"Thorough and well documented! This is the Christian critique of critical theory that is needed in our churches today. Shenvi and Sawyer''s in-depth inspection of critical theory shines a light on the framework''s failures and why, as believers, we cannot adopt it." --Monique Duson and Krista Bontrager, cofounders of The Center for Biblical Unity " Critical Dilemma is substantive and rich in content, possessing the rare combination of first-rate scholarship and broad accessibility. Shenvi and Sawyer provide a well-crafted treatment of some of today''s most important yet controversial topics, such as race, gender, unity, and justice. They introduce the reader to the complex world of contemporary critical theories and do so with prose that respects the depth and nuance these subjects require. Critical Dilemma not only exposes the flaws of contemporary critical theories but also compellingly directs the reader toward ''a more excellent way.'' With feet planted in both the scholarship of the academy and the sound doctrine of the church, Shenvi and Sawyer have given both the church and society an indispensable gift. In my view, Critical Dilemma will prove to be one of the most important works of our day.

" --William "Duce" Branch (aka The Ambassador), assistant professor of preaching at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary "I have long appreciated Neil Shenvi''s articles analyzing critical theory. He consistently handles contentious issues calmly, clearly, and carefully. In this book-length treatment, he and Pat Sawyer have teamed up to create an important resource for anyone seeking to craft an intelligent critique of critical theory." --Nancy Pearcey, professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University, author of several books including Total Truth and Love Thy Body "One of Critical Dilemma ''s greatest values is in its clear and concise run-down of contemporary critical social theory. The authors give a balanced view of critical social theory--the good and the bad--but show how the detriments often outweigh the benefits. One need not be particularly religious to see the value in this book. However, the authors thoroughly and effectively remind readers of the benefits of Christianity while calling into question the sanctity of contemporary modes of social justice. Thus, it serves as a valuable resource and guide for those with evangelical sensibilities.

For both Christians and non-Christians trying to understand and navigate the world of DEI, Critical Dilemma is a must-have." --Erec Smith, PhD, associate professor of rhetoric at York College of Pennsylvania, president and cofounder of Free Black Thought "There is a growing sense of global confusion about the meaning of words and ideas. What sounds benign in the classical sense has become toxic; ''tolerance'' now demands ''acceptance and affirmation,'' ''disagreement'' is now ''intolerance,'' and ''visual diversity'' has replaced ''diversity of thought'' in many of our civil institutions. Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer offer a thoughtful and balanced analysis of the ideologies behind the deconstruction of the core values on which our society was built--values without which movements for true justice would have never succeeded. Critical Dilemma is an indispensable tool to clear the fog of cultural confusion--a fog that, left unchecked, will further destabilize our institutions and tear our culture apart." --Carl F. Ellis, provost''s professor of theology and culture at Reformed Theological Seminary " Critical Dilemma is a tour de force . I found Neil Shenvi and Pat Sawyer''s masterful distillation of critical theory refreshing.

Their sympathetic and humble, yet powerful, dissection of the claims advanced by these fashionable race, gender, and sexuality theories is first class. Readers seeking to understand and rebut illiberal progressive arguments will find a quiver full of ethical arrows to do so, be these from secular philosophy or the Bible. The authors argue that the new social justice religion tears down much that is valuable for human flourishing in the name of a retributive, levelling-down egalitarianism. Evangelical Protestant Christianity, they aver, with its ''vertical'' individual-to-God relationship, is fundamentally incompatible with the ''horizontal'' oppressor-oppressed worldview of the woke faith--even if it contributes some positive insights. As a secular reader, I found the window into progressive evangelicalism and its critics fascinating, and emerged with an enhanced understanding of the Christian perspective on race and gender activism. I very much recommend this book." --Eric Kaufmann, professor of politics at Birkbeck College, University of London "Knowledge is power and ignorance is not bliss within or outside the church. If you truly want to understand the cultural forces ripping apart American institutions, I urge you to read and devour Shenvi and Sawyer''s outstanding analysis of critical theory, its roots, and its destructive manifestations.

Critical Dilemma offers a thorough and accessible tool to educate pastors, church leaders, and congregants. High school and college students can learn much by reading this book and using it as a reference tool." --Dr. Carol M. Swain, distinguished senior fellow for constitutional studies at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, retired professor of political science and law at Vanderbilt University "For the past five years, Neil Shenvi''s website has been enormously helpful to me as I have tried to better understand the ''contemporary critical theory'' cultural revolution. Most of us don''t have the patience and expertise to engage so many technical primary sources that are incompatible with Christianity. In this book, Shenvi and Sawyer update their years of research to give us a resource that is clear, meticulous, responsible, reasonable, penetrating, loving, and discerning. Their work is especially helpful for pastors and teachers, for God calls us not only to give instruction in sound doctrine, but also to rebuke those who contradict it (Titus 1:9).

" --Andy Naselli, associate professor of systematic theology and New Testament at Bethlehem College and Seminary, one of the pastors at The North Church "It seems that the church mistakenly believed that she could win the world without understanding philosophy, and, God help us, as a result, the world''s philosophies have won us. Shenvi and Sawyer are fortifying what I believe is the biggest breach in the defense of the faith today--the philosophy of the Christian worldview. Whether you are a lay person or an academic, this book could save you from deception and despair." --John L. Cooper, front man for the Christian rock band Skillet, author of Awake and Alive to Truth , host of the Cooper Stuff Podcast " Critical Dilemma achieves what many books and much commentary on the subject of critical theory do not: A comprehensive critique of critical theory that is careful, fair, impeccably researched, thorough, rhetorically calm, and surgically precise. Shenvi and Sawyer do yeoman''s work in explaining just how saturated our culture is in critical theory categories. Invoking critical theory in social discourse all but guarantees its defender an unfalsifiable forcefield of infallibility. But the authors of Critical Dilemma expose critical theory for what it is: An acid whose tenets are unreconcilable with biblical Christianity.

" --Andrew T. Walker, PhD, associate professor of Christian ethics at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, fellow in Christian political thought at The Ethics and Public Policy Center "For Christians who are willing to go deeper to understand the complexities of critical theory beyond popular-level talking points, there is no better book than this. Shenvi and Sawyer go to extensive lengths to explain the nuances of critical theory accurately and fairly. They then show how it compares and contrasts with a biblical worldview on multiple levels. If you read just one book on the topic of critical theory from a biblical perspective, make it this." --Natasha Crain, speaker, podcaster, author of four books including Faithfully Different " 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." --Keith W. Plummer, PhD, dean of the School of Divinity, Cairn University "Perhaps you''ve heard terms like woke , critical race theory , and intersectionality , but like many, don''t quite understand them. Critical Dilemma is among the most important books written to help us understand and respond to the cultural revolution taking place in America that is threatening our families, churches, and civilization. While accessibly written from a distinctly Christian perspective, it is also charitable and fair in the views it critiques while remaining firm in sounding the alarm about the perils of contemporary critical theory." --Corey Miller, PhD (University of Aberde.