Critical dilemma / Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer ; [foreword by Carl R. Trueman]

"The rise of critical theories and social justice ideology-implications for the church and society"--Cover

Includes bibliographical references and index

A looming crisis : Wokeness in the wild ; Mistaken responses ; What’s in a name? ; How did we get involved? ; How is this book organized? ; Who is this book for? -- Understanding : How did we get here? : Shadows of the past ; Awareness—slavery ; Awareness—Jim Crow -- Origins : Three key texts on critical social theory ; Notable scholars who shaped critical social theory : Karl Marx (1818-1883) ; The Frankfurt school ; Antonio Gramsci (1891-1937) ; Paulo Freire (1921-1997) ; Pierre Bourdieu (1930-2002) ; Michel Foucault (1926-1984) ; Judith Butler (1956-present) ; Kimberlé Crenshaw (1959-present) -- Contemporary critical theory : The social binary : Privilege ; Intersectionality. Hegemonic power : Hegemonic power across race, class and gender ; Internalized oppression. Lived experience : Microaggressions. Social justice : Equity. Applications of contemporary critical theory -- Critical race theory : Origins and development ; Primary tenets of critical race theory scholarship ; Four central ideas in critical race theory scholarship : “Racism is endemic, normal, permanent, and pervasive” ; “Racism is concealed beneath ideas like colorblindness, meritocracy, individualism, neutrality, and objectivity” ; “Lived experience is critical to understanding racism” ; “Racism is one of many ‘interlocking systems of oppression’”. Do critics of CRT misidentify it? -- Queer theory : Origin ; Defining queer theory? ; Sex versus gender ; Gender as a complex category ; Gender and intersectionality ; Deconstruction of norms -- Positive insights : Why bother with the positive insights of critical social theory? ; Beneficial perspectives and effects of critical social theory ; Affirmations made by critical social theorists : “Race is a social construct” ; “We do not live in a post-racial society” ; “‘Colorblindness’ is not the best approach to racism” ; “Some aspects of gender expression and gender roles are socially constructed” ; “Intersex conditions lead to legitimate ethical questions” ; “Norms are often invisible and may not be legitimate or universal” ; “Hegemonic power exists” ; “Unjust systems can exist” ; “Lived experience can influence our access to truth” -- Critiquing : Protestant theology: an excursus : What is evangelicalism? ; Evangelical history ; Evangelical theology ; The evangelical worldview ; The evangelical worldview applied -- Problems with contemporary critical theory : Contemporary critical theory as worldview ; Hegemonic power as oppressive ; Lived experience as inviolable ; Privilege as collective ; Identities as adversarial -- Problems with critical race theory : Who counts? ; Intersectional oppression ; Law as whiteness ; Norms as whiteness ; Disparities as racism ; Racism as ubiquitous ; Inordinate suspicion ; Race and identity ; Temporal liberation over spiritual liberation ; Additional concerns -- Collective, ancestral guilt: an excursus : Critical race theory and whiteness ; White ancestral guilt ; Arguments against white ancestral guilt : Explicit Biblical counterexamples ; Ongoing sin during corporate repentance ; Covenant community ; Privilege does not entail guilt ; Logical consistency ; The nature of repentance. Reconceptualizing racial reconciliation -- Problems with queer theory : The historical Christian understanding of gender and sexuality ; Deconstruction of gender ; Deconstruction of sexuality ; Deconstruction of theology ; Normalizing queer theology -- Engaging : Ideas that will devastate your church : “People of color in the US are oppressed” ; “Sin is oppression” ; “Straight white males need to listen” ; “The Bible was written from the perspective of the oppressed” ; “Whiteness is wickedness” ; “Justice is part of the gospel” ; “There can be no reconciliation without justice” ; “Christianity is about liberation from oppression” -- Moving forward : Understanding the appeal of contemporary critical theory ; Undermining the appeal of contemporary critical theory ; Thinking about race, gender, and justice ; Encouraging dialogue ; Contemplation ; Action -- Final thoughts.

"Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer illuminate the origins and influences of contemporary critical theory, considering it in the light of clear reason and biblical orthodoxy. While acknowledging that it can provide some legitimate insights regarding race, class, and gender, [the book presents what the authors see as] the false assumptions at the heart of critical theory, arguing that it poses a serious threat to both the church and society at large. ... Shenvi and Sawyer condemn racism, urge Christians to seek justice, and offer a path forward for racial healing and unity while also opposing [what they posit are] critical theory's manifold errors"--

Critical theory and its expression in fields such as critical race theory, critical pedagogy, and queer theory are having a profound impact on our culture. Contemporary critical theory's ideas about race, class, gender, identity, and justice have dramatically shaped how people think, act, and view one another--in Christian and secular spheres alike.

In Critical Dilemma, authors Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer illuminate the origins and influences of contemporary critical theory, considering it in the light of clear reason and biblical orthodoxy. While acknowledging that it can provide some legitimate insights regarding race, class, and gender, Critical Dilemma exposes the false assumptions at the heart of critical theory, arguing that it poses a serious threat to both the church and society at large.

Drawing on exhaustive research and careful analysis, Shenvi and Sawyer condemn racism, urge Christians to seek justice, and offer a path forward for racial healing and unity while also opposing critical theory's manifold errors