Vote of Intolerance [Paperback]

Josh McDowell (Author), Ed Stewart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1998

California has just divided into two separate states. Daniel Bellardi, a man of strong Christian values, would like the state of North California to take a hard stand against its seemingly uncontrollable social problems of drugs, crime, homosexuality, and pornography, so he decides to run for governor. His opponent is a staunch liberal who believes Bellardi's policies may threaten the individual freedoms of the people. The heated campaign turns dangerous as the lives of Bellardi and his family are threatened. Vote of Intolerance, Josh McDowell's first novel, is a suspenseful tale that points to ways Christians can impact society by upholding their morality.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

McDowell (Josh McDowell's One Year Book of Family Devotions, Tyndale, 1997) and Stewart (Abundant Life in Christ, Tyndale, 1996) have set their thriller in the not-so-distant future, when the northern section of California has ceded into an independent state known as North California. Running on a Christian platform pledging to legislate crime and immorality out of existence, Daniel Bellardi is campaigning to become the state's first governor. Divorced mother Stevie Van Horne decides that Bellardi's ideas are what her family needs to bring them together again, so she moves north and begins to campaign for Bellardi. When the gubernatorial candidate receives death threats, Stevie investigates, only to find her own life in danger. If readers accept the idea that a state outlawing abortion, euthanasia, homosexual rights, and all pornography would be a utopia (or even possible), this book may work. Other readers may have a difficult time accepting the premise. Purchase with caution.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 404 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers (February 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0842378162
• ISBN-13: 978-0842378161
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,176,462 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A well-written wake up call for all of us., August 23, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Murrieta, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vote of Intolerance (Hardcover)

This is a book all Christians must at least browse through. The story is a cutting edge view of many issues we face today. It shows that we can be misguided even in the best of intentions. Thanks to Josh McDowell, who in my opinion has always had excellent ways to encourage young people to do the right thing, and Ed Stewart for writing an excellent book. Us parents need to remember that teens need our love and we need to be there for them. Also, California isn't "Sodom and Gomorrah". I converted to Christianity here, and our family relocated to Southern California, where we attend and enjoy a church that is firmly rooted in the literal interpretation of the Word of God. Morals must begin in the home, being taught and lived by parents.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable, interesting, competent, September 6, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Vote of Intolerance (Hardcover)

I'm a recent convert to Christianity, and somewhat of a bookworm, so I guess I have a natural interest in the so-called "Christian fiction" genre. I have to admit I picked up this novel with a bit of trepidation. Much of the stuff I've read has been nauseatingly bad. Not that the authors' hearts haven't been in the right place, but the quality of writing is, on the whole, lower than "secular" fiction.

Anyway, this novel is a refreshing change. It's not brilliantly written by any means, but it *is* competently written, and the authors have a grasp of the elements of a successful novel. The Christian doctrine is rock-solid, in case you're concerned about that. I think the authors have a problem with getting into the characters' heads and letting us know what they're feeling, instead of just narrating their actions.

The plot deals heavily with politics; one of the main characters is running for the governorship of the newly-created state of Northern California. Politically, I consider myself a moderate, but the authors present some pretty convincing arguments for conservative values. BTW, if you consider yourself a liberal, you probably won't like this book. :) We also have the typical New Age Shirley MacLaine-type antagonists found in a lot of contemporary Christian literature.

In conclusion, I have to say McDowell and Stewart are pretty gutsy to suggest the idea of a Christian nation-state. I don't know if that's the way to go, but hey, it worked for the Jews.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Exceptional Book By Exceptional Authors, May 23, 2000

By 

Dave - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Vote of Intolerance (Hardcover)

This book is about the polarization of American society as well as a "divorce" among Christians, beautifully symbolized by the estrangment of the two lead characters: Stephanie and Jon Van Horn. Stephanie is working to secure the election of a "family values" candidate who would drive the coffin nail into ills such as assisted suicide, gay rights, and abortion.

Jon Van Horn is working at chaning the heart, by staying rooted in his inner-city school where he can make a difference, by demonstarting God's compassion and love with action and not by legislative mandates.

The thrust of the book is it takes both- Compassion and Justice-to make a difference.

And with all due respect to the previous reviewer, Josh McDowell is no enemy to intellectualism. His book MORE THAN A CARPENDER is point in hand. Examine the claims Christ carefully before passing judgement.