The New Tolerance: How a cultural movement threatens to destroy you, your faith, and your children [Paperback]

Bob Hostetler (Author), Josh D. McDowell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1998

This book will help readers discern truth from error and to withstand the pressure—even persecution—to conform to a relativistic culture.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

JOSH MCDOWELL is an internationally known speaker, author, and champion of the Beyond Belief Campaign. He a traveling representative of Campus Crusade for Christ speaking to more than ten million people in at least 84 countries. Josh has authored or coauthored more than 90 books. Josh and his wife Dottie, have four grown children and live in southern California.

Bob Hostetler is a writer, editor, and speaker from Southeastern Ohio. He has coauthored eight books with Josh McDowell. 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 ten boys (though not all at once). Bob and Robin have two adult children, Aubrey and Aaron

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (September 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0842370889
• ISBN-13: 978-0842370882
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #282,421 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

93 of 105 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "New Tolerance" tolerates everything BUT Christianity, August 17, 1999

By 

Allyson Smith ([e-mail]) (San Diego, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The New Tolerance: How a cultural movement threatens to destroy you, your faith, and your children (Paperback)

This book is a "must read" for anyone who wants to understand the reasons underlying our nation's cultural collapse. It also explains why our society tolerates everything EXCEPT Christianity.

Basically, McDowell explains how today's definition of "tolerance" differs radically from the traditional dictionary definition. He discusses how and why the definition of tolerance has changed, how the new tolerance manifests itself in our society, and concludes by giving concrete ideas for Christian witness in the midst of today's culture.

The traditional definition of tolerance means to "endure" or put up with something, such as a person's behavior, attitudes or beliefs, without necessarily agreeing with them. In other words, love the sinner, hate the sin. However, today's definition of tolerance is more like "love the sinner, love the sin." Today's definition of tolerance states that a person's behavior, beliefs and attitudes are inseparable from who he or she is. Therefore, any attack on behaviors, beliefs or attitudes is seen as a personal attack.

The evolution of tolerance is the result of the evolution of other aspects of human existence, including the concept of truth, over three distinct eras. During the first era, ethical theism, people believed that all truth was revealed by God. In the second era, modernism, the emphasis shifted from God to mankind, and the concept of truth changed from being something that is revealed by God to being something that is discernable by man. Finally, in the third and present era, post-modernism, truth has changed from being something that is collectively true for human beings to something that is determined by each individual person, based on that person's culture, which in turn consists of behaviors, attitudes and beliefs.

Because each person's idea of truth is based on their unique culture, and because all people are created equally, the new tolerance decrees that no one person can claim to possess a superior truth, or a truth that is "more true" than other people's truths. Rather, all truth claims are equally valid.

The idea of equal truth claims has profound implications for those of us who believe in Jesus Christ and absolute standards of right and wrong. These implications include the death of truth, the disappearance of virtue, the demise of justice, the loss of conviction, the privatization of faith, the tyranny of the individual, the disintegration of human rights. the dominance of feeling, the exaltation of nature, and the descent into extremes.

Furthermore, it especially targets Christians because Christians believe that their truth claim -- Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior -- is in fact superior to any other truth claims. Because Christianity claims to have "The Way, the Truth and the Life" and does not accept other truth claims as equally valid or actively condone or participate in them, it is therefore "intolerant." And because Christianity is intolerant, it is therefore okay for a "tolerant" society to persecute it in any way necessary to force it to become tolerant. That is why the mere mention or presence of Christian concepts or symbology provokes rage and concerted efforts to obliterate them.

McDowell explains some of the "tactics of tolerance" and how these are being applied to make Christians conform. These include equating nonagreement with phobia, nonconformity with hate, conviction with fanaticism, Christian creeds, prayers and symbols with discrimination, and selective segregation with justice.

Having laid that groundwork in the early chapters of the book, McDowell goes on to cite how the "new tolerance" has invaded every sphere of our society and how it underlies just about every factor contributing to our culture's breakdown. He shows that the new tolerance is the common thread that explains why a crucifix suspended in urine is considered art, why animals and the environment are more important than people, why sexual perversion is encouraged while traditional families are discouraged, and a host of other societal phenomena. Following that, McDowell gives practical advice for witnessing to Christ without giving in to the new tolerance.

The entire book is fascinating, but what helped me most personally are two things. First, McDowell articulates the new tolerance using concrete terminology; he gives names and a new vocabulary for describing the effects of the new tolerance. Second, he shows how the new tolerance relates to and is responsible for a vast array of problems in society, how it is the common thread running between all of them.

I strongly recommend this book to any of you who would like to understand the new tolerance better and what you can do to fight it.

56 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jesus is not PC, May 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The New Tolerance: How a cultural movement threatens to destroy you, your faith, and your children (Paperback)

This is a must read.

When asked,

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "`Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:36-40)

He did not say, "tolerate your neighbor." He did not say "accept sinful behavior so as not to be judgemental."

Tolerance and political correctness are eroding the fiber of our society.

The New Tolerance tells us how and teaches us what our response, as Christians, should be to lovingly address it.

50 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for teaching and living as God wants us too., January 19, 2000

By 

Pamela Hinds (Tennessee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The New Tolerance: How a cultural movement threatens to destroy you, your faith, and your children (Paperback)

Most Christians acknowledge that the world does not tolerate Christians. This book is an excellent tool that can be used for teaching your family to live as God has commanded, even when the world around us denies us the right to live as Christians.

The "New Tolerance" is not true tolerance. It is acceptance and appreciation for whatever you want to believe, think and do. One cannot be a Christian and believe in the "new Tolerance" movement. One must uphold the truths written in the Bible and live as such.

This book offers hope of a brighter future, assistance in how to live in a world that does everything BUT tolerate Christians and guidance on how to teach your children to survive in this world.