*Surviving Religion 101 by Michael Kruger

With Surviving Religion 101, a Christian father and scholar arms his daughter against attacks on Christianity from skeptical professors and students.

*Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College by Michael J. Kruger. Crossway, 2021, 247 pages.

Reading Level: Teen, ages 12-15

Recommended for: ages 16-up

Even the most well-grounded Christian teen can find her faith shaken at college. One family I know well had five children, all homeschooled until 8^th or 9^th grade. Three of them “lost their faith” in college. (The two that didn’t both served three years in the U.S. Army before going to college—apropos of what, I don’t know.) Michael Kruger, seminary professor, author, and dad, understands what this is like: when he was in college, back in the eighties. His New Testament professor was bright, engaging, and skeptical—and in time became a world-renowned critic of Christianity. Kruger sees the main challenge to a young Christian as intellectual, and sets about shoring up that gap with well-reasoned and biblical arguments to some of Christianity’s most vexing questions. A glance at the Contents will strike a familiar chord with anyone familiar with apologetics: “Wouldn’t a Loving God Save Everyone?”, “Are We Sure That Homosexuality Is Really Wrong?”, “How Do We Know [the Bible] Is Really from God?”, “How Do I Handle Doubts about What I believe?” And more.

The chapters are in the form of letters written to Emma, the author’s oldest child, as she heads for the University of North Carolina. Thus the style is warm, personal, and non-academic. As befits his scholarship credentials, the chapters are a bit longer and more theological than Rebecca McGlothlin’s book on a similar theme (Confronting Christianity). He knows whereof he speaks, and is worth listening to. Surviving Religion 101 is a valuable addition to any anxious college freshman’s (or her parents’) library.

As an aside, I believe the greatest challenge confronting most college students is sexual rather than intellectual. Academic challenges to Christianity, in many cases, may just be providing respectable cover for doing what they want to do. This is not to devalue apologetics at all, but parents should recognize that the pressure is coming from all sides at once.

Overall Rating: 4.75 (out of 5)

• Worldview/moral value: 5
• Artistic/literary value: 4.5

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Also at Redeemed Reader:

• Resource: Speaking of sex, see our list of “Sexual Integrity Resources for Teens.”
• Reviews: Don’t miss Betsy’s review of two books for new adults on the wisdom of Proverbs.

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