SINNER

by TED DEKKER

Paper Book, 2008

Status

Available

Call number

F DEK

Series

Paradise (3)

Collection

Fiction

Call number

F DEK

Genres

Publication

THOMAS NELSON

Description

When a string of racially motivated lynchings threatens to tear the country apart, two orators sweep into Washington and demand that the constitution be modified to allow for a law that will end the widespread violence. Racial and religious speech that undermines others' beliefs must be classified as hate speech and must be severely punished.

User reviews

LibraryThing member NovelBookworm

Sinner by Ted Dekker is a peek into a future where “tolerance” has become the new religion. Our children are fed a constant diet of the necessity for “tolerance” in school every day. While we become tolerant of cultures and religious beliefs outside our own, we find that the beliefs that

are still in the majority are becoming less tolerated. I’ve often felt that as a society, we need to stop focusing on and celebrating the differences between all of us. Instead I’ve thought that if we could use the time our children are taught to celebrate our cultural differences to show our children how very much we all are the same, we would build a stronger more cohesive society. I’m not saying that our huge country shouldn’t be filled with people of all colors, religions, and beliefs. I’m merely suggesting that underneath all of our individual customs, we are all pretty much the same. We all want a better life for our kids, we all want a safe place to live and we all want to be secure. It’s how we achieve this that seems to be the problem.

Dekker makes interesting comparisons with the way our society is heading now. It’s simply not enough to tolerate others, we must always be cognizant of our ability to offend and be offended. In Dekker’s future, our seeming inability to ignore the things we don’t participate in becomes intensified ten fold. And our hyper sensitivity to contrary beliefs magnifies as well. In this scenario, a public Christmas tree becomes, instead of a beautiful charming symbol of one groups belief; a symbol of oppression and hatred displayed only to remind some that they don’t belong.

I believe the goal of Sinner was to point out the direction we’re heading in, to sort of sound an alarm of some sort to both Christians and more secular readers. The book succeeds on that level, Christians will note the way society and our government is slowly eroding the display of their beliefs. The more secular reader can see how government has slowly started to erode our Bill of Rights, and perhaps be a bit more aware of the encroaching of our rights that takes place with such regularity.

I enjoy Ted Dekker’s books and although I haven’t read any of the other Paradise novels, Sinner didn’t disappoint. This particular novel was a tad bit preachier than the other novels I’ve read by this author. I’m not particularly religious, (no I’m not going to say that annoying “I’m spiritual, not religious” line. What the heck does that even mean?) but I usually really enjoy Dekker’s books. Some reviewers have mentioned the Left Behind series whilst reviewing Sinner. I attempted to read that series, but found it just way too contrived and not terribly well written. I know, the series has sold something like a gazillion books, but I just didn’t much like them, so I quit after the third or fourth book.

Dekker’s novel reminds us all that while tolerance is to be expected in a society as broad as ours, we must be on guard against the types of intolerance it breeds.

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7 more

LibraryThing member atdCross

This was a good read and the ending was just great. As a Christian, I got real emotional when the town is shown the Light through Johnny's eyes (p.344-346); the word picture as to what transpires is so striking it made me wish I were experiencing it!

LibraryThing member ShirleyDurnal

Teenaged, Billy Rediger gave life to Marsuvees Black, the personification of evil, when he wrote in The Books of History that were stored in the tunnels under a monastery. Now, May 13, 2034, Billy is a twenty-six-year-old attorney, three years out of law school and defending Tony Sacks, a midlevel

boss who runs the gambling rackets in Atlantic City’s organized crime world. During the trial he discovers that brief eye contact with individual jurors and the judge allows him to hear their thoughts. He uses this power to gain an advantage because he knows his life depends on his actions. A short time later, he discovers that Darcy Lange, his first love, is in danger. He has not seen her for thirteen years and he doesn’t know where she is but again his power gives him the advantage.

One never knows what others may be hiding behind their sunglasses or what might happen when their glasses are removed. Billy is not the only one with a special power.

This intriguing, fast-paced, fantasy, action story slows briefly allowing readers to ponder the possibility and repercussions of a constitutional change that eliminates the freedom of speech and enforces tolerance.

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LibraryThing member MissReadsTooMuch

A book to validate a majority's feeling of persecution for not being able to say whatever they want about everyone else.

LibraryThing member Awtumn

The book starts off a bit too political ( religously political). Its only about 20 yrs in our future, and its all about tolerance. Tolerance of race and religion mostly. I almost didn't read anymore. But i'm glad I did. its really a eye opener, and by the end of the book, you get it. Tolerance is

NOT the answer. To tolerate evil is evil in itself. Got to read the book to understand

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LibraryThing member chsbellboy

Ted Dekker's Paradise series is an enjoyable three-book read in typical Dekker style. There are several different Christian motifs sprinkled throughout the page turners. In all, the Paradise series is my favorite series by Dekker. This is the last book by publication date in the series.

LibraryThing member butterflykisses5487

absolutely amazing!

LibraryThing member JenniferRobb

I've read this author before. I had a hard time with this book. From reading the blurb, I expected it to be more about the 3,000--but instead it seemed like there was much more set up for that than it actually being about that.

This book is also part of the Books of History Chronicles.

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