Don't Check Your Brains at the Door By Josh McDowell & Bob Hostetler

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 Author:  McDowell and Hostetler
Publisher:  Tommy Nelson

“Seven in 10 Protestants ages 18 to 30—both evangelical and mainline—who went to church regularly in high school said they quit attending by age 23, according to the survey by LifeWay Research.” (USA Today)

Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door gives teens answers that make sense, even for the toughest of questions. Internationally known defender of the faith Josh McDowell and co-author Bob Hostetler offer clarity laced with humor to expose common myths about God, the Bible, religion, and life to show how Christianity stands up to the test of fact and reason. Teens will be better equipped to stick with their faith as they begin to understand why they believe and why it’s important to make a lifetime commitment to Christ and the church.

I am about to write a not so favorable review.  Let me begin by stating that I had very high hopes for this book.  I had hoped that it would be a valuable resource for my little one someday.  However, even at the tender age of eight, I have to say that her reading level already far exceeds the scope of this book.  The introduction to this book states that it is the authors intention to equip its reader with the tools necessary to defend their faith with fact and reason to those who would malign it.  The authors then proceed to work their way through the top "myths" about the Bible...attempting along the way to provide the reader with solid irrefutable evidence to the contrary.  It is my opinion, that if someone finds fault with the Bible and you seek to defend it, probably it's best not to use the Bible to do so.  The criticizer has already decided that the Bible itself is faulty.  Therefore citing from it isn't going to change their mind.  It's like saying the Bible is true because the Bible says so. It won't sway anyone.

There are far more effective ways for the faithful to defend their faith in a world that is increasingly more dubious.  “I’m rubber and you’re glue . . .”  Would be a more convincing argument.  Well it would be if we were say... four years old.  Unfortunately, utilizing such and argument (while no less convincing than the ones posited by the authors of "Don't check your brains..") against those seeking to attack Christianity will not win you any debate.  Eventually there will come a time when you have to come up with better arguments, especially when defending your faith in Jesus Christ.  So truly, ultimately, we must each look deep inside and first ask ourselves our reasons for believing.  Not the reasons we've been taught but the reasons deep within our souls. If our faith is true then that truth shines through our words and actions and that is by far the most convincing argument.  Besides, it isn't for us to change others...only God changes minds and hearts.

BookSneeze® has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy.

About the Authors

J. Mcdowell

Josh McDowell has been reaching the spiritually skeptical for almost five decades. Since beginning ministry in 1961, Josh has delivered more than 24,000 talks to over 10 million young people in 118 countries. He is the author or co-author of 120 books, with over 51 million copies distributed worldwide; including More Than a Carpenter (over 15 million copies printed in 85 languages), and The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict, recognized by World magazine as one of the twentieth century's top 40 books. Josh continues to travel throughout the United States and countries around the world, helping young people and adults strengthen their faith and understanding of Scripture. Josh will tell you that his family is his ministry. He and his wife, Dottie, have been married for 39 years and have four children and four grandchildren.

This biography was provided by the author or their representative.


B. Hostetler

Bob Hostetler is a writer, editor, and speaker from southeastern Ohio. His 20 books, which include "They Call Me A.W.O.L." and "Holy Moses (and Other Adventures in Vertical Living)," have sold over 2 million copies. He has coauthored eight books with Josh McDowell, including the best-selling "Right from Wrong: What You Need to Know to Help Youth Make Right Choices" and the award-winning "Don't Check Your Brains at the Door." He has won two Gold Medallion awards, three Ohio Associated Press awards, and an Amy Foundation award.
Bob is a frequent speaker at churches, conferences, and retreats. He has been a disk jockey, pastor, magazine editor, freelance book editor, and, with his wife, Robin, a foster parent to 10 boys (though not all at once).
Bob and Robin have two adult children, Aubrey and Aaron.
This biography was provided by the author or their representative