Deborah Jian Lee

As a former evangelical (turned progressive Christian), I suppose I'm more or less the target audience for this book, and I've read plenty of others, similarly observing problems in contemporary evangelicalism and methods for changing or resolving those issues. So the fact that I felt this book didn't contribute much new to the conversation may simply be that I'm overexposed to this type of reporting/commentary on the movement, rather than a flaw of the book itself.

I will second, however, the many comments by others that a conclusion seemed to have been lacking. In fact, I turned the last page expecting to find just such a chapter and instead finding acknowledgments. I suppose the style of mingling narrative with observation and analysis (similar to a long-form journalistic piece) meant that Lee was summing up as she went, but there wasn't really the sort of takeaway/call to action that I was expecting.… (mais)

I have mixed feelings about this book. It started dry, with a too-personal feel to it: that of an author who fell in with Evangelicals, then "got better." There was a lot of complaining by this or that minority individual about the horrors of associating with Evangelicals, attending an Evangelical school, the ways that Evangelical campus organizations froze out certain minority voices (women, POCs, gays). And through all that I found myself thinking, "well, duh. Of course that's the way they are. You don't like it, don't associate with them!" But then, I don't understand the appeal of Christianity, never mind Evangelicalism, to anyone. Some of the material in the book was, frankly, a series of tidbits confirming my biases against Evangelicals and their organizations.
Later in the book, the author finally builds into demonstrating that some Evangelicals are making headway with remaining that kind of Christian while still bringing about change. Expanding opportunities for POCs. Bringing Christian colleges to the recognition that there are multiple possible theologies surrounding gayness, and that insisting on certain positions regarding sexual identity is inexcusably damaging to the individual Christian. Getting increased recognition for certain toxic elements of Evangelicalism, particularly their attitudes toward women and their roles. So in the end, I guess it was a hopeful book, and became an interesting book.… (mais)

I give this book 3 stars for two reasons (1) it made me more aware of conservative evangelicalisms attitude, as a whole, as perceived by the liberal, progressive Christian culture, and (2) it has made me more sympathetic to the concerns of progressive liberal Christians.

That doesn't mean I agree with the views held by the author - there are many theological positions the author takes of which to strongly object without apology - but it does mean I appreciate her perspective and, more importantly, the insights provided regarding the church's attitude she perceives (not altogether unjustified) within white conservative evangelicals towards people of color, women, and queer "christians."

As I read it, this book seems to explicitly challenge conservative evangelicals (particularly white) to hear the other side - the liberal, progressive evangelical - and to acquiesce to it's position accepting them as genuine Christians and, therefore, opening the doors of their churches to their participation in the Christian community. The author seems to suggest that this is what is happening in any case and, sooner or later, a change that the conservative evangelicals must embrace if they are to be spiritually and culturally relevant.

Whatever position you hold, whether you are progressive or conservative (but especially the latter) this is a book that should be read, in particular, by conservative evangelical pastors; and not necessarily to persuade a change of mind as to one's theological, Biblical, and cultural views but more to gain a better understanding of how the attitude and actions of the conservative white evangelical community has affected others and to gain a more sympathetic ear to the complaints of Christian liberal progressives.

This may be a book that annoys those who are already firmly and uncompromisingly settled with a theological or cultural attitude that resists change or, at least, seeking understanding. If your one of those kind of evangelical conservative Christians, then I hope you will allow yourself, at least, this once to be annoyed and read this book.… (mais)