“Monetizing Jesus: How Predators Bait Us & How to Outsmart Them,” is the title of the latest book from Glen Bell, PhD. There is a much to unpack in that title, and Bell does his best to cover all the ground the title implies.
The first part of “Monetizing Jesus” discusses predatory systems; destructive political, religious, multi-level, self-help, or business organizations. Groups manipulating the messages of Jesus are a prime example, which is where the title comes from. Bell explores the ways predators operate alone, and in groups, so the reader can identify them in their own lives.
The next part of the book is all about critical thinking, the way our brains work and how to keep our reason in check. Here you learn about cognitive bias, logical fallacies, research methods, and more. I feel that the first two parts of “Monetizing Jesus” are the crux of the text. They fulfill the promise of the title, and are an entertaining read full of useful tools.
The concluding section of the “Monetizing Jesus” the author applies all the principles and lessons to attempt to answer questions such as, “Is there a God?” and “What about Jesus?” Ball navigates the questions and conversation around them respectfully, and he does show “show his work” for lack of a better phrase. He shows how he applied his lessons to the questions, and where it led him. It all feels a bit out of place with the rest of the text, until the end where Ball concludes and wraps it up nicely.
“Monetizing Jesus” is an interesting and useful text for those interested in learning about predatory people and groups and the importance of independent thought in a healthy community.
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