Hi, I'm looking to get some books for my younger sibling who is going down the far right pipeline rapidly because of her christian faith. I was hoping for book recommendations to move her away from that without looking like I'm trying to get her to leave her religion
by Lmaooo4555
13 Comments
I’d start with “Velvet Elvis” or “Jesus Wants To Save Christians” both by Rob Bell
Maybe Nuns on the Bus by Simone Campbell? There is also a short documentary on them that I believe is available on YouTube. It can show her that you can be religious without being a dick.
“Dominion” by Tom Holland. It’s by a historian who is sympathetic to Christianity and traces its impact on European and therefore global thought, politics, etc. It will encourage critical thinking without telling the reader what to think. There are lots of different traditions within Christian thought, and (assuming you are American) it may surprise your sister to learn how it inspired things like the seeds of communism in Europe.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominion_(Holland_book)
If your sister is sliding down the far-right hate pipeline, I think your best bet is to give her an example of the healthier types of Christianity rather than try and divert her entirely.
You could try the Brother Cadfael mystery series by Ellis Peters? They’re not a Theology Book™ so it might slide by rather than feeling like a challenge, and be a softer influence of a religious guy with empathy and a firm sense of judgement being God’s job not his.
Alternatively, you might try *Where God Happens*, by Rowan Williams. He was the Archbishop of Canterbury for a while, but I think he was at his happiest while being a university chaplain, exploring questions with people. His Christianity is a much gentler creature, full of respect and love for his fellow humans, and in this book he looks at the writings of the “Desert Fathers and Mothers” – early Christian hermits. There’s a chapter about “your neighbour” where he points out the folly of being judgemental when you yourself are just as flawed as the next person.
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The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom, a true story about a religious Christian family who saved Jews during the Holocaust. The book talks a lot about how their religion influenced their views (in a good way) and compelled them to act.
Yeah, good luck with that one.
“We are called to be a movement” is book of a sermon that reiterates progressive viewpoints via scripture.
She’s just not subscribed to your liberal ideology. She seems like a smart young woman, maybe you are the one that needs a book suggestion.
The After Party: Toward Better Christian Politics
Probably too obvious, but a great left wing Christian book is Engaging The Powers by Walter Wink.
Searching for God Knows What and/or Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller are both relatively safe/approachable for people in that bubble, but will challenge conservative talking points. Another non-threatening fiction series is the Mitford series by Jan Karon; again, on the face it’s religious fiction, but for a conservative evangelical that series will have a few elements that will poke at their preconceived notions (Anglican rector who is clearly a devout believer – hardcore evangelicals don’t think most people in liturgical traditions are truly in a relationship with god – and characters dealing with real challenges of living and loving in community). Really any fiction that portrays people as fully fleshed out, shades of grey characters who don’t fit into conservative Christian boxes and improves empathy will be helpful.
Moderately threatening/“heretical” options: anything by Rachel Held Evans, Richard Rohr, or Jen Hatmaker’s most recent book “Awake.” She may refuse to read these if she doesn’t think they’re “biblical” enough.
Probably too threatening and she will likely avoid with a ten foot pole but would be great for her: Jesus and John Wayne by Kristin Kobes Du Mez, I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
My credentials: raised in a super Republican evangelical home, left the faith in my late 20’s.
Rachel Held Evans, Shauna Niequist, Marcus Borg, Peter Enns, Nadia Bolz-Weber, Kate Bowler, Richard Rohr, Thomas Moore, Brian MacLaren, Desmond Tutu, Peter Gomes, Monica Coleman, Bryan Stevenson, Grace Si-Jun Kim, Deborah Lee, Thomas Merton, CS Lewis, Howard Thurman, James Cone, James Martin, Cole Arthur Riley, and Danté Stewart are all deeply Christian authors who also have open hearted values and writing who might help her root herself in broader parts of the tradition than just the right wing scaries.
If she is white, evangelical-ish, and into Women’s Stuff (roles, devotionals, feelings, etc) do Rachel Held Evans, Kate Bowler, or Shauna Niequist (the last is less directly confrontational the first, the middle is great if she struggles with illness). If she is Catholic-ish do Martin, Rohr, or Merton. If she isn’t so into reading long books but wants little bites for daily devotional either Niqueist’s Cole Tangerines or Thurman’s Meditations of the Heart is great. If she’s not motivated sometimes it helps to offer to read one book they recommend if they read one book you recommend, and discuss them honestly together. If you do it that way you could go for something more hard core about Christianity’s incompatibility with right wing exclusivity, like the Bolz-Weber or the Cone. Good luck!