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Faithfully Different: Regaining Biblical Clarity in a Secular Culture
Welcome to Your Place in a Worldview Minority
In an increasingly secular society, those who have a biblical worldview are now a shrinking minority. As mainstream culture grows more hostile toward the Bible’s truths and those who embrace them, you’ll face mounting pressures—from family, friends, media, academia, and government—to change and even abandon your beliefs. But these challenges also create abundant opportunities to stand strong for Christ and shine light to those hurt by the darkness of our day.
In Faithfully Different , author and apologist Natasha Crain shares how you can live out your faith with conviction, discernment, and courage. You’ll be equipped to As the standards of our day mutate and devolve, Faithfully Different will give you the insight and encouragement you need to believe, think, and live biblically no matter what you face in these turbulent times.
In an increasingly secular society, those who have a biblical worldview are now a shrinking minority. As mainstream culture grows more hostile toward the Bible’s truths and those who embrace them, you’ll face mounting pressures—from family, friends, media, academia, and government—to change and even abandon your beliefs. But these challenges also create abundant opportunities to stand strong for Christ and shine light to those hurt by the darkness of our day.
In Faithfully Different , author and apologist Natasha Crain shares how you can live out your faith with conviction, discernment, and courage. You’ll be equipped to As the standards of our day mutate and devolve, Faithfully Different will give you the insight and encouragement you need to believe, think, and live biblically no matter what you face in these turbulent times.
272 pages, Paperback
First published February 8, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
February 12, 2022
*full disclosure: I am on the prelaunch team, have skimmed the whole book, and am going back and reading it in-depth*
Update: listened to the entire Audible on launch day. I stand by my review.
My full review can be found at https://davidwolcottchristianapologis...
Short review:
First: this book is specifically for Christians. So, if you aren't a Christian, be aware of that. Natasha didn’t write this book to evangelize; she wrote it to encourage and edify the Body of Christ.
Second: I love this book because she covers a variety of subjects, giving you enough to chew on and pointing you to other books that go deeper on each of the subjects.
Third: this is not an apologetics book in the traditional sense. Natasha uses her own method to tie in all the different things she teaches to why you need to understand it. She explains clearly how these issues affect your life by addressing which societal issues we deal with regularly and explaining how we should live differently due to these beliefs.
Fourth: Natasha has a great teaching voice. I mean that with her degrees and experience, she could easily write this in a high academic style, but instead, she writes this as one mother to another, as one Christian encouraging others. You don't need a deep background in theology or thirty years attending church to follow Natasha as she weaves this information together.
With all of that said: yes, you need this book in your life. Read it yourself. Join a group to read through it together after that. Share it with your small group at church, share it with your pastors at church. This invaluable book will be a staple of Christian theology and living, alongside Tactics and classics like How Now Shall We Live and Mere Christianity.
Update: listened to the entire Audible on launch day. I stand by my review.
My full review can be found at https://davidwolcottchristianapologis...
Short review:
First: this book is specifically for Christians. So, if you aren't a Christian, be aware of that. Natasha didn’t write this book to evangelize; she wrote it to encourage and edify the Body of Christ.
Second: I love this book because she covers a variety of subjects, giving you enough to chew on and pointing you to other books that go deeper on each of the subjects.
Third: this is not an apologetics book in the traditional sense. Natasha uses her own method to tie in all the different things she teaches to why you need to understand it. She explains clearly how these issues affect your life by addressing which societal issues we deal with regularly and explaining how we should live differently due to these beliefs.
Fourth: Natasha has a great teaching voice. I mean that with her degrees and experience, she could easily write this in a high academic style, but instead, she writes this as one mother to another, as one Christian encouraging others. You don't need a deep background in theology or thirty years attending church to follow Natasha as she weaves this information together.
With all of that said: yes, you need this book in your life. Read it yourself. Join a group to read through it together after that. Share it with your small group at church, share it with your pastors at church. This invaluable book will be a staple of Christian theology and living, alongside Tactics and classics like How Now Shall We Live and Mere Christianity.
February 8, 2022
Natasha Crain has an amazing gift of taking complex thoughts and concepts and making them digestible and understandable to those of us not in another cerebral realm.
Unlike her other books that were written to an audience of parents, this book is written to a general audience.
This is a gateway book that EVERY Christian needs to read.
Living as a Christian in the secular world today makes it ever more challenging to stay firm in the faith.
This book brings to the forefront what it means to hold and live from a biblical worldview, the challenges encountered from a secular worldview and encouragement for staying grounded.
This gateway book provides a jumping off point for apologetics and worldview and each chapter has additional references/recommendations to further investigate chapter topics.
Set up beautifully for a small group read with questions at the end of each chapter, this book will be beneficial in a group setting or as a personal read, using the questions to evaluate comprehension of the concepts.
Truly a MUST read for ALL followers of Christ.
Unlike her other books that were written to an audience of parents, this book is written to a general audience.
This is a gateway book that EVERY Christian needs to read.
Living as a Christian in the secular world today makes it ever more challenging to stay firm in the faith.
This book brings to the forefront what it means to hold and live from a biblical worldview, the challenges encountered from a secular worldview and encouragement for staying grounded.
This gateway book provides a jumping off point for apologetics and worldview and each chapter has additional references/recommendations to further investigate chapter topics.
Set up beautifully for a small group read with questions at the end of each chapter, this book will be beneficial in a group setting or as a personal read, using the questions to evaluate comprehension of the concepts.
Truly a MUST read for ALL followers of Christ.
July 18, 2023
"A lot of Christians are continually shocked by the morality secular culture promotes today. As an outflow of that shock, we often respond in some less than-than-godly ways-with self righteousness, indignation, condescension, sarcasm, mockery or accusatory outrage. Responding in these ways rather than out of thoughtful and prayerful consideration can lead us to make all kinds of comments that shut down what could otherwise have been a thoughtful conversation."
This book was so educational in regards to what it means to believe, think and speak from a biblical worldview. I especially appreciated the fact that Natasha Crain provided data, references and biblical references to her thesis of regaining biblical clarity.
*Highly Recommend*
This book was so educational in regards to what it means to believe, think and speak from a biblical worldview. I especially appreciated the fact that Natasha Crain provided data, references and biblical references to her thesis of regaining biblical clarity.
*Highly Recommend*
December 27, 2021
I loved this book so much. It's incredibly well-written and well-organized, making it easy to follow the author's thoughts, even when she is taking you into unknown territory. I deeply appreciate how Natasha Crain goes to the roots of the differences between biblical Christianity and secularism. By focusing on the assumptions, basic values, and strongest beliefs in each worldview, she helps explain why we see these worldviews at such odds with each other in our lives. Crain kindly challenges Christians to believe, think, and live according to the Bible - not according to secular society. I finished this book wanting to 1) carefully examine my own thoughts and beliefs to make sure they are aligned with the Bible, and 2) live for Christ with more passion and fervency. I highly recommend reading Faithfully Different.
June 27, 2022
I don't know that a review can do this book justice- it's a must read for the current landscape to understand how to live by faith. I learned so much!!
August 8, 2023
This was a fantastic read, and a very necessary one for all Christians… especially young adults and Christian parents. So many Christians are ill-equipped to stand firm in this culture. This book will help. It’s a must read.
June 26, 2022
I really recommend this book to get a better understanding of the biblical worldview in today’s culture. A little challenging and sometimes a little over my head but still practical. Great resource.
February 8, 2022
This book is a breath of fresh air. Natasha speaks truth clearly and effectively. She is both thorough and concise in her explanations. Concepts that could otherwise feel out of reach are made accessible by Natasha’s writing style. There are a lot of books about culture out right now, and many are great, but this is a one stop shop overview of how to live biblically in a secular culture. A must read for all Christians.
Read
May 23, 2022book recommendation by my dad!! started reading this since being in Nepal because I know it’ll be difficult going home after being in this christian bubble/environment for so long. if you desire having a biblical worldview, then I highly suggest!
all my teammates are reading it now cause I kept talking about it
all my teammates are reading it now cause I kept talking about it
Read
June 29, 2022i’ve been reading this gradually over the course of a few months and genuinely enjoyed so much of it ! very very relevant today !
March 18, 2022
In Faithfully Different, Natasha Crain encourages Christians to be vigilant in protecting their biblical worldview from the ideologies of the secular culture.
The book is divided into four parts:
📕Part 1: The New Normal explains the prominence of the secular culture and how those who hold a biblical worldview have become a minority.
📗Part 2: Faithfully Different Believing helps you to examine where you stand with the biblical worldview. Has secularism led you astray?
📘Part 3: Faithfully Different Thinking prepares you to understand all the different pressures from the secular worldview to help you think biblically.
📙Part 4: Faithfully Different Living discusses various aspects of secular culture, such as social justice, cancel culture, and relativism, and encourages you to live faithfully in the public square and speak truth in love. It’s not enough to think biblically, we must also act biblically.
Central to the book is the difference between the biblical worldview and secular worldviews. Worldviews are so important to not only understand what is happening in our culture, but also to reach others with the truth. The author has some great suggestions for talking with someone who has a different worldview.
This book is not an easy read, but a great one to tackle if you want to understand the cultural narratives that are pushing faith out of the public square. I highly recommend it.
The book is divided into four parts:
📕Part 1: The New Normal explains the prominence of the secular culture and how those who hold a biblical worldview have become a minority.
📗Part 2: Faithfully Different Believing helps you to examine where you stand with the biblical worldview. Has secularism led you astray?
📘Part 3: Faithfully Different Thinking prepares you to understand all the different pressures from the secular worldview to help you think biblically.
📙Part 4: Faithfully Different Living discusses various aspects of secular culture, such as social justice, cancel culture, and relativism, and encourages you to live faithfully in the public square and speak truth in love. It’s not enough to think biblically, we must also act biblically.
Central to the book is the difference between the biblical worldview and secular worldviews. Worldviews are so important to not only understand what is happening in our culture, but also to reach others with the truth. The author has some great suggestions for talking with someone who has a different worldview.
This book is not an easy read, but a great one to tackle if you want to understand the cultural narratives that are pushing faith out of the public square. I highly recommend it.
June 14, 2022
This was an excellent and informative read! The statistics on different Christian issues were staggering. I'll definitely be thinking about this one for awhile. I'll probably pick up a physical copy so I can refer back to it.
February 8, 2022
Natasha’s other 3 books are more focused on parents. This book is for the general audience. This book was so eye opening and I learned so much. Natasha is an amazing teacher and she explains things so well. The main focus of this book is secularism and how to navigate being a Christian in this world. This book covers topics such as deconstruction, virtue signaling, cancel culture and social justice. It teaches you how a Christian should respond to each tough topic. Each topic is addressed and explained so well and with grace. You are also learning how to have these conversations with people who hold differing views. I really do feel like this book gives you the instructions to feel confident when these conversations arise. At the end of each chapter there’s questions you can answer and also a list of resources to check out for more information. This book is going to be very valuable and I highly recommend it!!
May 15, 2022
4.5 stars. This is a great overview for a variety of topics regarding living a godly life in a secular culture. Not a blow my mind new favorite (why it’s not five stars), but I would most definitely recommend.
January 24, 2022
I received this book as part of the launch team and have received nothing for my review. This is my honest assessment of the writing.
I highly recommend this book. It is a very accessible but well-researched and written book on worldview. I believe that every Christian minister and parent should read this book. I say this because they are the ones who influence children and other Christians. But I think all believers need to read this, for the statistics in it if for nothing else. This book will open your eyes to the biblical worldview of many in America, and you will then realize why this country is behaving as it does. Get this book and read this book. Give this book to friends and strangers. It is that important and needed today. Thank you, Natasha Crain, for writing this most needed book.
I highly recommend this book. It is a very accessible but well-researched and written book on worldview. I believe that every Christian minister and parent should read this book. I say this because they are the ones who influence children and other Christians. But I think all believers need to read this, for the statistics in it if for nothing else. This book will open your eyes to the biblical worldview of many in America, and you will then realize why this country is behaving as it does. Get this book and read this book. Give this book to friends and strangers. It is that important and needed today. Thank you, Natasha Crain, for writing this most needed book.
January 23, 2022
Natasha is a clear writer who has an incredible discernment and is able to explain simply and in such a digestible way what is happening in this world and back it up with Biblical truth. I’m so grateful for this book; it’s so timely for Christians feeling the pressure of the secular world closing in on us at home, work, church, on media, and pretty much everywhere. God has given Natasha the gift of writing to help believers develop the skills and words necessary to withstand the pull of Satan in our world.
February 7, 2022
This book! I know that a book has impacted me when even as I am reading it - I am sharing what I learned to anyone who will listen. And now my family wants to read it as well! Natasha has a way of sharing truth with a minimal amount of words ... and her words are helping me to express truth that I know to be true but didn't quite know how to share. This is a book that I will keep close and go back to whenever I need a bit of help. So thankful for this book!
October 3, 2022
It was a pleasure to expand my horizons and seek a new perspective in understanding how some Christians are experiencing faith in contemporary America.
As practicing christians lose the American majority, many struggle in adjusting to a society that doesn’t reflect their values quite as closely as they’re accustomed to.
Crain’s prescription for dealing with change is meant specifically for the biblically-minded but her approach can be applied anywhere. The displacement felt by many among the faithful must ring familiar to folks in other walks of life.
For example a generation’s sense of self-worth deteriorates as tech creates jobs they can’t do. Sometimes the response is to find a scapegoat and grouse about a time that never existed the way they remember it.
Of course that rickety analogy isn’t always the case; the point is that many would benefit from an earnest effort at a roadmap for successful adjustment in a world that’s changing fast and not always for the better.
FAITHFULLY DIFFERENT offers such a roadmap to help those discomfited by change address their concerns constructively. Predictably the examples and issues Crain discusses will be most relevant to those for whom the book was written.
But admirably she demands intellectual honesty: there’s no room for those who tirade about the past but make no effort to engage with the present. Consequently, any reader can benefit from the author’s engaging insights.
As practicing christians lose the American majority, many struggle in adjusting to a society that doesn’t reflect their values quite as closely as they’re accustomed to.
Crain’s prescription for dealing with change is meant specifically for the biblically-minded but her approach can be applied anywhere. The displacement felt by many among the faithful must ring familiar to folks in other walks of life.
For example a generation’s sense of self-worth deteriorates as tech creates jobs they can’t do. Sometimes the response is to find a scapegoat and grouse about a time that never existed the way they remember it.
Of course that rickety analogy isn’t always the case; the point is that many would benefit from an earnest effort at a roadmap for successful adjustment in a world that’s changing fast and not always for the better.
FAITHFULLY DIFFERENT offers such a roadmap to help those discomfited by change address their concerns constructively. Predictably the examples and issues Crain discusses will be most relevant to those for whom the book was written.
But admirably she demands intellectual honesty: there’s no room for those who tirade about the past but make no effort to engage with the present. Consequently, any reader can benefit from the author’s engaging insights.
June 3, 2023
It took me a while to rate this book as I wanted to be fair! I have to admit it was information overload with all the statistics and long chapters but I understand and appreciate Natasha Crain’s heart! We are in a time where so many people call themselves Christians but they do not see the bible as the ultimate authority they follow. They follow their feeling. When I actually processed all I had read, I appreciated it more. We need to stand firm and make sure we are rooted in bible truth. Absolute truth!
August 14, 2023
I have always enjoyed books about apologetics. Because of that, parts of this book were fairly familiar to me. Its strength for me was its concise descriptions of the secular humanist philosophy that our world—to say nothing of human nature at its core—is built on. That was a challenge to me: Although I claim the authority of the Word of God for my life, how often do I act as if I’m the ultimate authority? The four-part breakdown of this mindset (feelings are the ultimate guide, happiness is the ultimate goal, judging is the ultimate sin, and God is the ultimate guess) really encapsulated the attitudes we see around us—they’re nothing new and nothing surprising; they’re the natural outpouring of human beings who have rejected God’s authority in favor of their own. And unfortunately, they crop up in my own life far too often.
Crain’s thoughtful examination of issues like cancel culture, deconstructionism, and false ideas of Jesus were helpful and thought-provoking, and I always like delving into the intricacies of moral law and how no society can have a foundation for good or evil without it. I’ve always believed that doctrine divides, and I still believe that, but she made an excellent point that without truth, there can be no unity. Knowing what we stand for as well as what we stand against is vital to our Christian witness, and this book’s ultimate focus on the gospel and how to share it is an excellent balance to its honesty about our broken world. I also found the discussion of critical theory (not just critical race theory) very helpful in understanding the context of today’s hot topics and the biblical approach to those topics. I’m much more aware now of how those theories play out in politics, relationships, education, and so many other spheres of life. That awareness is critical when it comes to addressing the heart of the matter, not just arguing about the symptoms.
As mentioned, some of the content was familiar to me, but it’s a good introduction in those areas as well, and I appreciate Natasha Crain’s honesty in declaring upfront that this book is intended for those who already operate from the belief that God’s Word is the final authority for faith and practice. At the same time, I always find it slightly ironic when authors claim the authority of God’s perfectly preserved Word and then work from the basis that only the original autographs are inerrant and there is no single inerrant translation today. But I do applaud Crain’s willingness to engage with sensitive issues in a gracious, biblical spirit of both grace and truth—a challenge for me to do likewise.
This is a book that deserves rereading.
**One other note from an editor’s perspective: This is probably no fault of the author’s, but I couldn’t help being distracted by the use of themself as the generic singular reflexive pronoun (“13 percent say they rely on themself”). I realize singular they has been in use for quite some time, but themself is still considered nonstandard except when used to refer to a person who does not accept biblical gender distinctions, which I know was not Natasha Crain’s intent. I’m guessing this is a publisher style choice, and I’m also guessing I’m one of few people it bothered, but there you have it.**
Bible versions used: NIV, ESV
Content warnings: Discussion of gender ideology and other antibiblical beliefs
Join my newsletter list for monthly reading roundups and author updates, plus a free short story.
Crain’s thoughtful examination of issues like cancel culture, deconstructionism, and false ideas of Jesus were helpful and thought-provoking, and I always like delving into the intricacies of moral law and how no society can have a foundation for good or evil without it. I’ve always believed that doctrine divides, and I still believe that, but she made an excellent point that without truth, there can be no unity. Knowing what we stand for as well as what we stand against is vital to our Christian witness, and this book’s ultimate focus on the gospel and how to share it is an excellent balance to its honesty about our broken world. I also found the discussion of critical theory (not just critical race theory) very helpful in understanding the context of today’s hot topics and the biblical approach to those topics. I’m much more aware now of how those theories play out in politics, relationships, education, and so many other spheres of life. That awareness is critical when it comes to addressing the heart of the matter, not just arguing about the symptoms.
As mentioned, some of the content was familiar to me, but it’s a good introduction in those areas as well, and I appreciate Natasha Crain’s honesty in declaring upfront that this book is intended for those who already operate from the belief that God’s Word is the final authority for faith and practice. At the same time, I always find it slightly ironic when authors claim the authority of God’s perfectly preserved Word and then work from the basis that only the original autographs are inerrant and there is no single inerrant translation today. But I do applaud Crain’s willingness to engage with sensitive issues in a gracious, biblical spirit of both grace and truth—a challenge for me to do likewise.
This is a book that deserves rereading.
**One other note from an editor’s perspective: This is probably no fault of the author’s, but I couldn’t help being distracted by the use of themself as the generic singular reflexive pronoun (“13 percent say they rely on themself”). I realize singular they has been in use for quite some time, but themself is still considered nonstandard except when used to refer to a person who does not accept biblical gender distinctions, which I know was not Natasha Crain’s intent. I’m guessing this is a publisher style choice, and I’m also guessing I’m one of few people it bothered, but there you have it.**
Bible versions used: NIV, ESV
Content warnings: Discussion of gender ideology and other antibiblical beliefs
Join my newsletter list for monthly reading roundups and author updates, plus a free short story.
November 11, 2022
Ms. Crain write an apologetic book for committed Christians. She teases out why many progressive Christians have worldviews that mirror a secular worldview. Two sections that I found helpful were the section on doubts and why they are normal. How to overcome your doubts by seeking answers to problem philosophies. The other one was why Christianity is seen as evil by social justice advocates.
Some quotes from the book:
"Any worldview in which the ultimate authority is the individual will lack an objective basis for defining and defending some of our culture's most cherished values."
"It's actually a biblical worldview --not a secular one--that provides an objective basis for believing that all humans are truly equal."
"Critical theory grew out of the Marxism of the 1800s, Karl Marx taught that all of history has been one long economic class struggle between oppressed and oppressor groups, and that the only way for the oppressed to be liberated was for them to engage in violent revolution toward socialism....Like the working class in Marx's analysis, people of color, women, and those in the LGBTQ community were identified as victims of social structures that empowered their oppressors and kept them marginalized."
"Secular social justice advocates blame societal norms for present injustices, so Christianity is considered oppressive simply by virtue of the fact that it's long been the dominant religious influence in America. And because Christians have "oppressor" status, they aren't just seen as wrong--they're seen as evil."
"Christians believe that objective truth is knowable by all people, which bluntly challenges the secular social justice claim that authority can and should be based on lived experience. "
"Truth is what corresponds to reality and truth can be known through reason, evidence, and Scripture. But that view is, once again, considered evil: Christians are seen as using objective truth as a weapon to deny the authority of people's lived experiences (with the alleged motivation of wanting to remain in societal power)."
Some quotes from the book:
"Any worldview in which the ultimate authority is the individual will lack an objective basis for defining and defending some of our culture's most cherished values."
"It's actually a biblical worldview --not a secular one--that provides an objective basis for believing that all humans are truly equal."
"Critical theory grew out of the Marxism of the 1800s, Karl Marx taught that all of history has been one long economic class struggle between oppressed and oppressor groups, and that the only way for the oppressed to be liberated was for them to engage in violent revolution toward socialism....Like the working class in Marx's analysis, people of color, women, and those in the LGBTQ community were identified as victims of social structures that empowered their oppressors and kept them marginalized."
"Secular social justice advocates blame societal norms for present injustices, so Christianity is considered oppressive simply by virtue of the fact that it's long been the dominant religious influence in America. And because Christians have "oppressor" status, they aren't just seen as wrong--they're seen as evil."
"Christians believe that objective truth is knowable by all people, which bluntly challenges the secular social justice claim that authority can and should be based on lived experience. "
"Truth is what corresponds to reality and truth can be known through reason, evidence, and Scripture. But that view is, once again, considered evil: Christians are seen as using objective truth as a weapon to deny the authority of people's lived experiences (with the alleged motivation of wanting to remain in societal power)."
February 8, 2022
Every Christian needs to read this book. As a Christian:
If you feel stuck like a deer in the headlights of culture, unsure what to think about the moment you find yourself in, this is for you.
If you’re noticing troubling changes in culture going on around you at breakneck speed and you can’t quite put your finger on what in the world is happening, this is for you.
If you are raising teens and worrying about how to equip them securely in their faith in this culture, this is for you.
If you are a pastor or leader who wants to think more clearly about how to lead your people in faithfully navigating culture, this is for you!
This book fills a unique niche I haven’t seen in other books of this nature. Crain first dissects the secularism that predominates in the West. She explains the underlying worldview differences between it and Christianity, why the clash between them is being seen in bigger and louder ways, and why secularism is so compelling even to Christians. It all comes down to where one’s authority lies: the self or God.
She then goes on to establish what we should be believing as faithful Christians. She helps us next consider how this belief should then translate into how to think as Christians. Lastly, she helps Christians navigate the path forward in how to live faithfully and confidently as salt and light while under the secular pressures of cancel culture, the social justice movement, and relativism.
It’s hard to accurately convey how well-done and unique this book is. It's like a bunch of related books (existence of God, progressive Christianity, postmodernism, dealing with doubt, moral relativism, tackling social justice, tactical evangelism, etc.) all wrapped up into one book while focusing on and aptly addressing the importance of the underlying worldview underneath it all. All with an easy, very lay-person accessibility. Crain has the unique ability to untangle it all and then offer relevant resources at the end of each chapter. Faithfully Different succeeds in what it sets out to do: providing biblical clarity in a secular culture, forging a faithful path forward for us to confidently love our neighbors and help to redeem a lost world.
If you feel stuck like a deer in the headlights of culture, unsure what to think about the moment you find yourself in, this is for you.
If you’re noticing troubling changes in culture going on around you at breakneck speed and you can’t quite put your finger on what in the world is happening, this is for you.
If you are raising teens and worrying about how to equip them securely in their faith in this culture, this is for you.
If you are a pastor or leader who wants to think more clearly about how to lead your people in faithfully navigating culture, this is for you!
This book fills a unique niche I haven’t seen in other books of this nature. Crain first dissects the secularism that predominates in the West. She explains the underlying worldview differences between it and Christianity, why the clash between them is being seen in bigger and louder ways, and why secularism is so compelling even to Christians. It all comes down to where one’s authority lies: the self or God.
She then goes on to establish what we should be believing as faithful Christians. She helps us next consider how this belief should then translate into how to think as Christians. Lastly, she helps Christians navigate the path forward in how to live faithfully and confidently as salt and light while under the secular pressures of cancel culture, the social justice movement, and relativism.
It’s hard to accurately convey how well-done and unique this book is. It's like a bunch of related books (existence of God, progressive Christianity, postmodernism, dealing with doubt, moral relativism, tackling social justice, tactical evangelism, etc.) all wrapped up into one book while focusing on and aptly addressing the importance of the underlying worldview underneath it all. All with an easy, very lay-person accessibility. Crain has the unique ability to untangle it all and then offer relevant resources at the end of each chapter. Faithfully Different succeeds in what it sets out to do: providing biblical clarity in a secular culture, forging a faithful path forward for us to confidently love our neighbors and help to redeem a lost world.
Read
May 16, 2023I can’t rate this book because I didn’t enjoy it- but I know Natasha did so much research and put a lot of time into it. It’s well done- it’s just not for me.
Too many statistics, and not enough personal touches. I personally love reading stories and about how xyz influenced a certain person- this was lacking in that.
However, if statistics, information and secular worldview interests you- you really may like this book.
Too many statistics, and not enough personal touches. I personally love reading stories and about how xyz influenced a certain person- this was lacking in that.
However, if statistics, information and secular worldview interests you- you really may like this book.
April 30, 2024
"A major reason secularism is so influential is that it appeals directly to the desires of our fallen nature--it reinforces the desired authority of self."
Highly recommend this book. Its many insights into secularism in our Western culture are helpful in avoiding falling into that same thinking, and in responding to others who have, as a follower of Christ.
Highly recommend this book. Its many insights into secularism in our Western culture are helpful in avoiding falling into that same thinking, and in responding to others who have, as a follower of Christ.
May 13, 2022
Really great book! I gave 4 stars because I’ve heard a few interviews of hers and it seemed like this was a lot of the same info. At the end of each chapter were more books recommendations on the same topic as the chapter and I loved that!
July 10, 2022
This book really helped me sort out a lot of confusing things that have been going on since our overall culture in America has shifted from a Biblical mindset to a secular mindset. It was so helpful to read this intelligent, thoughtful author's insights on some things that had my head spinning.
April 5, 2023
I listened to this book and it was a doozy. The beginning was a hard listen and I had a difficult time getting into it, but it was SO worth it.
The author breaks down secularism, the world around us, and biblical discernment. She explains it so well and makes it sound so simple.
I found myself pausing and writing down things I found profound several times.
I’m excited to get a hard copy! 10/10 recommend.
The author breaks down secularism, the world around us, and biblical discernment. She explains it so well and makes it sound so simple.
I found myself pausing and writing down things I found profound several times.
I’m excited to get a hard copy! 10/10 recommend.
May 20, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. It spoke to academic/scientist in me with all the data. I like how clear the author’s stances were and how clear the data was that she presented.
January 23, 2022
Natasha Crain’s newest book is so timely for this cultural moment. She is a gifted writer who thinks clearly about the most pressing issues in the world today and equips those holding to a Biblical worldview with tools to face these challenges boldly, yet graciously. A unique feature of this book is the author’s use of models from her background in marketing to demonstrate how the nature of influence works in making secularism appealing, and how secular morality is marketed through virtue signaling. Additionally, her background in apologetics makes this book an excellent resource for anyone desiring to dip their toes into understanding basic apologetics arguments. The content of the book flows logically through sections that clearly define the new normal, clarify what Christians believe, demonstrate how to think clearly through the lens of a Biblical worldview, and show how to live in a way that is radically different from the default worldview of secularism. Faithfully Different is an essential resource for Christians trying to live with discernment and survive as a worldview minority in the culture today.
February 14, 2022
I mentioned to a friend that reading Faithfully Different by Natasha Crain reminded me of fishing. Tangled lines and birdsnest reels happen. When they do, they shut you down until someone (usually not yourself) comes along with the skill and patience to help you unravel the knotty mess.
That's what this book does. It unravels the knots so many of us are experiencing as we try to live faithfully in the various twists of post-Christian American society. Other books have addressed similar issues: I think of Carl Trueman's The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self. But where Trueman assays history to unriddle how western culture came to adopt identity-forming beliefs which run crossways of foundational cultural norms, Crain's book unwinds the present messy moment.
Specifically, Crain unpacks the secular (secularist?) worldview. It rests on four pillars: feelings are the ultimate good, happiness is the ultimate goal, judging is the ultimate sin, and God is the ultimate guess. Patiently, with a guiding hand, Crain walks the reader through how secularism has become the dominant worldview and how that worldview has become so deceptively attractive to many, including Christians, especially those walking through doubts and redefining faith along the lines of deconstruction or Progressive Christianity.
Her analysis accounts for so much cognitive dissonance felt today; however, Faithfully Different is way more than dry analysis. It provides readers wisdom, insight, and tools to interact shrewdly with secular culture.
Particularly helpful is the discussion of "moral marketing" in Chapter eight. Using her background as a marketing executive, the author demonstrates how the familiar AIDA funnel functions in contemporary discussions of virtue and vice. The application of this model elegantly explains what's going on with virtue signaling and related mechanisms of moral authority. In the hands of secular activists, redefinition, normalization, and celebration work together to change the popular moral consensus. Christians who believe God has spoken authoritatively on such subjects as the self, sexuality, and justice in society will be necessarily at odds with the resulting moral messages. But we shouldn't be surprised. We are called to be salt and light within a decaying society.
Emphatically, this book is not a manifesto for the culture wars, on which Crain asserts, "While we may wish it were otherwise, and we should grieve over what we see, we have to resist the temptation to feel like discouraged or disgruntled losers." Christians are now in a worldview minority. Her final chapter reminds the reader that the gospel is still good news for a world that has tangled its vision of what "good" looks like, and if we want to help those who are caught in it, Christians must be willing to live faithfully different lives.
This book would be excellent for small group study, men's or women's groups, reading clubs, pastoral staffs, or anyone seeking to sort out their practical theology of Christ and culture. Taken together with Trueman's trenchant treatment of the self under modernity, Faithfully Different promises readers clarity and challenge to help re-calibrate our spiritual and moral compass and navigate the rough waters of secularized society.
That's what this book does. It unravels the knots so many of us are experiencing as we try to live faithfully in the various twists of post-Christian American society. Other books have addressed similar issues: I think of Carl Trueman's The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self. But where Trueman assays history to unriddle how western culture came to adopt identity-forming beliefs which run crossways of foundational cultural norms, Crain's book unwinds the present messy moment.
Specifically, Crain unpacks the secular (secularist?) worldview. It rests on four pillars: feelings are the ultimate good, happiness is the ultimate goal, judging is the ultimate sin, and God is the ultimate guess. Patiently, with a guiding hand, Crain walks the reader through how secularism has become the dominant worldview and how that worldview has become so deceptively attractive to many, including Christians, especially those walking through doubts and redefining faith along the lines of deconstruction or Progressive Christianity.
Her analysis accounts for so much cognitive dissonance felt today; however, Faithfully Different is way more than dry analysis. It provides readers wisdom, insight, and tools to interact shrewdly with secular culture.
Particularly helpful is the discussion of "moral marketing" in Chapter eight. Using her background as a marketing executive, the author demonstrates how the familiar AIDA funnel functions in contemporary discussions of virtue and vice. The application of this model elegantly explains what's going on with virtue signaling and related mechanisms of moral authority. In the hands of secular activists, redefinition, normalization, and celebration work together to change the popular moral consensus. Christians who believe God has spoken authoritatively on such subjects as the self, sexuality, and justice in society will be necessarily at odds with the resulting moral messages. But we shouldn't be surprised. We are called to be salt and light within a decaying society.
Emphatically, this book is not a manifesto for the culture wars, on which Crain asserts, "While we may wish it were otherwise, and we should grieve over what we see, we have to resist the temptation to feel like discouraged or disgruntled losers." Christians are now in a worldview minority. Her final chapter reminds the reader that the gospel is still good news for a world that has tangled its vision of what "good" looks like, and if we want to help those who are caught in it, Christians must be willing to live faithfully different lives.
This book would be excellent for small group study, men's or women's groups, reading clubs, pastoral staffs, or anyone seeking to sort out their practical theology of Christ and culture. Taken together with Trueman's trenchant treatment of the self under modernity, Faithfully Different promises readers clarity and challenge to help re-calibrate our spiritual and moral compass and navigate the rough waters of secularized society.
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