Evolving in Monkey Town by Rachel Held Evans is a wonderful a story of survival from certainty, through doubt, to faith. Rachel’s story is about how her beliefs have evolved over time. Rachel started in an unquestioning fundamentalist environment where her faith was not challenged, and where she thought she had all the answers. Her faith then started to crumble when seriously confronted with questions about hell, and was she a Christian only because of where and when she was born. These led to more questions and more doubt. As Rachel was exposed to the environment outside of Christian fundamentalism, she was confronted with the choice of changing her mind on certain beliefs or face losing her faith. She decided to compromise, by letting go of some of her long held beliefs and embraced uncertainty.
As someone who has gone through doubt and is now an unbeliever, Rachel captures the struggle of the doubter. In one moment Rachel is questioning a loving God who sends people to hell for eternity, and then a moment later she is clinging fast to a God that loves her. I could feel the tension and the pain of her struggles. It was also comforting to know that I am not alone in my doubt.
The book is a quick and easy read with very enjoyable stories of different people who have influenced her life’s path. The stories make it personal, while also giving a glimpse of the rich variety of different beliefs and experiences. Rachel is an excellent writer and I found myself highlighting many sections in her book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who feels trapped in Christian fundamentalism. Rachel gives an example of a healthy alternative to the absolutes that are often found in Christianity today. I would not recommend this book to someone who is looking for answers. This book is about asking questions, and living out your faith in spite of the uncertainties.
Rachel also has an excellent blog that I would recommend too.
Here the book trailer:
Sounds interesting, Mark. I added it to my Amazon wish list.
If your list is as big as mine, it will take a couple of years to get to it
I have been in a reading slump for a long time, but I didn’t stop buying books, so I am way behind. Finally, I now refuse to buy books and I just put them on my wish list.
Mike, hope this summer you can get some reading done. Yeah, I have a pile of partially read and new books on my desk. But I have good intentions to get to them this summer.
Hi Mark, that book has been on our reading list as well. We are reading Jason Boyett’s book on doubt. Rachel Held Evans interviewed him on her blog and I just got the book. I was going to email you about it, because I keep thinking of you as I read it. Cool to see your review. Same ideas, about wrestling and accepting/admitting doubt rather than fighting it.
Great review. I am currently reading the book, and really enjoying it.
One recommendation. In your review, you say:
“As someone who has gone through doubt and is now an unbeliever, Rachel captures the struggle of the doubter”
I have read this line several times, and it still sounds like a reference to HER, instead of you. You’re not, are you?
Boyett interviews Rachel Evans here:
http://blog.beliefnet.com/omeoflittlefaith/2010/06/interview-with-rachel-held-evans-part-1.html
Wyatt,
Sorry for the confusion. Rachel went through doubt and still holds onto her faith. Although it still seems like doubt still plagues her. I have gone through sever doubt for over 3 years now, and I really can’t say I believe. So I consider that being an unbeliever. However, I’m still searching. The best description would be Christian agnostic.
http://biologos.org/blog/the-benefit-of-doubt/
Thanks for the link!
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I’m so glad I was raised to know the Bible teaches Annihilationism rather than the traditional doctrine of eternal hell. If I thought the bible really meant to say God burns people for all eternity, I would have a seriously harder time with faith. Learning about annihilationism is one of the most freeing things, I think.
Joshua,
Where does the bible teach about annihilation?