Customer Reviews

Controversial Discussion Starters

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A dozen of our church's youth small groups are using this book after my own class used it a year ago. The format is very effective. It does not "preach" to youth, but rather teaches youth to turn to the Bible and search out answers to difficult, real-world issues that they face. Each topic is displayed on two facing pages, the left taking the "NO" position, and the right taking the "YES" position. Basic tenants and concepts supporting each stance are outlined, and specific Bible verses are cited. In our group, we started each hour session by reading the topic, briefly clarifying the issue, and "voting" on it. Every member had to take a position on their own... yes, no, or "walk like an Egyptian" (not sure.) Then we moved through the discussion, referring to the listed Bible verses. At the end of the hour, we reviewed what we had learned by taking another vote.

The topics range widely, but they all are real-world issues that are relevant to today's youth.

This book is one of the worst books in catechetical, youth group history. On the surface it "appears" neutral, giving a "yes" and a "no" position to the controversial topics of the times. In reality, it is a very deceitful book, giving scripture references for both positions. Yes, that means it gives scripture references both for supporting and opposing abortion, euthanasia, premarital sex etc. Which basically means that the author is taking scripture passages out of context, completely disregarding the Church's necessary interpretation of those passage and distorting them depending on which side of the issue the students are discussing. There is no sense of right or wrong, only a "discussion" of the topics and the Bible is being used to "support" both sides. Obviously, there is a right or wrong in Christianity and this book not only completely disregards any sense of universal morality, it teaches misinterpretation of scripture and it submerges into the students into topics for which it gives no knowledge of Church teaching as a base.

Using this book as the centerpiece of our high school class brought new life into the class. We nearly doubled in size in two years. We allowed the students to choose the topics, emphasized that this would be a discussion between the students, and that personal attacks would not be tolerated.