Customer Reviews

Be Intolerant: Because Some Things Are Just Stupid

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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.

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.

In many of the reviews of this book, readers state that is seems overly harsh and condemning. While I agree that the content of the book is harsh in telling Christians to take a stand for wrongs that they see in the world, I do not believe that it is off the mark with Christian faith. Dobson challenges readers to stand up for Christ and call out people, particularly Christians who are sinning in the world. It is the attitude of not speaking out that is leading to churches that are more permissive and lenient in their beliefs and moving away from the truths of the Bible. Why should it be so hard to tell others that homosexuality is a sin and that couples shouldn't live together before marriage? Dobson's book was a reminder for me to not try and placate others, but to take risks with my faith rather than letting people wander around lost.

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.

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.

Another shallow book about how Christians should be different from the world and not compromise. Only in this book written by Ryan Dobson, son of Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, we get good examples on how to be intolerant of others in the name of Jesus. And do it being smug, intolerant and superior. I'm sure that's what Jesus would do. (WWJD) The fact that Ryan Dobson is divorced from his first wife (I thought divorce was a sin) and now on marriage #2 (another sin, adultery) seems to be of little concern when it comes to giving advice on judging the sins of others. This is just plain stupid, like this book. But I guess, like father, like son.

A thinly veiled religious sermon. I found it very interesting that there is no mention of religion on either the front or back cover.

A very quick read, but if you are looking for an in depth discussion of tolerance in today's society it's a waste of time.

This book was really great to read. It demonstrates how our world today says "oh, don't judge!" or "it's not MY life so I really can't say if it's wrong or right" and how backwards and completely stupid that point of view is. Ryan Dobson explains how JESUS CHRIST is the One who set the rules of this life into place and whether you like it or not, some things are JUST PLAIN WRONG. In a world of being afraid of being politically correct, Ryan really steps out boldly and confronts those who are too afraid to stand up for what's right and to TELL SOMEONE when they are in the wrong. (in a loving way of course) He illustrates how not only is it not a bad thing to tell someone when they are doing something wrong or harmful, but it is our RESPONSIBILITY as Christians to do so.


I would definitely recommend this book for teenagers, parents of teenagers and for young adults as well. It encourages Christians to not be afraid of the truth and not be afraid to stand up for what is right and detest what is wrong. Especially in today's society that tells us everything is subjective, this book is a must read. There is black, there is white, there is wrong and there is right and after reading this, you'll be empowered to make a stand.


The only thing I didn't like about this was how he wrote the book in a "teenager tone". I guess that's good for the youth he is trying to reach but I think he could have really hit some stronger notes if he wrote a little bit more mature.

That being said, just about anyone can get something useful from this book. I liked it a lot!

Ryan Dobson does an excellent job of defining and refuting moral relativism. Spoken with love yet firmness, he helps the reader to see the error in thinking of the moral relativist. His boldness is refreshing. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who wants to understand moral relativism and how, at its core, it is not logical. Care needs to be taken with how we confront people - it should always be done in love - Christ's love. I am grateful that this author explains moral relativism in terms young and old can understand. Not a deep coverage of the topic, but a very good beginning.

By the author's own standards, this book clearly deserves extra helpings of intolerance. This book is immature, naive, arrogant, ignorant and shallow-minded vitriol, and I can only hope that this kid will be ashamed of it when he matures, if such event ever occurs.

If you haven't guessed yet, I clearly would not recommend this book to anyone ever, but I would like to offer a recommendation to this fellow before he condescends to waste more paper; read the New Testament and stop spending all of your time kicking lepers. He's clearly focused on excavating the most dark and forboding depths of the Old Testament and I would hope that if he really sees himself as a Christian, he might break away from some of the shocking pettiness that spews forth in this book and show just a hint of the teachings of Christ. They are compelling for, among many other reasons, all of the reasons this book is not.