Be Intolerant: Because Some Things Are Just Stupid [Paperback]

Ryan Dobson (Author), Jefferson Scott (Contributor)

Book Description

Release date: September 4, 2003

"Whatever" is now the password into civilized youth culture. Alarming numbers of Christians eighteen to twenty-five years old believe that there is no such thing as absolute truth. Yet, Ryan Dobson proclaims, we can't even function if we believe that everything is relative. In his first book, the impassioned youth speaker explains God's establishment of absolutes, using relevant examples to awaken Christians to the world's desperate hunger for absolute truth -- and the church's duty to proclaim it.

OUR GENERATION IS BEING DESTROYED BY RAMPANT TOLERANCE.

Somebody’s cheating at school?

“Well, that’s his business.”

Your roommate wants an abortion?

“I wouldn’t do it, but hey, it’s her life.”

Accepting everything means you believe in nothing. When it comes to right and wrong, sitting on the fence won’t get you—or the people you love—anywhere. Passiveness is not love. Love is getting in people’s face and telling them the truth.

Finally, someone has the courage to point out that some ideas are simply stupid. Honest and unflinching, Ryan Dobson will show you how to back up your beliefs and be intolerant—in love.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ryan Dobson

Ryan Dobson's hands-on knowledge of youth culture and his speaking experience have propelled him to the forefront of today's younger generation. Ryan travels extensively, speaking more than 100 times a year at events ranging from youth camps to crisis pregnancy center fundraisers. A graduate of Biola University with a degree in communications, Ryan lives in southern California, where he loves to surf Orange County's top beaches and skateboard with friends.

Jefferson Scott

Jefferson Scott has written extensively for Christian Single, Focus on the Family Clubhouse, and other Christian magazines. He is the author of five novels, including the military thrillers Operation: Firebrand and Operation: Firebrand—Crusade. A graduate of both seminary and film school, Jefferson currently makes his home in the Pacific Northwest, where he writes full-time. He and his wife have two children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Multnomah Books (September 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590521528
• ISBN-13: 978-1590521526
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (67 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #441,521 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

"If I could be doing anything in the world, it would be this."

From writing bestselling books, to hosting not one but two nationally syndicated radio shows, to speaking all across the country, Ryan Dobson uses every opportunity to call people out of the moral relativism of today's society and into "the ultimate adventure" of following Christ.

The son of author and broadcasting hall of famer, Dr. James Dobson, Ryan began his career by using his natural talent and passion for public speaking.  He traveled extensively, speaking at music festivals, concert tours, and crisis pregnancy centers, which prepared him to write first book, Be Intolerant, in 2003.  Be Intolerant clearly hit a nerve and quickly rose up the sales charts-- only to be followed by four additional bestsellers.

As founder of KOR Ministries, Ryan hosted an Internet-based radio program that developed a global audience, serving several hundred thousand listeners each month. 

Today, Ryan has joined forces with his father on staff at the new Family Talk ministry in Colorado Springs, Colorado and co-hosts a radio show with Dr. Dobson discussing the key issues families face.  Ryan's radio show was re-launched as "Grounded with Ryan Dobson" in the fall of 2010, now part of the Family Talk Network.  Ryan is an in-demand speaker, leads short-term missions trips and men's retreats, and has a couple of books nearing completion.

Ryan Dobson lives in Colorado with his wife, Laura, and their son, Lincoln.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 70 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Some Good Content, But Needs Some Grace October 29, 2003

By Joey

Format:Paperback

I'm a 28 year-old Christian woman, and I've only been saved for about two years. In my course of searching for "The Truth" I found a fire in my heart for Christian Apologetics. This book is a pretty good apologetics resource for the Christian trying to reach certain persons, but its' definately not for the Non-Christian. To a Non, it would seem very ungracious and condemning.

I believe that Ryan specifically wrote this for the young Christian in today's America. If that was his target audience (which it appears to be) it's a good resource, but he should have added a little more grace into it, I believe. He hit on "love" a bit, but forgot to mention that we're all dreadful, horrible creatures by nature (sinners) and we're all in need of a savior. None of us are any more righteous than the next before we were saved, and the morally lost of our society need to understand the grace that only Jesus Christ can give before they believe they are worthy of this forgiveness. If this "grace" appears abrasive, unreachable, and unworthy many will turn away.

I believe that this book will function well for a young Christian seeking to bring a wandering Christian friend (or a luke-warm one) back into a holy life. But I would not recommend it in it's entirety as a tool for trying to save a deeply lost young person.

97 of 135 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Poorly constructed argument. October 15, 2003

By Mike Reynolds

Format:Paperback

I heard some buzz about this book, so I picked it up, and here are some thoughts.
Dobson is obviously writing to teens, thus his "surfer dude" style of writing prevails through the book. It is too bad that this style of writing also pertains to his brand of logic which is painfully trite and condemning.

His conclusions about Moral Relativism are very broad and most of the time extremely unrealistic. His condemnation of anyone who is tolerant of: homosexuality, environmentalism, victims of societal marginalization, Clinton, is extremely harsh and unacademic.

His bibliography contains 3 books and 3 website articles. Even his conclusion of the scripture that he quotes (albeit out of context) is poorly done.

I myself am a Christian who sees the need to stand against different flavors of relativism, but, that needs to be done while following the words and actions of Jesus. Dobson's militant style of agressive moral confrontations with people who we seem to disagree with, does not have any good consequence. His manipulative brand of logic is painful to read and simply blends in with that of the: ultra right wing conservatives, NRA nuts, anti-environmentalists, white supremacists, hatefully homophobic etc.

I am saddened to think that teenagers will be presented with this excuse to be the brand of closed-minded, arrogant, self-righteous Christian that makes such a bad name for those of us who are trying to share the gospel in love and truth.

18 of 24 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Really American August 20, 2008

By Kathryn Fyffe

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I read this book in order to participate in a book club discussion online with American Christian Women. They all loved it, but I was unconvinced. While Ryan has many good points, those points are made by focussing on things that Australian wouldn't see as a problem. For example, environmental groups. Maybe we just don't have any raving fanatical environmentalists down under because I thought that taking care of the environment was good and we do need some people to give us a kick up the bum to spur us into action.

His writing style was very late childhood/early teenager and I didn't appreciate that. His culture came through too much and the book itself was rather political - and I REALLY didn't appreciate that.

Maybe you crazy Americans will like it, but I will not endorse it to any of my Aussie friends. Good points, bad structure and wrapping.

68 of 96 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Simplistic March 18, 2008

By WWillow

Format:Paperback

This book is a gross oversimplification of history, philosophy, ethics, religion, environmentalism, etc. If this book is to be believed, there are only two kinds of people in the world. On the one hand are people who agree with James and Ryan Dobson's politics and interpretation of the Bible completely, and on the other hand, those who have no belief in right and wrong and who are on the side of Satan. He portrays anyone who is not the exact right kind of right-wing fundamentalist Christian as having absolutely no moral values, sense of right and wrong, or relationship to Jesus and to God. Much of the book consists of Ryan setting up and knocking down straw men. It's also odd that one of the things he rails against in the book is a culture of victimization, when he portrays himself and all right-wing fundamentalist Christians as being "hated" by the entire world. It's hard to think of someone who is less victimized than a young man who grew up with a famous, wealthy, politically well-connected father, attended a private university, lived in a condo purchased by his father in one of the most expensive real estate markets in the United States, used his father's name to get speaking engagements & book deals, etc. Also, why would a true Christian use a term that, despite his claim that he isn't a bigot, is historically tied to racial prejudice, anti-Semitism, etc.? The only possible reason I can think of is that he cares more about selling books than about following the example of Jesus.