Reviews

Podcaster Childers (Mama Bear) takes on the progressive Christianity establishment in this revealing work. She describes having an unquestioning belief in her Christian faith until a progressive pastor tested her by arguing persuasively against central Christian tenets. Childers ended up joining a small progressive discussion group, in which "every precious belief I held . . . was placed on an intellectual chopping block and hacked to pieces." This "deconstruction" pushed her to examine historic Christianity, the virgin birth of Jesus, his resurrection, the Bible, atonement, and hell by "reading every apologetics and theology book I could get my hands on" and auditing seminary classes. Finally, she concluded the resurrection of Jesus happened, and he was not "simply a good teacher or wise man to imitate. . . . our only option is to do it [God's] way or not at all." Childers also notes her fundamentalist beliefs run counter to the ideas of popular progressive voices such as Rob Bell, Sarah Bessey, Nadia Bolz-Weber, and Rachel Held Evans. This impassioned work is sure to prompt debate among progressive and evangelical Christians alike.--Publishers Weekly