What do you think?
Rate this book
Ask Me Anything: Provocative Answers for College Students
The college years are full of life-defining questions and concerns. Dr Budziszewski (aka Professor Theophilus) offers his expert opinion to help students achieve personal insight about the most controversial and confusing topics they may face.
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
7 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
J. Budziszewski
30 books66 followersJ. Budziszewski (born 1952) is professor of government at the University of Texas, Austin, where he has taught since 1981. He specializes in ethics, political philosophy and the interaction of these two fields with religion and theology.
Budziszewski has written widely, in both scholarly and popular venues, about a variety of moral and political issues including abortion, marriage, sexuality, capital punishment, and the role of judges in a constitutional republic. His principal area of publication is the theory of natural law.
Apart from his scholarly philosophical work, Budziszewski is known for articles and books of Christian apologetics, addressed to a broad audience including young people and college students.
Ph.D., Political Science, Yale University, 1981.
M.A., Political Science, University of Florida, 1977.
B.A., Political Science, University of South Florida, 1975.
2002-present: Professor, Departments of Government and Philosophy, University of Texas at Austin.
1995-2002: Associate Professor, Departments of Government and Philosophy, University of Texas at Austin.
1988-1995: Associate Professor, Department of Government, University of Texas at Austin.
1981-1988: Assistant Professor, Department of Government, University of Texas at Austin.
1980-1981: Acting Instructor, Departments of Political Science, Yale University.
Budziszewski has written widely, in both scholarly and popular venues, about a variety of moral and political issues including abortion, marriage, sexuality, capital punishment, and the role of judges in a constitutional republic. His principal area of publication is the theory of natural law.
Apart from his scholarly philosophical work, Budziszewski is known for articles and books of Christian apologetics, addressed to a broad audience including young people and college students.
Ph.D., Political Science, Yale University, 1981.
M.A., Political Science, University of Florida, 1977.
B.A., Political Science, University of South Florida, 1975.
2002-present: Professor, Departments of Government and Philosophy, University of Texas at Austin.
1995-2002: Associate Professor, Departments of Government and Philosophy, University of Texas at Austin.
1988-1995: Associate Professor, Department of Government, University of Texas at Austin.
1981-1988: Assistant Professor, Department of Government, University of Texas at Austin.
1980-1981: Acting Instructor, Departments of Political Science, Yale University.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 2, 2020
Budzizsewski, J. Ask Me Anything vol 1.
Instead of repeatedly spelling Budziszewski’s name, I am going to refer to him as Prof. Theo or Theo. That’s what he goes by in the book. The book is largely a fictional account of real-life conversations on stuff college kids go through. As with all of Theo’s writing, is pointed, clear, and, quite frankly, entertaining.
Girl and Guy Stuff
Courtship:
“Steady dating produces expectations.” This expectation can sometimes be marriage. Girls can’t wait forever, but does that girl know you aren’t pressuring them for sex? In the dialogue, the guy tells the professor, “But I am a Christian. I don’t pressures her for sex.” To which Theo responds, “That’s good, but does she know that?’
There is a logic in not calling a date a date. For some, it could be a fear of failure. If you’re just friends, and it’s not working out, then you didn’t fail at dating.
Do we call it “courtship,” “dating,” or does it really matter? Dating (or courting) generates expectations. Theo does give the standard line of not dating if you aren’t seeing marriage as a possibility. When his interlocutor says, “But that’s not in the Bible,” Theo responds, “Do you think that lets you off the hook?”
What is Sex For?
Even a perfect birth control (and in the context it is limited to outside of marriage for the sake of argument; remember, he’s talking with college kids) can only shield you from the physical consequences of sex. It does nothing to protect you from jealousy and mistrust.
Further, reducing sex to pleasure eventually deadens the pleasure. Neither can sex be reduced to feelings, since feelings are epiphenomenal. Love involves feelings, but it cannot be defined as a feeling.
Professor Theo discusses other issues such as living with unbelievers, failing to grow up in college, and just war (considering that many college students are in the military). His training in legal analysis is particularly helpful on the last one.
He also gives several conversations he’s had with gay students (embellished and adapted for fiction’s sake). He pursues different lines of questioning with them, and this is important (and important in all apologetics encounters)--don’t answer every question, especially if one isn’t important to the main question. For example, while diseases are decimating the gay community, don’t start off on that. Point out that sexual intimacy bonds with the other, and in this case you are only bonding with an image of yourself.
This is a quick, short, cheap read and is ideal for those who have just graduated high school. I do have one problem: he pursues the line of questioning on whether Protestants should date Catholics, and he is quite frank about the difficulties involved. He references the Joint Declaration between Lutherans and Catholics, but doesn’t mention that the anathemas of Trent are still in place, nor does the document address the instrumentality of justification.
Instead of repeatedly spelling Budziszewski’s name, I am going to refer to him as Prof. Theo or Theo. That’s what he goes by in the book. The book is largely a fictional account of real-life conversations on stuff college kids go through. As with all of Theo’s writing, is pointed, clear, and, quite frankly, entertaining.
Girl and Guy Stuff
Courtship:
“Steady dating produces expectations.” This expectation can sometimes be marriage. Girls can’t wait forever, but does that girl know you aren’t pressuring them for sex? In the dialogue, the guy tells the professor, “But I am a Christian. I don’t pressures her for sex.” To which Theo responds, “That’s good, but does she know that?’
There is a logic in not calling a date a date. For some, it could be a fear of failure. If you’re just friends, and it’s not working out, then you didn’t fail at dating.
Do we call it “courtship,” “dating,” or does it really matter? Dating (or courting) generates expectations. Theo does give the standard line of not dating if you aren’t seeing marriage as a possibility. When his interlocutor says, “But that’s not in the Bible,” Theo responds, “Do you think that lets you off the hook?”
What is Sex For?
Even a perfect birth control (and in the context it is limited to outside of marriage for the sake of argument; remember, he’s talking with college kids) can only shield you from the physical consequences of sex. It does nothing to protect you from jealousy and mistrust.
Further, reducing sex to pleasure eventually deadens the pleasure. Neither can sex be reduced to feelings, since feelings are epiphenomenal. Love involves feelings, but it cannot be defined as a feeling.
Professor Theo discusses other issues such as living with unbelievers, failing to grow up in college, and just war (considering that many college students are in the military). His training in legal analysis is particularly helpful on the last one.
He also gives several conversations he’s had with gay students (embellished and adapted for fiction’s sake). He pursues different lines of questioning with them, and this is important (and important in all apologetics encounters)--don’t answer every question, especially if one isn’t important to the main question. For example, while diseases are decimating the gay community, don’t start off on that. Point out that sexual intimacy bonds with the other, and in this case you are only bonding with an image of yourself.
This is a quick, short, cheap read and is ideal for those who have just graduated high school. I do have one problem: he pursues the line of questioning on whether Protestants should date Catholics, and he is quite frank about the difficulties involved. He references the Joint Declaration between Lutherans and Catholics, but doesn’t mention that the anathemas of Trent are still in place, nor does the document address the instrumentality of justification.
March 19, 2007
My Dad's book!
March 16, 2020
This was really well done. J. Budzieszewski is a former atheist and long-time college professor. These dialogues are based on many real-life conversations he's had over the years with college students. Prof. Budzieszewski approaches some of the "hottest" topics confronting young people with wit, wisdom, and a large dose of common sense.
September 14, 2008
Very readable treatment of moral/cultural issues facing young people, but of broader interest. The format of a college professor answering student questions adds a little levity to the serious questions. Good for college readers and people trying figure out how some things have gotten so off kilter.
June 12, 2012
Ask Me Anything is courageous. It's a book full of real truth; God's truth; in a time when that is not something people want to hear. No, Budziszewski's not afraid to hurt your feelings- but that's not his motive. He presents his positions with love and scriptural backup. Highly recommended.
July 31, 2008
Ok I really liked this book, and I don't really do reviews. But this has a really good story in it that was just amazingly cool.
June 26, 2019
I'm not sure that the dialogue approach really works, but Budziszewski is willing to go places most writers stay away from. Tackling the difficult questions that with answers that should make you think, I would highly recommend the book if you are looking for honest debate about the issues of the day.
February 4, 2019
A short, engaging read that alternates between partly fictional stories, dialogues, and letters that put flesh and form onto philosophy, ethics, and theology in a way that is accessible and humanized.
December 27, 2012
Ask Me Anything by J. Budziszewski (aka Professor Theophilus) gives reasoned, direct, thoughtful Christian answers to the most difficult questions students (and all of us) face in today’s world. Topics range from dating, living arrangements, premarital sex, and homosexuality to how to respond intelligently to post modern, atheistic professors. His answers, written in a dialog with a “student” in person or by email, have and will help students learn to reason logically about the faith. In fact, this book will help parents and grandparents do this also. I highly recommend this book. I have learned much from his answers and have enjoyed his light-hearted and caring manner, yet tell-it-like-it-is replies. I bought it to give my grandson who is a freshman in college. I may have to buy one for myself. It’s worth keeping around as a reference to turn to when issues arise.
April 11, 2015
"If we lived in normal times, it would be better not to discuss certain sins at all. Because we live in abnormal times, we have to." (pg.160) And this the author does, eloquently, gently and biblically.
Best thing about the author is his clarity. He always nails the problem on its head first before dealing out solutions (even though his students often cannot give a definite question initially). This makes him so effective at addressing postmodern issues from a Christian viewpoint.
This line from Chesterton the author quoted gives the answer to postmodernism, "Merely having an open mind is nothing. The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid." (pg.80)
Recommended to all youth, christian or non-christian.
Best thing about the author is his clarity. He always nails the problem on its head first before dealing out solutions (even though his students often cannot give a definite question initially). This makes him so effective at addressing postmodern issues from a Christian viewpoint.
This line from Chesterton the author quoted gives the answer to postmodernism, "Merely having an open mind is nothing. The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid." (pg.80)
Recommended to all youth, christian or non-christian.
July 31, 2016
I loved this book. It had some truly interesting conversations and I was inspired to think more critically about the arguments of others and of myself. The middle of the book was hardest for me to get through as I felt the topics became vague and not applicable to my own life and relationships. However that in no way stops me from recommending this book to my friends.
might-read
November 21, 2008"Based on the author's "Ask Theophilus" column on the Focus on the Family college webzine, this book helps students achieve personal insight about the most controversial andconfusing topics of our time."
March 9, 2012
It didn't read well. : ( I just didn't like the style.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews