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tjbryant519's review against another edition
5.0
Rachel Held Evans methodically dismantles the flaw of fundamentalism--we know all the answers before we ask the questions. Faith, as a journey, is intended to work through questions of doubt and 2000 years of church debates. Accepting the "fundamentals" before asking the questions is more dangerous than asking the questions themselves.
mama_b's review against another edition
5.0
“As a result, many of us entered the world with both an unparalleled level of conviction and a crippling lack of curiosity. So ready with the answers, we didn’t know what the questions were anymore. So prepared to defend the faith, we missed the thrill of discovering it for ourselves. So convinced we had God right, it never occurred to us we might be wrong. In short, we never learned to doubt. Doubt is a difficult animal to master because it requires that we learn the difference between doubting God and doubting what we believe about God.”
rerosenthal85's review against another edition
3.0
I wish there was an option for half-stars. I liked this book much more than three-out-of-five stars would suggest. While I'm not convinced that I subscribe to everything Rachel (her, not me) believes or suggests in the book, I'm coming away from it feeling like I really *get* her. Or like she really *gets* me; I'm not sure which. Maybe it's because I have a natural affinity for other strong-willed women who love Jesus, love reading, and who have got wind of the idea that they can be or do anything a man can be or do (and bonus points if her name is also Rachel!). Anyway, the best way I could possibly put it is that it's like those people with the stickers on their Wranglers or Rubicons that say, "It's a Jeep thing; you wouldn't understand". The best way I could synopsize my "amen" for this book would be: "It's a raised-in-church-kid thing; you wouldn't understand."
I too grew up with sword drills, apologetics classes, and scare-the-hell-out-of-you (literally) alternatives to Halloween. Not everyone who grows up in that kind of environment chooses to spend the rest of their life afterward following Jesus. I have. The adjustment to the adult, independent thinking version of this requires some self-confrontation. This book is a pretty brave confession of the good, the bad, and the ugly details of what that journey looked at for one girl (it's different for all of us), and how different life and faith look when you've come out on the other side. It's comforting. It's a great reminder that you can have a great "testimony" even if yours doesn't involve the big SDA (you know--sex, drugs, and alcohol!). It's a relief to say, "yeah, me too" that many times in less than 250 pages.
I have a copy of Ken Wilson's book "Jesus Brand Spirituality" on my shelf. One day in June of 2008 after hearing him speak, I had him sign it for me after a brief but impactful conversation on this very topic: letting one's faith adjust and become more real in spite of/because of the idiosyncrasies of church culture. On the inside, he wrote, "Rachel, Without a church it's just words. Thanks for your patience with her." While at times patience has been required in working out the stuff of faith and life, I remember that God offers us His own character, which is never subject to change or adjustment, in response and in invitation. He's way more patient with me than I deserve, and He just keeps holding His hand out and beckoning me in closer. I'm grateful for the reminder. Thanks, Rach. :)
I too grew up with sword drills, apologetics classes, and scare-the-hell-out-of-you (literally) alternatives to Halloween. Not everyone who grows up in that kind of environment chooses to spend the rest of their life afterward following Jesus. I have. The adjustment to the adult, independent thinking version of this requires some self-confrontation. This book is a pretty brave confession of the good, the bad, and the ugly details of what that journey looked at for one girl (it's different for all of us), and how different life and faith look when you've come out on the other side. It's comforting. It's a great reminder that you can have a great "testimony" even if yours doesn't involve the big SDA (you know--sex, drugs, and alcohol!). It's a relief to say, "yeah, me too" that many times in less than 250 pages.
I have a copy of Ken Wilson's book "Jesus Brand Spirituality" on my shelf. One day in June of 2008 after hearing him speak, I had him sign it for me after a brief but impactful conversation on this very topic: letting one's faith adjust and become more real in spite of/because of the idiosyncrasies of church culture. On the inside, he wrote, "Rachel, Without a church it's just words. Thanks for your patience with her." While at times patience has been required in working out the stuff of faith and life, I remember that God offers us His own character, which is never subject to change or adjustment, in response and in invitation. He's way more patient with me than I deserve, and He just keeps holding His hand out and beckoning me in closer. I'm grateful for the reminder. Thanks, Rach. :)
gregfielder's review
4.0
3.5 stars, really. Evans chronicles her spiritual journey. A conservative, fundamentalist upbringing gave her all of the answers she would need when it came to matters of faith and how to defend it. But as she reached adulthood, doubt had crept into her life bringing myriad questions to which the standard answers failed to satisfy. A good personal look at faith and doubt.
claire_not_rebecca's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
I really enjoyed this very honest understanding and reformation of faith! As always, Rachel Held Evans has a talent with words that leaves little to be wanted.
braatenn's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
vegantrav's review against another edition
4.0
Evolving in Monkey Town is a memoir of the author's religious journey from faith and certainty to doubt and openness. The author, Rachel Held Evans, grew up as a conservative Christian, the daughter of a Bible college professor.
As a college student, Evans reflected on the religious diversity of the people of the world and considered the notion that, according to her religious beliefs, only members of her faith would escape hell, and she began to rethink some of the main tenets of her faith. She could not accept the idea that a good and loving God would send so many people to hell.
Evans also began to question other aspects of her faith: its refusal to accept lesbians and gays, its antagonism towards evolution, its political conservatism, etc. Today, she is still a Christian, but she is now a more open-minded, progressive Christian and lacks the absolute certainty that her religious beliefs are right and all others are wrong.
If you grew up, as did I, in the world of fundamentalist Christianity, you will probably recognize many of the experiences that Evans describes. She does a great job of presenting the world of fundamentalism without caricaturing it. She writes with a spirit of charity, and she engages thoughtfully with the controversial issues that she addresses.
I enjoyed this read primarily because I have been on the same spiritual journey as Evans, although, as an atheist now, I have gone much farther with my doubt than Evans has.
As a college student, Evans reflected on the religious diversity of the people of the world and considered the notion that, according to her religious beliefs, only members of her faith would escape hell, and she began to rethink some of the main tenets of her faith. She could not accept the idea that a good and loving God would send so many people to hell.
Evans also began to question other aspects of her faith: its refusal to accept lesbians and gays, its antagonism towards evolution, its political conservatism, etc. Today, she is still a Christian, but she is now a more open-minded, progressive Christian and lacks the absolute certainty that her religious beliefs are right and all others are wrong.
If you grew up, as did I, in the world of fundamentalist Christianity, you will probably recognize many of the experiences that Evans describes. She does a great job of presenting the world of fundamentalism without caricaturing it. She writes with a spirit of charity, and she engages thoughtfully with the controversial issues that she addresses.
I enjoyed this read primarily because I have been on the same spiritual journey as Evans, although, as an atheist now, I have gone much farther with my doubt than Evans has.