Blah, Blah, Blah Reviews

• Well Worth Reading

  
  By AEYEAH3C78BBZ on 2006-10-17
  In the Introduction to her book Total Truth, Nancy Pearcey discusses the burgeoning Christian interest in the topic of worldview. "Just a few years ago, when I began work on that earlier volume [How Now Shall We Live?], using the term worldview was not on anyone's list of good conversation openers. To tell people that you were writing a book on worldview was to risk glazes stares and a quick change in subject. But today as I travel around the country, I sense an eagerness among evangelicals to move beyond a purely privatized faith, applying biblical principles to areas like work, business, and politics. Flip open any number of Christian publications and you're likely to find half a dozen advertisements for worldview conferences, worldviewinstitutes, and worldviewprograms. Clearly the term itself has strong marketing cachet these days, which signals a deep hunger among Christians for an overarching framework to bring unity to their lives."
  
  It seems clear that what Pearcey says is true--the topic of worldview is gaining interest among Christians. I consider this a positive development, for when we understand worldview, we are better equipped to understand both ourselves and the culture we inhabit. Bayard Taylor's Blah Blah Blah is a book dedicated to worldview, and one aimed squarely at the teen and college crowd.
  
  And what is worldview? It is a word derived from the German word weltanschauung which means "look onto the world." It describes, quite simply, a way of looking at the world. Every person has a worldview, which acts, according to Pearcey "like a mental map that tells us how to navigate the world effectively." A worldview can be derived from any kind of ideology or influence. It can be Marxist, Darwinian, postmodern, biblical, or just about anything else. Taylor says, "Your worldview is your frame of reference, the spectacles through which you see the world. Worldview is the biggest determiner of human behavior. You might say you believe on way, but your real worldview is revealed by what you do." Later he writes, "I'll be using the word worldview to speak of people's understanding of what is ultimately true and real about (1) the spiritual world, and (2) what it means to be human in this real world." He lists five points that are true of all people: 1) Not everybody has a religion, but everybody has a worldview. 2) A worldview begins with a set of assumptions that can only be taken "by faith." 3) Worldview assumptions are rarely acknowledged openly, questioned or challenged by those who hold them. 4) No worldview is totally open-minded; every worldview forces some narrowing of the mind. 5) Every worldview has strict and inflexible rules, or Absolutes, that must never be broken.
  
  Taylor then introduces the "worldview zoo," six categories of worldviews that quite adequately encompass the range of worldviews which is, in reality, as large as the number of people on the earth. He arrives at the haunted worldview, the biblical worldview, the WYSIWYG worldview, the dueling yodas worldview, the omnipresent supergalactic oneness worldview, and designer religion. The rest of the book is dedicated to explaining these worldviews and to interpreting them. The weaknesses of the worldviews are exposed and the biblical worldview is shown to be the only one that can be consistent with Scripture. Ultimately, this book is about "laying the foundation and spinning a web for the Biblical worldview."
  
  And, on the whole, I think Taylor does a good job. Worldview is not my area of expertise, but I do feel that he covered the topics well and did a good job of defending a biblical worldview. In fact, my only real critique would be that his understanding of "Christian" may be a good deal wider than mine. Thus his understanding of what can constitute a biblical worldview would also be wider. Still, this is seen in only a few short paragraphs and does not detract a great deal from the book.
  
  Written and presented in a way that will appeal to teens and college students, but will not drive away adult readers, Blah Blah Blah covers an important topic. This book will equip Christians, and primarily young Christians, to deal with the culture around them. It will help prepare Christians both spiritually and mentally to face a world that is increasingly post-Christian.
  
  

• An important book

  
  By A2XNNXB6UERKWT on 2006-09-19
  Bayard does a good job of laying out the basic world views that permeate our world today. He writes with a clear objective in mind - to help college students in particular navigate the world they so often encounter as they leave the relatively safe confines of their upbringing and encounter people who look at the world quite differently than they do. With a light hearted humor, he clearly spells out some of the starting points and basic tenants of a variety of perspectives - of course showing how and where they fit or differ from a scriptural world view.
  
  This is an important book because it can help students (and non-students as well) understand that there is more than the Christian life than making good moral choices. He helps students learn to think critically, with the big picture in mind, understanding the importance of a world view that will hold together, not crumbling the first time a professor challenges Christianity. He does a good job of walking students through the landscape and helping them become mature thinkers, men of Issachar able to understand the times and what to do. This is a valuable resource for training students for college life - and beyond.
  
  
  

• Clear and easy read - nice job

  
  By ANZN49A4FJWZM on 2006-07-07
  Taylor has presented a complex subject with clarity and a quick-witted and enjoyable journey through the various worldviews. I recommend this to anyone who is looking for a clear concise explanation of this subject.
  
  

• When friends write books...

  
  By AII7TPPR0534 on 2006-09-26
  Whenever a friend says something to the effect of "I wrote a new book, would you like to read it?" I shiver with fear. Talk about caught between a rock and a hard place! So it is with pleasure that I can tell you that Blah, Blah, Blah, by my good friend Bayard Taylor, is truly a great book! (Yes, I did actually read all of it.) For the past 6 years I have worked with the parents of teens group in our church and have seen the sorrow of parents who's teens have grown up, moved away, and... fallen away. Like the seed among the thorns, the non-biblical worldviews seduce and then strangle our young people. Bayard's book exposes these worldviews and shows their weaknesses in easy to understand language. Then it provides the ammunition needed to both combat these worldviews and defend your Christian faith. Every Christian teen should read this book before heading off into the "real world".
  
  

• Not another Blah book

  
  By A3JZ9PAI5AKK00 on 2007-02-19
  As a seminary student, I've plowed my way through numerous theological books. In "Blah," Taylor provides a refreshing break by offering important information in an easy-to-read style.
  
  
• Practical, Applicable, and Completely Relevant
  By A3A1G5OCKQF0UQ on 2006-09-11
  Having come from a Christian family, my parents strictly enforced Christian values. While my upbringing is mostly responsible for my faith-formation, it did leave me inadequately prepared for what awaited me beyond the protection of my family. And so, off I went to liberal Brown University innocent and care-free thinking that the world was no different there than it was at my home.
  
  I quickly found out I was wrong. When I first went to college, I went through culture shock. I was completely blown away by all the things I saw. It was like Dorothy wasn't in Kansas anymore (me being Dorothy). Rather, Dorothy had dropped into the middle of a highway, in front of oncoming traffic. At every turn, I was run over.
  
  After reading this book, I became really mad. In fact, I am still angry. What took Bayard Taylor so long to write this thing? Blah, Blah, Blah takes on the difficult topics of Christian apologetics, Absolute Truths (in an environment that rejects that their existence), hostile professors, and fraternity parties, and boils down the entire college experience into simple Star Wars metaphors. It is the kind of book I wish I had been given before going to college--and the cover is awesome.
  
  So consider this: on my graduation, I received no less than six copies of A Purpose Driven Life and two of the off-to college editions--that's eight copies. Now, I think that A Purpose Driven Life is a great book, but that is a lot of dead trees. A person only needs one copy--two will not make anyone's life more purpose driven, just more annoyed.
  
  Trust me, if you do not get that special graduate a copy of A Purpose Driven Life, someone else will. And, if you do get him a copy of it, well...someone else also will. And I hate to break it to all you A Purpose Drive Life gifters, none of my friends (at least not of the group I asked) ever even cracked open one page of that burgundy, adult-fashioned old-person novel. This book, however, is new, fresh, and in my opinion, much more helpful to a high school graduate going into college. So arm that soon-to-be freshman with this pocket guide to college for Christians. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised to see the book actually get used.
  
  
• How to build, not burn, relational bridges.
  By A381DMR4LEOA0C on 2006-12-09
  Bayard Taylor's Blah, Blah, Blah: Making Sense of the World's Spiritual Chatter is one of the most important books that's come out in a long time. It's great for youth and college age people and it's even simple enough for recovering dumb jocks like me -- so it has to be a winner. As a public school teacher, Blah has been very useful to me in better understanding the world views of my colleagues and students. With some friends of long-standing, Blah has helped some really meaningful conversations blossom. The website is great, too!
  
  
  
• Worth the read
  By A79Y3JROLW4HY on 2007-01-19
  This book isn't just for students. I work and do research at a university and, while this is obviously is not a full academic treatment of the subject, I found it to be very relevant to my own life and my understanding of others, particularly in the university setting. I think the book did a good job of organizing and categorizing world-view information, but I will probably need to read it once or twice again to more fully absorb the information within.
  
  
• making sense
  By A1SJNTON8RT5IQ on 2006-07-14
  There is so much spiritual "chatter" today and this book helps me with needed information. Well written and lots of research that is interesting. I gave a book to my neice who will start college in the fall. So much better in book form than to try and inform her with my words.
  
  
• Thoughtful, engaging and practical
  By ADJ7Z0WJ4ZJOJ on 2006-07-15
  Bayard has done a great job of explaining the importance of worldview in discussion on college and high school campuses. I wish I would have had this book in high school. It would have helped me to more effectively talk about my faith with people who simply understood the world in a different way.
  
  Thanks Bayard for a great book.
  
  
  
  
• From a concerned, college-bound Christian
  By AG4LMQKNY0RRW on 2006-07-26
  This book is on the cutting edge, both publically, within the faith, and within my own life as a follower of Christ. Taylor manages, in concise and contemplative chapters, to strike at the heart of why the general public views Christianity so negatively and wishes to see all discussions and learning experiences devoid of its unique and revolutionary perspective. Taylor brings understanding and insight to the structure of the Christian church united and divided, all while holding fast to the Biblical perspective of the mission of spreading Jesus Christ's message. I found Taylor's tone throughout the book non-abrasive, compassionate, and even fun-loving at times: a perfect match to his theme. If you are ready to step up to the plate in your faith without jeopardizing the precious relational ministry you aim to keep or marring your liberal education, then take a page from Bayard Taylor. Then again, why not take the whole book? I guess all I can say is: This book made me think and gave me hope.
  
  
• Awesome Worldview Understanding
  By A1SVCZOJYI255C on 2006-07-27
  Blah Blah Blah is a gem for all those who want to understand the maze of today's worldviews. Taylor has made learning about worldviews fun and easy to understand. I found myself chuckling and even laughing out loud at his great one-liners and creative descriptions of worldviews. You will walk away with a six-pack of memorable names like the Haunted Worldview, Dueling Yodas, and my personal favorite WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get). Any one involved in cross cultural communication will find Blah Blah Blah a great help in understanding those who come from different worldviews. This book will give you great ideas for sharing the good news in a pluralistic world.
  Tim Sigman
  International Students Inc., New York City Team Leader
  
  
  
• Intellectual Christianity
  By A2BZJ6UPSOHGZS on 2006-07-27
  This book is great! Any teenager or college student that hasn't already done so should buy this book. Many Christian children grow up spiritually strong in the church, but they are not taught the intellectual side of Christianity. Many Christians fail to critically think about their worldview and the worldviews that others hold. That's where this book comes in. It practically and easily explains the different types of worldviews that people hold, and helps them to critically think about each worldview, including the biblical worldview. All Christians should know their worldview, and how to spot faulty ones, and this book does an amazing job of helping Christians do both.
  
  
• Great for Young Adults and their parents
  By A1VIKR5XCYJ1IF on 2006-07-28
  I love this book! I gave it to my recent HS graduate and she said she "couldn't put it down." (And she only reads when she HAS to.) The information is presented in an easy-to-remember way, reinforcing topics throughout the book with parenthetical reminders and referencing popular movies frequently. The reader sees the author as a friend passing on information with the book's conversational style and humor. After 13 years in public school my daughter has encountered many of the worldviews in this book and she is using it to prepare herself for college. (She hasn't finished the book yet-she'll write her own review.) I also appreciate Taylor's honesty about Christians' past failures (slavery, etc.), not acting as if we had no responsibility, and encouraging us to accept our differences while remaining faithful to the "core" of the Gospel. We will probably keep referencing this book often, as well as the websites suggested in it.
  
  
• Paul Angelo
  By A5IPFNPOFTPX2 on 2006-07-28
  The book starts with an encouragement to "join in the public debate, oppose injustice in the public square..". By providing a framework of worldview and summary of major religions I am better prepared to understand and engage in the discussion. A highlight of the book for me was understanding that the Biblical wolrdview relates to protecting civil liberities and supporting a system of checks and balances as we are created in God's image and are sinful. The book gave me a context to understand myself and others. Well done for a 250 page lite read.
  
  
• Spanning the ages.
  By AIT5YQHQ1SPMB on 2006-08-01
  When my wife and I first picked up Blah, Blah, Blah we were seeking a healthy, spunky transition book for our teenaged daughter as she navigates more and more of the world. What we found was that Blah, Blah, Blah is in fact an excellent youth transition book but also much much more. The wonderful insights are delivered in such a fresh, creative style that our whole family found it hard to put down. You just might want to get more than one copy - to avoid any family squables over who gets to read tonight. Bayard's style is so personal that I felt we were in the livingroom together having a heart to heart. Bayard - please deliver more fun, meaningful reads. Blah, Blah, Blah is an A+.
  
  
• Blah Blah Blah
  By A2GQX3PEBE7NNY on 2006-08-02
  In the world today, Christians are being more and more misunderstood by non-believers. This is due in part to the inability of Christians to engage in meaningful dialogue with others and understand their point of view. In his book, "Blah Blah Blah" Bayard Taylor gives Christians a concise yet accurate portrayal of the main "worldviews" and how the Christian worldview is intriguingly disparate and yet reconcilable with them all. This book is vital for Christians everywhere if they want to understand and interact with the world around them.
  
  
• fun and helpful read
  By A2VPXUB01ZT2YB on 2006-08-02
  A fun and interesting read, Blah, Blah, Blah helped me understand where the Biblical worldview stands in respect to the myriad of other ideas out there--an understanding that will no doubt be useful as a Christian engaging with a secular college campus. Bayard has done a thorough job in relaying how the power of the Christian message can relate and interact with other spiritual and secular beliefs of a 21st century world. A worthwhile read for everyone and particularly recommended for college or high school students.
  
  
• Great Book!!
  By A1E2VDX4RH78H0 on 2006-08-09
  I too went through college not knowing an idealist from a pragmatist from a realist. This book would have helped me so much in college to engage in conversations with people having a different worldview. I plan on giving this book to my high school graduates next year. It should be required reading for all freshman entering college.
  
  
• A Crash Course In Philosophy And Faith
  By A2ZPX80OH3FMO6 on 2006-08-09
  I'm a film student at Biola University where a minor in Biblical studies is required to graduate. For this reason I've had to read a few books on worldview and unfortunately I've had trouble getting through most of them. Generally it takes me at least a month to get through a non-fiction book like "Blah, Blah, Blah" but I enjoyed it so much I was able to finish in only a couple of days over my summer vacation. As a filmmaker I appreciated the numerous allusions and refrences to relevant media and truly enjoyed learning from and studying this book. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning some basics about worldview while enjoying their reading.
  
  
• Best book I have read in ages
  By A3PQ507HYCJER3 on 2006-08-10
  As a Brit, I was a little unsure how this book would come over in our cultural/educational context. No worries there! Bayard Taylor expertly navigates the Atlantic cultural divide. This is an excellent book to give to young adults about to go to College/University to alert them to the diverse worldviews that abound. What I really like about the book is the way in which it distills the complex and sometimes unfathomable array of worldviews into simple-to-understand categories that you can then build on. I found it very helpful myself, but it is absolutely the book I will be giving to my son before he goes to University in a couple of year's time. It is written in such a way as to keep the young-adult audience on board and was fun to read as well as informative. Fabulous job!
  
  
• Finally!
  By A2A7C1MA1YTGGA on 2006-08-15
  Last year I went searching for material that I could work through with the students graduating from high school within our youth ministry. I came up with nothing that was relevant and engaging. I am half way through Bayard's book and am very excited to start using this with our students. Bayard had done an excellent job of outlining worldviews in a way that makes sense. The books content has come to life for me as I see it playing out practically in the media around us. I think Bayard's book has a lot to offer to young people looking to get their feet on solid ground.
  
  
• Useful to letting our culture encounter Christianity
  By A22LX49FBZ7ZEF on 2006-08-17
  I've met many devout young Christians who wrote failing papers because they had not read this book. They had never interacted with non-Christians and they had very sheltered gospels. They were assigned a paper on the lives of people like Darwin, Buddha, Mohammad, or Margaret Mead and instead wrote papers on how Evolution, Buddhism, Islam, and Relativism are evil. This is for every student going into a Christian College taking an introductory anthropology class that thinks their teacher sees absolutely no merit in Cultural Relativism. This is
  for every student going into any college that stops listening in their anthropology class because they think there is no merit to Cultural Relativism. This is for every student on a mission to combat the behemoth of Darwinism at their school after attending a few lectures that use intelligent design as a witnessing tool.
  
  There are so many young Christians who have no idea how to encounter the perspectives of the people they will be living around for the rest of their lives. This book is for people who will be interacting with academia, its teachers, its graduates, and its drop outs for the rest of their lives.
  
  
• Fantastic resource for spiritual growth
  By A3SMWKNX45TI28 on 2006-08-22
  I have been in ministry for over thirty years -- on college campuses, with professional athletes and as a pastor in a local church with a doctor of ministry in spiritual formation. I have to say that this book (and the accompanying website) is the best resource I know of to help anyone think accurately and biblically about the Christian faith. At the core of discipleship is the need to understand reality and truth from a biblical view point, and this book is better than any I have seen to blend humor, insight and relevant cultural examples to that end. We are developing a spiritual growth path at our church, and understanding worldviews will be a core component of what a maturing follower of Christ will be growing in. We plan on using this book in our high school ministry and in our adult ministry as part of this plan.
  
  
• The Need for Blah
  By AIVRO65G374HJ on 2006-08-25
  This is a great resource for anyone graduating from high school and going out into "the world". Postmoderns will eat this up.
  
  

• Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine
• What Is the Christian Worldview? (Basics of the Reformed Faith)
• Exploring Christian Thought: Nelson's Christian Cornerstone Series
• The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism
• Mere Christianity