I recently read Don’t Check Your Brains as part of the BookSneeze.com review program. An evaluation copy was provided to me at no charge. In the interest of full disclosure, as soon as I finished it, I purchased a copy for our teen Sunday School teachers.
This book makes a great introduction to “Christian mythbusting.” It tackles the ideas that are fed to us—and that so many of us swallow whole. Do these sound familiar?
- God is an impersonal force
- Jesus was a white plastic wimp
- All roads lead to Heaven
- The body of Jesus was really stolen
- As long as I’m better than Hitler, I must be alright in God’s eyes. (God grades on a curve!)
- Christians are idiots
- Christianity is easy
- Manhood is about sex, strength, and money
- Sex is dirty and bad
- Mankind can save itself
These are just a few of the 42 myths tackled by McDowell and Hostetler. The chapters are 2-5 pages each making for a quick and easy read. The authors include great illustrations and anecdotes that help the book relate. I’d recommend the book on this count alone.
Another great feature is the inclusion of questions in each chapter. These aren’t typical discussion questions; they are “brain food” with scriptures to look up and evaluate. The form has some variation from chapter to chapter to help maintain interest.
I enjoyed the book thoroughly. If you’re looking to work with young people, I’d consider it a great resource on the basics of intentional Christian thought and living.