book: 

Dean, Kenda Creasy, Book Comment: Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers is Telling the American Church (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2010)

Subjects in the Labels List Which Begin with the Letters cfa to chi

 This blog is ακωλυτως, unhindered. (Acts 28:31) Any subject is fair game. Below is a listing of the LABELS which begin with the letters cfa to chi. All can be searched from the list which follows the last posted article on this page or by typing them into the SEARCH button at the top of the page. Most will call up multiple postings in which they appear.

CGI, Chaldaic, Chaldeans, Champlain, chance, chant, chanting, chapel, chaplain,  chapter, charity, Charlemagne, Charles Kimball, Charles Spurgeon, Charlie Daniels, chastity, checkers, cheese, Cheetos, chef, chemistry, Cheops, Cherokee, chess, Chicago, Chicago Cubs, Chick-fil-a, chicken, chickens, child, child abduction, child abuse, child prodigy, childbirth, children, children’s books, children’s films, children’s television, Chile, Chilis, China, Chinese.

Subjects in the Labels List Which Begin with the Letters coo to cz.

 This blog is ακωλυτως, unhindered. (Acts 28:31) Any subject is fair game. Below is a listing of the LABELS which begin with the letters coo to cz. All can be searched from the list which follows the last posted article on this page or by typing them into the SEARCH button at the top of the page. Most will call up multiple postings in which they appear.

 

cookies, cooking, Coosa County, copper, Coptic, Copts, copyright, Corban, Cordoba, Corinthians, cornea, Cornelius, Cornish, Cornwall, coronavirus, corruption, Corsica, cosmic consciousness, Cosmological Argument, Costa Rica, council, Council of Chalcedon, Council of Jerusalem, counter culture, counseling, counterfeit, countertenor, country, country and western, country music, courage, Courageous, court, courts, covenant, CoVid-19, cowboy, Craig Groeschel, Crazy Horse, creation, Creator, creche, credit card, Cree Tribe, creeds, creepy, Crete, cricket, crime, criminal, Crimson Tide, criticism, Croatia, Croatian, cross, crown of thorns, crucifix, crucifixion, crusade, Crusades, cryogenics, crypt, culinary, cult, culture, culture shock, cuneiform, curfew, curia, curse, cursing, cursive handwriting, cussing, cutting, cutting corners, cybernetics, cyclone, cynicism, Cyprus, Cyrene, Cyrus, Czech, Czech Republic.  

The United States Midterm Elections

We in the United States have just held our 2026 midterm elections for positions in the House of Representatives and the Senate. The midterm refers to two years into the four-year term of the president. The results were a massive realignment of political power toward the left and toward socialism.

Some on the political right have said that these results came about because the church people stayed home and did not vote. If that is the case, I believe that the church people have misunderstood what the scriptures have to say about civic involvement. I also believe that the term church people seems to be a little bit dismissive.

Let me say right now that you do not know my political orientation.  I am not going to tell you my political orientation; it is none of your concern. This is absolutely not a political blog.

In Matthew 22:21, Mark 12:17, and Luke 20:25, Jesus is recorded as saying to give to Caesar the things which are Caesar’s. In all three verses, the word used is ἀπόδοτε, from ἀποδίδωμι, Strong’s 591: to give back, to return, to render, to repay, deliver (again), give (again), (re-)pay(-ment be made), perform, recompense, render, requite, restore, reward, sell, yield, repay, give, paid, pay back, reward, sold.

Paul talks in Romans 13:1-7 about the same subject. Here, he uses the word ὑποτασσέσθω, from ὑποτάσσω, Strong’s 5293: be under obedience (obedient), put under, subdue unto, (be, make) subject (to, unto), be (put) in subjection (to, under), submit self unto, subject, subjected, put in subjection, subjection, submissive, submit, subjecting. Remember this, Paul says this about the government which eventually chopped off his head.

Both Paul and Jesus draw a clear distinction between the civil government and the Kingdom of God. Both, also, clearly are saying to pay taxes and follow the civil laws. Neither of them advocate for any particular style of government. I think they are saying much more.

Looking at the coin, Jesus said to give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, he gave you the coin. I believe that this command extends to anything related to the state. It is our responsibility as Christians to vote, to have opinions, to have community involvement, and to fully exercise any civic powers given to us. We should be in the world but not of the world. John 17:16-26. True Christian faith requires us to not hide from the world. We are to be a witness.

Hello, St. Lucia!

Hello, St. Lucia! 1 November, 2026. Welcome to Saints on the Loose! We are ακωλυτως, unhindered. (Acts 28:31)

Hello, St. Lucia! Welcome to the world-wide group of readers from 154 countries who have also visited this blog. As of today, there have been 1,708,979 visitors to this blog. The current number of postings/articles is 1905. 

I hope you find some of the posts useful or meaningful. Tell your friends about this blog. Everyone is welcome.

Why We Have Over 99.9999999% of the Original Five Books of the Bible

The most conservative Orthodox Jews believe that the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament, was dictated by God to Moses, letter-by-letter. Not all Jewish traditions are as conservative as the Orthodox, but all authentic Torah scrolls are identical and must meet certain guidelines.

The Midrash (in Devarim Rabba 9:9) states that Moses wrote out 13 Torah scrolls and gave one to the leader of each tribe. The 13^th scroll was placed in the Ark of the Covenant. All the other 12 scrolls were checked letter-by-letter against the Temple Scroll. Modern Torah Scrolls are still checked in this way.

Modern Torah Scrolls are hand-copied from a previously approved scroll by a certified scribe. The process takes about 2000 hours. If even one error is found in the copy or if the fabric of the Torah is physically damaged in any way, the scroll is placed in a blessed container and buried in a Jewish cemetery near the grave of a Torah scholar.

The hand-copied scroll is checked against strict requirements and must be discarded for failing to meet any of the standards. The guidelines include:

1. The scroll is discarded if one letter is added.

2. The scroll is discarded if one letter is missing.

3. The scribe must be certified after special training.

4. The parchment, quill pen, and ink, must meet special requirements.

5. The text must be copied letter-by-letter, not written from memory.

6. Before writing down each word, the scribe must say it out loud.

7. The entire scroll is discarded if any part of a letter touches any part of another letter.

8. Every letter must be legible or the entire scroll must be discarded.

9. There must be a precise spacing between each letter and those around it.

10.          There are required line-lengths and paragraph formats.

11.         If any mistake cannot be corrected without damaging the scroll, it must be buried.

12.         The scroll must contain 304,805 letters.

13.         The parchment is prepared from the skin of a kosher animal. Panels of parchment are sewn together to form one continuous scroll.

The Yemenite Torah scrolls contain the only nine known letter variations, all of which are spelling differences. None change the meaning of the text.

 

https://aish.com/48969731/#:~:text=For%20example%2C%20the%20destruction%20of,thousands%20of%20years%20are%20remarkable!

Statement of Faith Updated Today

 The Statement of Faith has been updated today.