We are excited to announce that Rebecca McLaughlin, the author of this outstanding resource, will be speaking at the 2021 Rooted Conference. Join us in Birmingham, AL, October 6-8 to hear Dr. McLaughlin and the excellent lineup of speakers we have for you!
In 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) About Christianity, author Rebecca McLaughlin echoes a sentiment expressed by Dr. Michael Kruger on the Rooted Youth Ministry Podcast: rather than shielding students from unchristian perspectives, we need to expose them to the false narratives of contemporary culture and show them how Jesus offers a better way.
McLaughlin writes:
“Rather than protecting my kids from divergent ideas, or urging them to affirm all belief equally, I want to equip them to have real conversations with real people who really think differently from them – and from me. I want them to learn how to listen well and how to question what they hear. If what I believe is true, it will stand up to scrutiny.”
McLaughlin’s new book for teenagers is a follow-up to her book for adults, Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion (Christianity Today’s 2020 Book of the Year). Youth ministers will find an excellent resource in 10 Questions, a book they can read alongside their students in a small group study, use to mentor skeptics and seekers, or recommend to parents with confidence.
Each chapter is titled with a question teenagers (or anyone) might ask, such as “How Can I Live My Best Life Now?” “Isn’t Christianity Against Diversity?” and “Why Can’t We Just Agree That Love Is Love?”
Among the many topics she addresses:
Racism and Slavery
Relativism
Morality and Evil
Truth of Scriptures
Abortion
Science and Faith
Same Sex Attraction
Gender
Suffering
Sin and Judgment
McLaughlin, who holds a PhD in literature from Cambridge and a theology degree from Oak Hill College, also happens to be a mom. For all her education, her style and tone are never patronizing; in fact, she dignifies her teenage audience with rich theology that is both understandable and applicable. Scripture is the authority for everything McLaughlin teaches, making her a refreshing example of a Christian who is devout, scholarly, and not at all weird. In fact, it would be hard to imagine a teenager reading this book who loves Harry Potter more than McLaughlin. Examples from Frozen, Moana, Titanic, and Wreck-It Ralph (to name just a few) will bring her words home for her readers. Each chapter concludes with a page of the most important take-aways from each chapter, so that young readers will be able to review and clarify several times during the course of their reading.
We highly recommend using this excellent resource with your curious and questioning students.
