The authors discuss their new book, which addresses how critical theories are bringing about the destabilization of government, education, industry, and churches.
With critical theories having a pervasive and detrimental influence on government, education, churches, and even homes, it helps to have a perspective that breaks things down. And that’s where Critical Dilemma: The Rise of Critical Theories and Social Justice Ideology—Implications for the Church and Society comes in.
Co-written by authors Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer, the book defines critical theories and connects the dots between radical ideology and societal decay. With a careful look at what critical theorists are saying, the authors not only explain where it all started, but also how it managed to gain momentum in the culture.
“Without question, the incorporation of gender, sexual orientation, class and other factors in CRT’s analysis of racism is a theme that runs throughout the last three decades of CRT scholarship,” the authors explain. “Issues of race, class and age are inextricably linked to gender and sexuality.”
The book has three parts. The first lets the proponents of critical theories speak in their own words. In the second part, the authors interact with what critical theorists are saying, including queer theorists, who are “quite often forthright about their goal of destabilizing and deconstructing all gender and norms, even (perhaps especially) those that express fundamental, common sense moral principles.” And in the third part of the book, the duo discuss how to respond to critical theories and what we can do to seek justice, and offer a path forward for racial healing and unity.
““No matter what our context, we must present Christianity as it truly is, not as other people might want it to be,” the authors say. “From a Christian perspective, it is God himself who is most concerned about justice and also who is most committed to securing and satisfying the demands of justice.”
Shenvi and Sawyer join us now to discuss the book further.
Q&A:
1. First off, what motivated you to write this book, and how did you go about breaking down critical theory?
2. Why do you think the ideas at the heart of the “woke” movement are so dangerous?
3. You make note about how real social injustices exist. With that in mind, how would you define biblical justice?
4. You’ve explained how important it is for us to focus on ideas rather than labels. Can you explain this further?
5. You noted that currently, the influence of critical theories are a society-wide problem. How so?
6. What would you say are the most notable of the 15 tenets of critical race theory?
7. Is there any reason that one can’t apply CRT just to race? What other factors are involved in this?
8. Let’s talk more about the second part of Critical Dilemma, in which you provide a Christian critique of critical theory. In general, what were the core points you were trying to make?
9. Moving on to part three. You note that there are eight warnings or deeply flawed slogans promoted by critical theorists. Can you give us an example or two of these, and what makes them so flawed?
10. What are some of the primary points you hope readers will take away from reading Critical Dilemma?
11. Where can interested parties read more about the book, and purchase it for themselves?
a. The official Critical Dilemma website is here, and you can buy the book here on Amazon in both Kindle and hardcover format.
About the authors…
Neil Shenvi has an AB in chemistry from Princeton and a PhD in theoretical chemistry from UC Berkeley. He is the author of Why Believe?: A Reasoned Approach to Christianity and is widely recognized for his writing on critical theory, which can be found in journals like Eikon and The Journal of Christian Legal Thought. He is married and has four children.
Pat Sawyer has a BA in psychology from UNC-Chapel Hill, an MA in communication studies, and a PhD in educational studies and cultural studies, both from UNC-Greensboro. He is a faculty member at UNC-Greensboro and is published in the academy and in a number of popular outlets including The Federalist, The Gospel Coalition, and The American Conservative.
CONTACT: Jerry McGlothlin at: geraldmcg@outlook.com or 919-437-0001.
