Most of you know, I spent most of last year writing a book called How I Became a Christian Despite the Church. I appreciate your prayers as I gather final feedback, finish edits, and gather a few endorsements for the back of the book. My goal is to have it completed as an eBook and paperback, and then available for purchase on Amazon by March 1st! Below is my primary pitch, a summary, target audience, and a description of the topic with a list of similar books. Stay tuned!
PITCH: It’s the compelling story of breaking free from the shame, abuse, and distorted views of sex associated with a particularly destructive, cultish, and harmful church called Berachah. Unique in its honesty and depth, the book is ultimately designed to show the beauty of biblical faith and build up rather than tear down.
SUMMARY: The church can be a mess and—worse—a real source of misery. I know. I’ve experienced it. There are tons of hypocrites and even dangerous wolves in sheep’s clothing. Lots of folks that are afraid of science and of learning from “secular” people.
How I Became a Christian Despite the Church is my story of finding God despite the isolated, fear-based, get-a-scalp-on-your-belt-for-Jesus, fun-sucking culture that my parents were part of. It’s the story of how my childhood pastor and his despotic wife terrorized and abused their foster children, as well as others.
Shame, abuse, and especially distorted views of sex are a big part of my story. As is sorting out beliefs, emotions, desires, and actions to relearn how to be human. Amidst the macabre and the dissonance, however, you’ll also find refrains of hope, a reasonable faith, and love.
TARGET AUDIENCE: Although the book is a roadmap of healing and growth for all, it’s especially written for those who’ve grown up in religious environments that have left them empty at best or crushed at worst. If you’re searching for better answers, a cure for pain, or are just curious to see how bad it could be, this book is for you.
Further, because it’s filled with many deeply personal stories, with lots of diverse cultural references and a message that’s applicable across generations, it will appeal to a wide variety of ages. My intended audiences, however, certainly include wounded Christians and skeptics of the church.
TOPIC: Deconversion stories[1] are popular offerings right now, the majority of which villainize orthodox Christianity. Although a conversation is certainly needed and welcome, most offer more snark than strength, spin than precision, and cynicism than hope. Further, most don’t encourage interaction with primary sources like the Bible, nor are they trustworthy guides for healing and finding God.
I have dear friends whose faith has been shipwrecked through many of these unreliable guides. Josh Harris-type “deconstruction” stories are all too common, and the Christian faithful often react with more judgment and circle-the-wagons responses than grace, empathy, and civility. My book is different. Not only is it laced with stories, Scripture, and diverse cultural references, unlike many of its competitors, its tone is constructive. As one 30-year-old co-worker who recently reviewed my book shared:
“The book captures your struggle growing up in an environment all too common in America. Indeed, many of your struggles were eerily similar to my own. You are brutally honest and transparent, and your tone is respectful throughout. Unlike pretty much every similar book I’ve read, yours is designed to ultimately rebuild, not further tear down someone’s faith. That is its greatest strength.”
[1] Here’s a list of deconversion stories or books that address similar topics to mine:
–Unfollow: Loving and Leaving Westboro Baptist Church by Megan Phelps-Roper (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2019), 289 pages.
–Shameless by Nadia Bolz-Weber (Convergent, 2019), 200 pages.
–Still Christian by David Gushee (WJK, 2017), 151 pages.
–Bad Religion by Ross Douthat (Free Press, 2012), 337 pages.
–Costly Grace: An Evangelical Minister’s Rediscovery of Faith, Hope, and Love by Rob Schenck (Harper, 2018), 352 pages.
–Misquoting Jesus by Bart Ehrman (Harper, 2005), 242 pages.
–Unlearning God: How Unbelieving Helped Me Believe by Philip Gulley (Convergent, 2018), 224 pages.
–Interrupted: When Jesus Wrecks Your Comfortable Christianity by Jen Hatmaker (NavPress, 2014) 288 pages.