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Blessed Are the Cynical
Citing economic imbalances and social beliefs in America that can result in personal dissatisfaction, an examination of the nation's culture calls for a renewal of Christian values as part of addressing social problems.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 13, 2017
I picked this book up at a library sale thinking it was a fiction novel. Nope. It's yet another male chauvinist pig complaining about women's rights. I'd give this negative stars if I could.
The cynical are not blessed; they're jealous.
This is misogynistic word vomit written by a masculinazi who can't stand the fact that women *GASP* have sex for enjoyment rather than procreation, make their own reproductive decisions, are not submissive to their husbands, and have REAL careers outside the kitchen. Ellingsen blames women (yes seriously) for the financial inequalities: the fact that men are now marrying ( other ) doctors, lawyers, CEOs, etc, and therefore poor people are stuck marrying (other) poor people.
It makes sense that the author is a white, male jesus freak. This "book" is nothing but him bitching about the "good ole days of the good ole boys club", and I wouldn't be surprised if he were part of the ridiculous "men's rights" movement. I'm sure he'd also be first in line to try to eradicate the 19th Amendment. Yes, this guy is THAT much of an asshole. He's a chauvinistic pig that continues to preach (pun intended) about the "original sin" of the bible (which btw is completely false. It's pigs like ellingsen that made that story up in the first place, to put all the blame of the world's problems on women).
YOU ellingsen are the one who is selfish and narcissistic, but of course, you're probably going to blame this review on me being a man hater (I'm not), or it being "that time of the month" (it isn't). It's that time of the century when douche bags like you make way for the REAL men - the men who don't have to shove women back to the kitchen because of an inferiority complex.
I'm usually against destroying books, but I tore this up and burned it. Yes, I'm serious. Although in hindsight, if the zombie apocalypse actually does happen I'll probably regret it when I run out of toilet paper.
The cynical are not blessed; they're jealous.
This is misogynistic word vomit written by a masculinazi who can't stand the fact that women *GASP* have sex for enjoyment rather than procreation, make their own reproductive decisions, are not submissive to their husbands, and have REAL careers outside the kitchen. Ellingsen blames women (yes seriously) for the financial inequalities: the fact that men are now marrying ( other ) doctors, lawyers, CEOs, etc, and therefore poor people are stuck marrying (other) poor people.
It makes sense that the author is a white, male jesus freak. This "book" is nothing but him bitching about the "good ole days of the good ole boys club", and I wouldn't be surprised if he were part of the ridiculous "men's rights" movement. I'm sure he'd also be first in line to try to eradicate the 19th Amendment. Yes, this guy is THAT much of an asshole. He's a chauvinistic pig that continues to preach (pun intended) about the "original sin" of the bible (which btw is completely false. It's pigs like ellingsen that made that story up in the first place, to put all the blame of the world's problems on women).
YOU ellingsen are the one who is selfish and narcissistic, but of course, you're probably going to blame this review on me being a man hater (I'm not), or it being "that time of the month" (it isn't). It's that time of the century when douche bags like you make way for the REAL men - the men who don't have to shove women back to the kitchen because of an inferiority complex.
I'm usually against destroying books, but I tore this up and burned it. Yes, I'm serious. Although in hindsight, if the zombie apocalypse actually does happen I'll probably regret it when I run out of toilet paper.
June 16, 2020
Ellingsen is an Augustinian scholar (Ph.D, Yale University) who is also a Lutheran pastor. He seeks to show through statistics (which are dated at this point but don't necessarily invalidate this original point) that despite a majority of Americans believing people are basically good, we would all benefit from learning from Augustine's championing of the doctrine of original sin. The information was useful though I can't say I am a fan of his writing style.
October 23, 2019
Ellingsen seeks to address the majority American belief that people are born good. He tries to bring into the conversation original sin but I do not think he does so successfully. His attempt was marred by a political bent that I think will do him a disservice. He should have presented it in better terms.
May 5, 2019
73 percent of Americans think people are born good. This is in contrast to the ancient Christian doctrine of original sin. Ellingsen, both a Lutheran pastor and an academic with a Ph.D from Yale, discusses the implications of Locke's tabula rasa on 21st century evangelicalism.
November 27, 2018
We should all be a little suspicious. : )
July 17, 2011
Mark Ellingsen is a professor of church history at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta. He is also the author of many books, including one that I will be using as a text for the first time this fall in the course I teach at Rockhurst University.
Dr. Ellingsen (b. 1949) is a Lutheran pastor, but he is also an Augustinian scholar with a Ph.D. from Yale University. Last week I finished reading his intriguing book, based partly on Augustinian ideas, Blessed Are the Cynical: How Original Sin Can Make America a Better Place (2003).
Since Ellingsen uses a lot of statistics about the current American (and world) context, the book already seems a bit dated. However, more up-to-date statistics concerning most of what he writes about would strengthen his arguments, not weaken them.
“Whatever Happened to Original Sin?” is the subtitle Ellingsen uses for the introduction to his book. Here is his conclusion:
"This book will show, paradoxically, that when we realize our limits and our insidious motives, we are more likely to be tolerant of our neighbor’s agendas, and more likely to get in the trenches and work to make things better, more likely to appreciate ourselves and the direction of our nation. The more the doctrine of original sin permeates our thinking, the better (though by no means perfect) life in America is likely to be" (p. 32).
Ellingsen continually makes references to the American political scene. He contends, for example, that “an Augustinian view of human nature is realistically cynical enough to appreciate that politics is ultimately about power and that you get things done by means of tradeoffs and coalitions in which you engage to get power” (p. 70).
And he ends his book with these words: “Vigilance about the low sides of human nature, a healthy cynicism, improves civic life.”
I have never been much of an enthusiast of cynicism. Just the other day I saw where someone quipped, “to the cynic it doesn’t matter whether the glass is half full (like the optimist says) or half empty (like the pessimist says), for he thinks it is probably polluted anyway.”
But Ellingsen makes an important point: it is wise not to be gullible and even to be on guard against the self-centered bias lurking in the words and deeds of other people—as well as in what we say and do. Being somewhat cynical keeps us from expecting too much from others. Further, a healthy cynicism engenders realism, freeing us from the overly-optimistic Enlightenment viewpoint prevalent today, at least in some circles.
I highly recommend Dr. Ellingsen’s engaging book.
Dr. Ellingsen (b. 1949) is a Lutheran pastor, but he is also an Augustinian scholar with a Ph.D. from Yale University. Last week I finished reading his intriguing book, based partly on Augustinian ideas, Blessed Are the Cynical: How Original Sin Can Make America a Better Place (2003).
Since Ellingsen uses a lot of statistics about the current American (and world) context, the book already seems a bit dated. However, more up-to-date statistics concerning most of what he writes about would strengthen his arguments, not weaken them.
“Whatever Happened to Original Sin?” is the subtitle Ellingsen uses for the introduction to his book. Here is his conclusion:
"This book will show, paradoxically, that when we realize our limits and our insidious motives, we are more likely to be tolerant of our neighbor’s agendas, and more likely to get in the trenches and work to make things better, more likely to appreciate ourselves and the direction of our nation. The more the doctrine of original sin permeates our thinking, the better (though by no means perfect) life in America is likely to be" (p. 32).
Ellingsen continually makes references to the American political scene. He contends, for example, that “an Augustinian view of human nature is realistically cynical enough to appreciate that politics is ultimately about power and that you get things done by means of tradeoffs and coalitions in which you engage to get power” (p. 70).
And he ends his book with these words: “Vigilance about the low sides of human nature, a healthy cynicism, improves civic life.”
I have never been much of an enthusiast of cynicism. Just the other day I saw where someone quipped, “to the cynic it doesn’t matter whether the glass is half full (like the optimist says) or half empty (like the pessimist says), for he thinks it is probably polluted anyway.”
But Ellingsen makes an important point: it is wise not to be gullible and even to be on guard against the self-centered bias lurking in the words and deeds of other people—as well as in what we say and do. Being somewhat cynical keeps us from expecting too much from others. Further, a healthy cynicism engenders realism, freeing us from the overly-optimistic Enlightenment viewpoint prevalent today, at least in some circles.
I highly recommend Dr. Ellingsen’s engaging book.
February 12, 2009
Ellingsen's book has plenty of flaws, but most of those are a result of the difficult task he's set out for himself. Ellingsen leans heavily on social research as he sweeps most major segment of modern America (politics, religion, education, family, business) and sifts them with his basic thesis: that the loss of an Augustinian understanding of human depravity has had serious consequences. It's written for a popular audience, so don't expect more of it than you should... but its a valuable read nonetheless.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews