Sinning Like a Christian: A New Look at the 7 Deadly Sins

If you need to read a review of Will Willimon's, "Sinning Like A Christian," you have lost the time you should have spent reading it. Nonetheless, to the point, this book is a nifty compilation of 7 human conditions that separate humankind from its creator, redeemer and sustainer.This reader does appreciate the academic approach Willimon takes. However, as writer, he maintains good readability throughout with some humor and self deprecation. This allows the reader to identify with Willimon, as author, just as any preacher and teacher must with his audience to make a transformative argument. Willimon draws parallels of each sin between ancient Greek philosophers, classical writers and philosophers, modern writers, and the occasional contemporary quip, to early and modern Christian apologists, and even some quotes from Luther and a bit of Wesleyan teaching, to demonstrate the breadth of thought given to the human conditions described as the 7 deadly sins.The reader has one observation for improvement: his editor could have helped the preacher/teacher by requiring "some editing." Where a point has been made the reader does not need, yet again, more of the same. This comment, however, is more like the parishioner complaining about the preacher's long sermon, or the student who is not "all in" on her commitment. The parishioner is he who attends church but counts the minutes to the closing hymn so he can get on with his golf game or nap or big Sunday dinner. The student is she who is curious but not committed to learning and longs for the end of class to see her lover across the green.In short, read this book at your own peril. This reader suspects you will find yourself reflecting in the pages of this compact overview of sin from a western world view.

I like Will Willimon's writing, and I hoped this book would challenge and inspire a small group I lead at church. However, I didn't find the content to be very fresh, and I wish he had gone deeper in some of the chapters. In many places, he offers more of a surface reading and misses the opportunity to consider how the sins are distorted expressions of deep human needs. I found Jeff Cook's take on the seven deadly sins, Seven: The Deadly Sins and The Beattitudes, more interesting, convicting, and grace-filled. All of this said, Willimon's book is worth gleaning.

It is so good to have this in tablet form so that I can enlarge it. My Sunday School class is studying the Seven Deadly Sins and using this as a guideline. I couldn't see the regular print so this makes it possible for me to join in the study.

We are using this one in a ladies' Sunday School class. This author has a great sense of humor and is extremely well read, so his insight is vast even though we don't always agree with his politics. His subjects - the seven deadly sins - are very thought-provoking and have led to great discussions. It could be appropriate for any adult group.

Sometimes heavy on theology, but the best insights are how these "sins" are part of our everyday American life. And that there is hope by holding to our Christian values of love of one another.

This is a pretty good book, If you thought there were some of the 7 that didn't apply to you, after you read this you may change your mind.

Willimon gives a wonderful and thoughtful treatment of the 7 deadlies. I has been a great resource for reflection and reference for teaching on the sins.

Mr. Willimon has a dry wit which keeps you reading and also lets you look at yourself and see how you measure up to Jesus.