hi! I would like to start by saying I fully respect everyone’s right to practice religion and know that it is valued differently by everyone. That being said, I feel for myself personally that having grown up in a fundamentalist southern Baptist church did more harm than good for me.
I shifted my faith and religious views in college about ten years ago. Lately, a childhood friend has started making comments that sound a lot like how I was feeling when my faith started to deconstruct. A lot of her thoughts are related to the current political climate, seeing her friends experience divorce, and more. For reference she’s kinda conservative, but doesn’t really engage in politics and still loves and acts lovingly towards people who are “sinners” in her mind.
I want to be able to subtly recommend a book to her to at least help her explore alternative views than her conservative, Christian ones. I don’t expect her to want to leave the church, and my goal is not to do that. My goal is just to expose her to ideas like feminism, pro-science, racial inequality, universalism even. I think she would be more open to these ideas now, and I think they’re what she’s searching for based on our discussions.
I’m looking for a book that discusses the Christian God or the Bible through the lens of feminism, science, racism, inequality or similar vein. Im also cool with books that talk about those topics, but don’t openly bash Christians (as I think that would turn her off the topic) I’m going to recommend some Rob Bell to her, but if you have a book recommendation I’d love to hear it!
Thanks!!
by boochaplease
3 Comments
I haven’t read it yet, but as a Christian who grew up in a conservative Southern church but never really vibed with that and turned to more progressive Christianity, “God Didn’t Make Us to Hate Us” by Rev. Lizzie McManus-Dail sounds intriguing to me and might also fit for your friend.
I’m conservative and a follower of Jesus and really enjoyed this one:
Not That Wheel, Jesus!:
Stories From a Faith That Went Off-Road in the Best (and Worst) Possible Ways by Mary Katherine Backstrom
The author leaves the church and spends a lot of time searching for one that aligned with allowing all “sinners.” (We’re all sinners, even the most serious of Christians but that’s a whole other talk, I do get what you’re saying 🩷)
It doesn’t bash Christian but def allows a really soft intro into questioning certain things. I’d recommend it to any of my friends while still feeling confident in my faith if that makes sense.
My recommendation? Don’t.
How would you feel if your friend made a post here asking for a book to subtly get you more exposed to the positive aspects of religion? If you were given such a book, how likely is it that it would change your views versus destroying your friendship?
There’s a theme in posts here sometimes of giving people books to convert them to the right views. I just don’t feel that kind of thing works, and in practice it does more harm than good.