Everything You Know about Evangelicals Is Wrong (Well, Almost Everything): An Insider's Look at Myths and Realities

While evangelicals make up a significant portion of American society, they still constitute a mystery for many. They exert considerable influence on virtually every aspect of American life and culture, yet by those who don't appreciate them they're seen as rednecks, crypto-fundamentalists, and people without education. Wilkens and Thorsen contend that evangelicals are tired of being caricatured and provide an insider's look at myths and realities surrounding the movement. They winsomely and sometimes humorously assess the breadth and depth of evangelical beliefs, values, and practices, arguing that evangelicalism is identifiable by a family resemblance, vitality, and relevance that transcends particular theological and political stereotypes that arise inside as well as outside of it. The book provides a synthetic presentation of contemporary evangelical Christianity as well as critiques of it.

From the Back Cover

Newsweek proclaimed 1976 as "The Year of the Evangelical."

Today, evangelicals are more famous, but are they better understood?

While evangelicals make up a significant portion of American society, they are still a mystery to many. They exert considerable influence on virtually every aspect of American life and culture, yet by those who don't appreciate them, they're seen as rednecks, fundamentalists, and people with limited education.

Wilkens and Thorsen contend that evangelicals are tired of being caricatured and provide an insider's look at myths and realities surrounding the movement. They winsomely and sometimes humorously assess the breadth and depth of evangelical beliefs, values, and practices, arguing that, in spite of its faults, evangelicalism transcends the stereotypes.

"Recent, sometimes vocal and strident, attempts to define evangelicalism in narrow ways won't work, and this book shows why. One of the best ways to help evangelicals today is to tell the truth and have fun doing it, and this book does just that."--Scot McKnight, Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies, North Park University; author, The Blue Parakeet; blog.beliefnet.com/jesuscreed/

"A wonderful, nuanced book that unmasks the stereotypes that so often afflict evangelicals. There are nearly 100 million evangelicals in North America alone and upwards of 500 million (estimated) worldwide, and this book will provide a helpful corrective to many misgivings about the nature and direction of the evangelical movement."--Gayle Beebe, president, Westmont College

"While many argue about how to define evangelicalism, Wilkens and Thorsen do something better: they explain what evangelicalism is--in all its splendid and confusing variety! If you want to clear up some confusion or just gain a deeper appreciation of the variety, I can think of no better place to start."--Mark Galli, senior managing editor, Christianity Today; author, Jesus Mean and Wild

"A pungent and accurate antidote to the stereotypes that flood the popular airwaves and even the upper echelons of the academic world. It also provides extremely helpful insights for the future of the evangelical tradition."--William J. Abraham, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University

"This is a wonderfully life-giving book that will inspire some with its magnetic draw to a broad and generous gospel. It will make others nervous as it breaks down divisive notions about evangelicals."--Kevin Mannoia, chaplain and professor of ministry, Azusa Pacific University; past president, the National Association of Evangelicals

Steve Wilkens (PhD, Fuller Seminary) is professor of philosophy and ethics at Azusa Pacific University and the author or coauthor of seven books.

Don Thorsen (PhD, Drew University) is professor of theology at Haggard Graduate School of Theology at Azusa Pacific University and the author or editor of six books.