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3.82 of 5 stars

From places like John Piper's den, Al Mohler's office, andJonathan Edwards's college, Christianity Todayjournalist Collin Hansen investigates wh... read full description


reviews

Dec 12, 2009
Brett rated it: 4 of 5 stars
This was, for me, the equivalent of pop literature for the busy seminary student :-) That's not a knock. In fact, I picked this book up because none of the books I was reading were within arm's reach. I devoured this book in a few days, largely because it was interesting, easy to read, and didn't make me want to take notes or highlight things. (Sitting up to highlight and notate isn't always ideal if you're tired and just want to read a bit while lying down.)

Collin does a nice job of More...
Oct 19, 2009
Joanne rated it: 2 of 5 stars
Book group book about Hansen's travels across the country to report on what he sees as a resurgence of reformed theology in places where you wouldn't expect it - the Southern Baptist Convention, for example. The key there is where you wouldn't expect it -- we noted that reformed theology is hardly new to, say, the Presbyterians or the Reformed Church of America. He doesn't pay much attention to them, but perhaps they are just not hip enough, since most of the people he talks to are thirty-som More...
May 15, 2011
Rachael rated it: 3 of 5 stars
I used this book as both a primary and secondary source about the reformed movement. Hansen was fairly transparent about his biases for the movement which made it difficult to use straightforwardly either way, but I appreciated the survey of different sorts of successful Reformed churches across the country. He did get rather repetitive about how the theology allowed young people to relish in the sovereignty of God and delve into theology, and he didn't offer much new insight into why this mov More...
Jul 06, 2010
Missjgray rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Maybe I'm too restless or not reformed enough. or sumpin'. But this book was a bit of a let down.

I was very interested in the different "categories" of "reformed" represented here, and I have a whole long list of other books I want to read and authors I want to follow now.

Hansen's journalist roots showed through very strongly (but I don't know that he was trying to hide them). This book feels like a collection of biographies, almost vignettes, of differe More...
Jan 29, 2010
Jerry rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Interesting forays into the New Calvinists. Aside from the Tim Kellerites, this is mostly about reformed baptists. These people are zealous for the gospel and innovative (new organizations, denominations, cooperative coalitions, technology) which is encouraging, in fact, Calvinistic despite Horton's response in the book that these people aren't Reformed (hence the reason why we have "new" Calvinists instead of just Calvinists). The question left unaddressed by Hansen, unintentionally o More...
Jul 02, 2010
Dave rated it: 2 of 5 stars
While this books is informative and provides a good series of snapshots for those interested in the emergence of young Calvinists in the US, there is a serious lack of depth that would have been greatly enhanced by a sociologist's eye. Hansen's tome, despite his journalist credentials, reads more like an infatuated apologia for a movement than a journalistic report on a curious trend. Again, I would love to see this same book in the hands of someone willing to explore the sociological reasons More...
May 13, 2011
Jordan rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Collin Hansen does a nice job of traipsing around the country on the trail of the "new Calvinists." They're young, they're passionate, they're fresh, they're studious, they're thinking critically, and they're in love with the God who is mighty to save and sovereign over all creation and creatures. The book is encouraging, as it unveils a resurgance in Calvinist Christianity among the next generation of Christian leaders. It is a momentum I pray will continue and gain even more steam. O More...
Nov 25, 2009
Thomas rated it: 3 of 5 stars
I wish there were more books like this one. Collin has done a great job of expressing the current Calvinistic climate in America today. I was amazed at some of the diverse avenues and passion that Calvinism is found in. This book has really helped me to understand some of the reasons that Calvinism is resonating strongly with many of the younger generation.

Collin is definitely passionate himself and provides his on biased arguments in the discussion. But he also does a fair job o More...
Apr 28, 2009
Sean rated it: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this brief book, probably most of all because, for the most part, these are "my people." That said, as excited as I am about the current, reported popularity of Reformed belief, I did have the following thought:

*

Hansen, I suppose as a typical journalist, seems to enjoy editing and ordering details for shock effect or to illustrate his own cleverness. It doesn't always feel like the whole story is being told, and that makes me wary, though I tend to like More...
Feb 02, 2011
Cbarrett rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Interesting book highlighting the leading individuals of the so-called Calvinistic resurgence. A quick glance at the table of contents will show that this movement is by no means monolithic. The use of the word "Reformed" in the title is used in a more broad manner than the word typically has enjoyed throughout the centuries; but the subtitle kind of illustrates how the term is used throughout the book.
Good book, quick read, Hansen is an engaging writer.
Jul 24, 2008
Nat rated it: 3 of 5 stars
This book does an excellent job of showing all the various perspectives and ministries of the resurgence of Reformed theology. Each chapter is broken down to the various ministries and how they approach the topic.

This book is a quick and easy read. However, the author does have a bias toward Calvinism. There is nothing wrong with that because his enthusiasm does translate into the writing. His surprises are our surprises.

My only perspective has been from discussions with More...
Jul 26, 2011
Kurt rated it: 5 of 5 stars
This is a thorough and insightful tour of contemporary Calvinism. Hansen interviews a variety of people from different backgrounds, and along the way he really fleshes out what Calvinism and Reformed theology are. The book suffers a bit when Hansen interjects his own explanations of Calvinism, as if he doesn't trust his subjects to adequately convince readers, but overall, this is an enjoyable and informative read. I highly recommend it.
Feb 03, 2009
Mike rated it: 4 of 5 stars
A survey of some of the larger, faster growing churches, mostly in the east, who are attracting Reformed young people. John Piper figures prominently in all of it. Reformed, Charismatic, young, with all the strengths and weaknesses that young people have.

I'm afraid it is a fad, but pray that it isn't. Right now the "movement" is a lot of hype and fun, the test will be if it changes culture.
Mar 25, 2009
Dave rated it: 4 of 5 stars
I found this book to very informational concerning the growing acceptance of Reformed Theology among young evangelicals. I was encouraged by the various answers to questions that Collin asked throughout this book. One quote that has stuck with me is "If I believe that God is sovereign in all things, then I must believe that He is sovereign in roles of men and women."

This is a good book to give people an overview of what Calvanism is today. I would suggest reading the last c More...
Jan 12, 2011
Kevin rated it: 4 of 5 stars
A great read for anyone inquisitive or skeptical of the Sovereign Grace movement and other evangelical trends such as Together 4 the Gospel, Acts 29, etc.

Collin Hansen is an editor for Christianity Today. This is a well-researched, well-written book. A compelling and informative read. Helped to clarify the distinctions between the groups and their backgrounds.
Apr 20, 2009
Ms.Cogan rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Encouraging and inspiring about the growing Christian Reformed movement and how God is growing a passion in young men and women to know scripture and who scriptures teach God is.
Jan 18, 2012
Ryan rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Young, Restless, Reformed gives great insight into the Reformed movement in our generation. I highly recommend this book. It covers a lot of the basics of Calvinism and gives many names and places in the U.S. associated with it from Seminaries like Southern and personalities like Mark Driscol. I appreciate how Colin Hansen explains how so many baby boomers (such as my dad) are suspicious the doctrines of grace --or more importantly, the implications. But as Hansen demonstrated, the movement is m More...
Jan 29, 2009
Virginia rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Hansen traces Reformed theology in modern culture, profiling various Christian leaders and organizations.
Nov 18, 2008
Eric rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Really good, survey of the movement going on across America. I travel a lot myself and I to see this movement as he describes along with others like Paul Washer. Every Southern Baptist should read chapter 4. It will give you a really good idea what is going on in SBC Churches in the south and how hard some people will fight to keep the truth out of the Church. I know many of my friends and myself included that have been kicked out for teaching the doctrines of grace. But by God's grace He w More...
Jun 30, 2010
Aaron added it
This is a great book and a surprisingly good primer for some basic reformed theology.
Oct 08, 2010
Bob rated it: 4 of 5 stars
It took me a while to get into this book, but once I did I really enjoyed it. A great overview of what is happening with the Reformed movement outside of the "old" Reformed (RCA, CRC, Presbyterian) churches. I grew up in one of those old denominations, and I do feel the book gives short shrift to everything that happened between Jonathan Edwards and John Piper. But the book was fun - it got me excited again about TULIP and covenant theology.
Dec 09, 2008
Karl is currently reading it
Young calvinists these days take God's sovereignty really seriously.
Jun 23, 2010
Widsith marked it as to-read
Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist's Journey with the New Calvinists by Collin Hansen (2008)
Jan 29, 2009
Sarah rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Collin Hansen has written some of my favorite feature articles in Christianity Today, and his thoughtfulness and gentle wit met my expectations in this book. It supplies a good corrective, I think, to some of the dubious journalism I've read recently on so-called neo-Calvinism. I certainly understand far more about the movement and its role within wider evangelicalism/Protestantism than I did before.

I found his keen analysis a bit blunted toward the end of the book, but I still tho More...
Jun 01, 2008
Adrienne rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Any engaging book of a guy's journey to explore Calvinism in America. Through reading this book, I gained a better understanding of how different pastors and religious leaders viewed Calvinism. It also was a great review of the points and issues that surround Calvinistic beliefs.
Aug 04, 2008
Nichole rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Interesting read that opens up many ideas.
Apr 25, 2010
Devin rated it: 4 of 5 stars
This book offers a large perspective on the current major preachers in the Reformed tradition. Collin Hansen looks at how old theology is becoming very attractive for a new generation.
Feb 04, 2012
Kyle added it
Feb 03, 2012
Kat_marie rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Jan 28, 2012
Andrew rated it: 3 of 5 stars