Cynicism has become almosta cliché. It pervades theculture and defines the age--and threatens to derail faith. Andrew Byers identifies theprimary factors in the churchthat inspire disillusionmentrather than faith, but he goes beyond that to helpstruggling cynics channeltheir frustrations into theredemptive vocations foundin the Bible: the prophet, thesage, the tragic poet. Theseall find their fulfillment inJesus, and he in turn inspirescynics from the apostle Paulto you and me to embrace oursaintly calling--hopefulrealism.