Book Review-’Seven Faith Tribes’

Like a number of the other reviewers for George Barna’s “Seven Faith Tribes” I had a hard time getting into this book.

I was set on my heels fairly early when it seemed to me like Barna was going to indulge in ‘America ain’t what it used to be and if only we had more of that old time religion, things would be much better.’

My perserverance (and promise to write something here on the blog) kept me at it and I’m glad I did stay at it.

The information of The Barna Group’s research over nearly three decades of studying America and it’s religious life provides helpful background for those who understand that we’re not going back to the ’50s (or any other bygone era for that matter). More importantly Barna (finally) gets to holding forth a vision of common ground based on shared values for each of the ‘Tribes’ he profiles here.

For me and I suspect for most other readers, his project would have been more attractive if I didn’t have to keep wondering where he was going.

All this being said, I think this is worth study by anyone in a position of leadership among any of these Tribes.

As an aside, I was particularly intrigued with his characteristics for good ‘follower’s in the latter stages of the book. My bias, as a leader in a Christian context, is that we’d better help folks understand the difference between ‘Casual Christians’ and ‘Captive Christians’ which Barna splits American Christians into. I think it’s more complex than that, but a good place to start.

I’d be intrigued to see if there has been any practicum in getting leaders and followers in these ‘Tribes’ together to unpack Barna’s thesis and actually put some legs under his call for a vision for America based on shared values.