Critical Dilemma: The Rise of Critical Theories and Social Justice Ideology--Implications for the Church and Society

“A charitable parsing of contemporary critical theories, Critical Dilemma untangles what's useful from what's ineffective among the teachings associated with racial, gender, and economic equity. The work roundly denounces racism and other systemically abusive antihuman evils, yet argues that critical theories struggle to provide meaningful solutions without creating de-humanizing inequities of their own. Critical Dilemma engages popular ideas without hurling invective, making it unique in the discussion. Those who have been wrongly labeled as Marxist, or as upholding white supremacy, or (astonishingly) as both, will appreciate the authors' careful definition of terms; insiders struggling with the systems' inconsistencies and fearful of the backlash that accompanies critique will draw courage to voice concerns and find themselves introduced to a true pro-human approach to equality that liberates body, mind, and soul.”

“Critical Dilemma does a better job of addressing the underlying influences on how we've gotten here than any other book I've read. Shenvi and Sawyer have done the church a great service. They unequivocally demonstrate that you can be knowledgeable of historic factors relating to racism, sympathetic and engaged in wanting to work to make things better now, yet resistant to unbiblical ideas and solutions offered by critical social theory, recognizing that those approaches will ultimately prevent us from dealing with the issues constructively. A truly excellent work. A must read.”

“In the past few years, we have experienced a cultural upheaval surrounding issues of race, sexuality, gender, identity politics, and social justice. I urge everyone to read Critical Dilemma, a thorough, well-documented, fair, and truthful resource that will likely become the go-to primer for understanding the infusion of critical theory into Western society. For anyone left feeling confused, frustrated, and bewildered by the radical shift in culture, this book will be a helpful guide. For anyone buying into the tenets of contemporary critical theory, this book will be a force to be reckoned with.”

“Critical Dilemma is a well-researched, carefully reasoned work deserving slow, thorough reading and consideration. Many evangelical critiques of contemporary critical theory are unwilling to acknowledge the slightest elements of truth. This volume does, while offering sound arguments as to where and how the primary ideas of critical social theory are incompatible with biblical doctrines and destructive to Christian unity. Shenvi and Sawyer accomplish this with refreshing candor and humility, neither omitting nor minimizing extraordinarily ugly elements of our nation's past and present. This is timely scholarship in service of the church.”