American Idols: The Worship of the American Dream

by Bob Hostetler

Although not inherently corrupt, the American Idol television program has magnified a culture preoccupied with fleeting fame and image overload. Feeding off that frenzy, American Idols takes a necessary look at the false gods in modern society. The golden calf of Bible times may be gone, but in its place today are enslavements to consumerism, celebrity, sexual freedom, easy religion, and more. This timely book helps readers realize and overcome their own idolatries.

Genres: Christian

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Bob Hostetler is an award-winning writer, editor, and speaker from southwestern Ohio. His books, which include the award-winning Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door (co-authored with Josh McDowell) and the novel, The Bone Box, have sold over 3 million copies. He has won two Gold Medallion Awards, four Ohio Associated Press awards, and an Amy Foundation Award. He is the founding pastor of Cobblestone Community Church in Oxford, Ohio. He and his wife Robin have two grown children, Aubrey and Aaron, who have given them four beautiful grandchildren.

Reviews

[Derrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I had high hopes for this and it did challenge some of my thinking, it felt a little too forced to make it longer. I'm not saying it was a bad novel or poorly done as everything was decent. It was just not what I was hoping for.

[Jennifer Tse · Rating 5 out of 5]

McDowell does a great job in helping his readers pinpoint the specific idols in our lives including: consumerism, naturalism, individualism, celebrity, instant gratification, humanism, experience, success, sensuality, choice, appearance, comfort, money, and busyness. Instead of the old idol of Baal confronting us, these are the idols that Americans face every day. I can definitely identify with most of the idols. It's great that he gives practical steps to help combat these idols. He is also very creative and funny, having chapter titles like the Lexus Nexus, Burger King way, La-Z-Boy life, etc. This is a great book to help you seek change and become closer in our relationships with God by removing these distracting modern idols from our devotion to God.

Favorite Quote: "The Bible doesn't say that Samson 'met' this Philistine woman; it says he 'saw' her. He apparently didn't know this woman at all. The account, which goes on for over six hundred words, never even refers to her by name! I think that's significant. When sex is sacred, it is intensely intimate; when it is idolatrous, it is impersonal. The woman's name apparently wasn't important to Samson. Her family apparently wasn't important to him. Her background, her values, and her religion seemed likewise unimportant. He knew only one thing: 'I want her.' (Page 133)

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

So the idea of idols existing in our society today is not exactly earth-shattering news. I did like some of the takes the author made on the subject, but a few were stretches. I could agree that most of the topics he chose are, indeed, problems in our society such as sex everywhere and the obsession with possessions and money.

I do wish he had picked one version of the Bible and stuck with it. I guess I'm just used to using one version and some of the paraphrasing and attempts at modern translations seemed to cheapen the message for me (i.e. The word "guys" just doesn't seem to belong in the Bible to me.) In any case, it did make me think a little harder about where my heart lies. And it made me realize how much I have forgotten in the Old Testament. A good read for Christians or anyone who wants to re-evaulate his or her priorities in life.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

How different aspects of American culture can become idols of worship. Favorite quote relates to a chapter called EBAY Attitude (Consumerism): "We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't even like!"

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Eye Opening as to the false gods that America is now serving and calls for people to repent and follow the true God.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some new information, some you might have already known. There is some repetition in the book. Disclaimer: I didn't read it all the way through.

[Kara Koester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! Wow, very eye-opening. Never thought I had "idols".

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book exposed several problems in our society today and backed it up with biblical truth. It opened my eyes to some things and challenged me.