Existential Punk

RIP Gideon Addington

About a half hour ago i received an email from Emergent Village about the suicide last Friday Saturday of fellow Tweep Gideon Addington aka @gideony. i spoke with him a little bit on Twitter, but really did not know him all that well. What i do know about him was that he was an inspiration to many who knew him. About a month ago, he wrote a prayer and it shows he was really struggling and in a lot of pain. i don't know the details of why he was in so much pain but where i am now in my life i can certainly relate to his anguish. i don't know if Gideon lived alone or with people. i don't know if Gideon reached out to his friends that he might have been suicidal. i have been suicidal in my past and my attempt at taking my life was a cry for help. Was his prayer a cry for help or did he just despair too terribly much that he didn't give a fucking rat's ass anymore. Gideon, i am saddened by your loss and that i didn't get to know you better. i hope you have found the peace you never found while you roamed this earth. i am reeling from this news so i can only imagine what those who knew Gideon better are going through and experiencing. G-D, please help family and friends of Gideon in their time of mourning. G-D have mercy on us all.

Here is Gideon's telling prayer and i echo it tonight G-D:

Lord, deliver me from my despair.

Give me strength that I might continue to fight.

I am tired, I am lonely and I feel I am alone among the mad.

I know I am not alone but my heart breaks.

Help me, save me… I try so hard, yet I know I should try harder and that there is much I could do but do not…

Have mercy on me, help me be a better instrument, a better servant and a better healer for those that come before me.

Save me from pride, from arrogance, and help me remember that I am broken among the broken.

Give me wisdom to discern what I can and cannot do, and what I must walk to and away from.

Lord, save me.

Amen.

There's REALLY Nothing Wrong With Keeping Santa in Christmas, People!

This from my dear friend, Peter Walker, at Emerging Christian, had me rolling on the floor laughing my ass off. It's so true! He even has a great rant in a vlog about this whole idiotic fight over keeping 'Christ in Christmas'! Also, there's a thought-provoking post from one of Peter's commenters, Luke Sumner. As i like to say, ALL THE HOLIDAYS!!!! Enjoy!

It's Really All About G-D

i've started reading Samir Selmanovic's latest book, 'It's Really All About God: Reflections of a Muslim Atheist Jewish Christian' and i am really enjoying it even though i'm only in the middle of chapter 1. i'm posting this video of Samir because i really find what he says about religions enlightening and also being able to see and hear him speak is really cool. Gotta love that Croatian accent! :)

Here are some things he said that really stuck out to me:

'Not a call to one religion for all, but for every religion to find a way that is good for all people. Religions are living things and we can expect them to change. Understanding our faith cannot be done in isolation.'

'We hold our religious identities in isolation . . . Us versus them . . . Religions position themselves as G-D management systems.'

Iggyrocks! Podcast

My friend Iggy interviews me for his podcast here.

Iggy says this:

'This was a fun interview. Adele Sakler is funny, witty and this interview could have gone on for hours. We cover many things from fear of gay people, to how we can move beyond focusing on "sin" and focus on Jesus.'

Dear Ken . . .

Here's my letter i wrote to Ken Silva of Apprising Ministries on his contact page, who is CONSTANTLY writing negative things about me and my friends. i am starting to wonder if he is getting an unhealthy obsession with me?! There are anywhere from 5 to 9 links coming into Queermergent's stats from his site in any given week. i am trying to practice 'Loving my enemy', which is often very difficult to do. i admit i allow this guy and what he says to get under my skin at times. i hate that i do this. Then other times, i am able to let his words roll off of me like water rolls off a duck. Why are some people so locked in their certainties and if one disagrees with them, then they are wrong, they are going to hell, they are reprobate, they are apostates? Why can't people like this see that there is room at the table for differing views and interpretations? Oh well, at least today i am trying to love Mr. Silva. G-D, forgive me when i fail, as is the case more often than not.

UPDATE: Below my letter is Ken's response i received this afternoon.

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Ken,

i just wanted to write and thank you sincerely for all the traffic you bring to my two blogs. Even though people rarely comment, it's real nice that you help my stats increase!

i know we disagree on most everything related to faith. Yet, the common denominator we have in common is our faith in Jesus Christ. That, sir, is the most important thing to me. G-D commands us to Love him and to love others as we love ourselves. Kindness and grace go a long way.

i know you feel like you are doing what you are supposed to do. Free as you are, it is sad that you think anyone who disagrees with you is wrong, reprobate, an apostate, and/or going to hell. i used to believe like you but it was too tiring and painful.

i just wanted to let you know that despite all the things you write about me even though you do not really know me, i LOVE YOU, Ken Silva! It would be nice if you would take the time to get to know someone like me, a queer who loves Christ. i can be a pain in the ass but i am really a nice person who is plodding along through life. Too bad you are so set in 'your' ways. We might have a cool conversation. Yet, i sense you really are not open to that since you have everything all neatly figured out and interpreted from the Bible.

i am so sorry you think i am an apostate on my way to hell. i beg to differ and i'm ok with that.

G-D bless you, Ken Silva!

Warmest Regards,
Adele Sakler

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Hello Adele, 

Thank you for contacting Apprising Ministries. I read this earlier on your Existential Punk website, which has also has an intro noting I’m one “who is CONSTANTLY writing negative things about me and my friends. i am starting to wonder if he is getting an unhealthy obsession with me?!” Is ok; you may rest assured I am not. Truly, this isn’t personal; I’m just doing my job is all. You asked: “Why are some people so locked in their certainties and if one disagrees with them, then they are wrong, they are going to hell, they are reprobate, they are apostates? Why can’t people like this see that there is room at the table for differing views and interpretations?” 

But I could also ask you, why are some people so afraid of certainty concerning what the text of the Bible actually says? How, in their uncertainty, are they then suddenly so sure that someone like me is wrong? Why can’t people like this see that where the Bible is clear we must proclaim its truth, regardless of whether others like it or not? All depends upon how one looks at it, ya know. Adele, in the issue of homosexuality, there is no room at the table for differing views and interpretations because God has spoken quite clearly that it is sin. However, I would ask you to be careful not to just assume that I am some narrow-minded fundamentalist bigot who hates GLBTQ people; because I’m really not, and, I don’t. 

Prior to being saved, I was a stand-up comic and professional musician living for years in Long Beach, and performing all around the Los Angeles area, so there really isn’t much I haven’t seen. I have many gay friends, one of which was my boss when I worked in a group home with people who are developmentally challenged people. And he was very out about his sexuality. We’d joke about it all the time; we got along great, and I even visited with him, as well as his partner, at their home many times. Also, my niece is out concerning her homosexuality. You see, strictly on a personal level, one’s sexual orientation doesn’t matter to me at all. 

However, as one Jesus called to be one of His pastor-teachers, I have an obligation to proclaim His Word; and the Bible tells us homosexuality is among the sins which lead one to hell. Still, I’m not telling anyone they are going to hell; because I have no way to know their future. What I do warn someone about, who is unrepentant in their sin, is that if they do not repent and receive the forgiveness of their sin in Jesus Christ, then the broad road they place themselves upon does end up in hell (see—Matthew 7:13-14). Jesus tells us, apart from Him, they are already condemned (see—John 3:18).

In your case Adele, from reading your own testimony, you have apostatized from a previously held proper view of the Bible, and sin, so at this time you are on that broad road. In love I humbly implore you, please repent and turn to the Jesus of the Bible; as He’s the only one there is. If there’s anything I can do to help you, I would certainly be willing to try. Adele, you are correct; we don’t agree, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love you, for Christ’s sake. There are many people with whom I disagree, and we can agree to disagree agreeably. 

That said, sometimes God’s message has an Isaiah 6:8-10 result; and this is something I have no control over. When I link to your sites, because I’ve been blessed of the Lord with a couple of large Internet forums, your traffic will increase. However, being a former head football coach, I often use football as an analogy for this type of spiritual warfare. The truth is, you and me are on the playing field of ideas in the church visible, and like a middle linebacker, it’s my job to stop you—and the team you play for—from penetrating the heart of the defense. 

One of the best ways I can do that is to link to your sources, and thereby shine the light upon what your team is actually doing, supposedly in the Lord’s Name. You said, “the common denominator we have in common is our faith in Jesus Christ.” I’m sorry Adele, but you’re wrong; we don’t believe in the same Jesus Christ at all (see—2 Corinthians 11:4). You also said, “Too bad you are so set in ‘your’ ways. We might have a cool conversation.” I say this gently, and you’re not? 

The fact remains, I’m not here to have “conversation” about God when I’m on the playing field; as a pastor I am to preach His Word and teach people what He has said (see—2 Timothy 4:2). Now, as I told Tony Jones when he called me a couple of years ago, once we are off the field, so to speak, we could talk about other things over dinner. But I cannot fellowship with you as fellow Christians because you’re not playing for the Lord; though I assume you’re sincere, in my view you’re both on Satan’s team. 

Finally, you also say, “i sense you really are not open to [getting to know someone like me] since you have everything all neatly figured out and interpreted from the Bible.” Adele, my mind is closed to anything that fights against Jesus because — To fear the LORD is to hate evil (Proverbs 8:13), and as I explained above, I know many people like you. And I’m sorry that you appear to have been hurt by people claiming to know Christ; however at the same time, no one credible is claiming to “have everything all neatly figured out.” 

All we are saying is that, when the Bible is clear, then those of us who dare call ourselves Christians need to obey what Jesus has said. I pray this helps a little anyway. 

Sincerely, 

Ken

'i Don't Get It'

A brutally honest comment from Lynn over at nakedpastor really resonated with me and her words are things i have expressed inside my mind and out loud before. In light of my recent posts where i have been wrestling with existential issues of the existence of G-D, i asked her permission to post her comment here as a reflection.

'The relationship with God that I attempted never felt very real. He never talked to me. I talked to him, but he was always silent. I had to just trust that he was really there and really listening.

I found what he said in the Bible very confusing and contradictory. It made me crazy trying to figure out which verses applied to which situations. Other people never seemed to have a problem with that. God never helped me to understand.

I finally gave up and decided this whole relationship was an imaginary thing inside my own head.

Aren’t there bare minimum standards for something to be considered a “relationship?”
What are those standards?

I also heard that in Islam, they are not trying to have a relationship with Allah. They revere him and submit, have certain duties, etc., but it’s not a warm and fuzzy thing like in Christianity. Hopefully I’m not misrepresenting anything here. I’m sure you see what I’m trying to get at.

Oh yeah, and would you want to have a relationship with someone you fear? Like they might throw you in hell if you’re not of the elect?

And God TELLS us to love him. Can you love someone just because they tell you to?

I don’t get it.'

What do you think? Have you wondered these same things but maybe you never expressed them aloud? Or, maybe you did ask them outside your own head? Do raw and honest expressions resonate with you or scare the shit out of you? If it scares you, why? - Existential Punk

How Dare i!

My dear friend, Peter Walker, posted a poem entitled, 'A Prayer Of Anger', by John Shea that i found to be totally raw, honest and scathing. i resonated with it because of my own struggles with my Lyme Disease and wrestling with all my existential angst as to the seemingly random things that happen in life and wondering where G-D is at in all of this. Is G-D present and involved? Does G-D exist in the midst of all this chaos of life? If so, why do bad things happen? Theodicy, which is the vindication of divine goodness and providence in view of the existence of evil, and it's attempt to answer the problem of evil in the world are topics that have long been discussed and we never seem to get to the bottom of anything. Answers become dogmatic, circular, black and white, inconclusive, boring, old, worn out, shitty, et al. At times i am ok with not having everything neatly tied up and every question answered. Mystery makes for an interesting life. YET, if i am honest with myself, i do want some fucking answers and not having the answers frustrates the snot out of me! i get pissed off, frustrated, enraged, confused, indignant, snappy, defensive, and feeling totally out of control.

Sometimes i just hate life - how i react to people, how other people treat one another with contempt or in inhumane ways, the burdens of the world with all the poor, the human trafficking, corruption, wars, famines, global warming - HELL - FUCKING HUMANITY just plain grates on my nerves!! i grate on my own nerves!! G-D, if G-D does indeed exist, GRATES ON MY NERVES AS WELL! i recognize that i am human, i am depraved, i am failing, i am insecure, i am selfish, i am an asshole, i am deceived at times, i am often wrong, i am arrogant, i am bitchy, i am impatient, i am out of control, i am hateful in many ways, i am decidedly ungenerous to those who are unkind to me.

Is there really a G-D to extend grace and mercy to me or am i to simply rely on the kindness that humans can extol at times? G-D, oh G-D, IF YOU are real and exist in our lives, why do i often find myself having such a difficult time recognizing you? i have struggled with all these things the entirety of my nearly 22 year odyssey with you. i keep hanging on because something i cannot explain draws me, drives me, propels me. Some will say it's blindness and deception due to my being queer. Maybe that's true, but i don't believe so. i think it's a natural part of being human and honest.

That's the problem i see in many churches today and with some of those that i have been a part of in the past. People are so busy running around doing and not taking the time to examine their own lives. The busyness takes the place of honest reflection. Honest reflection and examination is where i believe true transformation takes place. It's important to serve others, but if we don't ever take time to get ourselves in order, then how can we truly be effective in helping others and treating others with the love and kindness that G-D commands of us rather than with contempt or an agenda. Sometimes i just feel stuck and become overwhelmed and paralyzed. Then i end up not accomplishing anything. At times i know this is ok too. It's just the ebb and flow of life.

i feel like lately when i pray it's just gibberish i'm saying and not sure really how to pray when i feel like G-D is so random in how G-D chooses to allow or not allow things to happen. Why did G-D set us up to fail so G-D could so gallantly come to redeem us yet still allow all this fucking shit to happen. Life is hard and there is no magic solution but i desire to see more of G-D at work in our midst. i even wonder if i am a deist, where G-D just created us and then left us to figure everything out because i feel like i am reaching so often in the dark and not knowing what i am reaching for if that makes sense.  i have come to the conclusion that at this point i am a Christian Agnostic because i simply cannot sign on the dotted line anymore at this point and ascribe to all the human created doctrines and long-held man-made traditions of Christendom any longer. i know that i am ranting here but this has been inside me for so long that i felt like a tick filled with blood ready to explode all over the place. i am just writing what is deep inside me. i don't claim to have any answers nor do i expect anyone else to either. There just may simply be no answers. i must come to a place of acceptance of that possible reality and i fight it because i hate and loathe it so much. 

i have rambled A LOT and many of my thoughts may not make sense to you. That's ok because i often write for my own processing, but if something does resonate with you, the reader, then that is awesome. If it angers or worries some, i am sorry, but this is my space to be open and honest with what i am processing in my life. i just needed to vent as this has been a long-time coming and i'm sure more will come.

i so deeply resonated with Shea's poem. Thanks so much, Peter, for sharing this on your blog. Here's the raw and honest poem:

A PRAYER OF ANGER

No hymn of praise today.
No hand-clapping alleluia

For the All-Good God
And his marvelous handiwork.
Lord
A child has been born bad.
He gangles and twitches and shames
The undiscovered galaxies of your creation.
Why could not the hands
that strung the stars
Dip into that womb to bless and heal?
Please no voice from Job's Whirlwind
Saying how dare I. I dare!
Yet I know no answer comes
Save that tears dry up, skin knits,
And humans love broken things.
But to you who are always making pacts
You have my word on this -
On the final day of fire
After You have stripped me
(if there is breath left)
I will subpoena You to the stand
In the court of human pain.

John Shea

So, what do you, the reader, think about all this? i don't look for preaching and answers, just honest conversation. Thanks to my readers for taking the time to read, process and journey with me on this odyssey of life. - Existential Punk

We Love You Ken Silva

We Love You Ken Silva

BY Jonathan Brink

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ORIGINALLY POSTED at Jonathan’s blog, Missio Dei, here, on October 26, 2009. Cross-posted here with Jonathan’s permission. Ken Silva has generously mentioned me, Adele, and Queermergent, often at his blogs. He is a huge critic of me and the work of Queermergent. This post has some really balanced words of wisdom that i found to be deeply profound. Jesus admonishes us to love our neighbors, even our enemies, which often end up being in our own Christian family. This post was a jarring wake-up call to me. i hope you will allow yourself to be challenged by the love and honesty Jonathan exults.

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Recently Ken Silva, of Apprising Ministries linked to my site. His post was critical of a post I had written on Bernard Clairvaux’s Four Degrees of Love.  His link completely ignored half of my post, instead choosing to focus on the part that would fit his judgment.  I couldn’t respond on his site because, well…Ken has turned off the comments on his sites.  It doesn’t really bother me.  Ken is introducing people to my blog who I would rarely ever reach so its not all that bad.

It’s kind of strange in some ways being the target of judgment by a fellow brother who knows virtually nothing about me.  Ken has never come to me one on one in private and confronted me, or listened to my side of the story, or why I believe what I write about.  He simply made judgments about me.  In the end, I get people like Ken.

Ken’s only power is in his capacity to scream, shout, and hopefully convince me that I’m a heretic.  I don’t share Ken’s opinions about my theology but it wouldn’t be the first time someone called someone else a heretic.  Jesus was called a heretic.  Luther was called a heretic.  Galileo was called a heretic.  Yet each won out by holding onto truth.  In the end Jesus is my judge and I’m very comfortable with that.  Like I’ve said many times my faith in NOT in my belief system. I don’t think I’m smart enough to figure it ALL out.  I’m very confident that I will get some stuff wrong.  My faith is in the PERSON of Jesus.

And I began thinking about people like Ken, who build an entire identity on judging other Christian’s in the name of God. Who cares that Jesus says don’t do this. It doesn’t really matter. Ken feels that this is what he is called to do. And his power lies in the fact that we respond. We don’t turn the other cheek or walk away from the argument.  I see many friends get pretty upset at his comments.

It actually wasn’t the first time and because I write about Emergence it probably won’t be the last.  Last year, Ken actually came and commented on my site.  It felt kind of strange to be honest. I had written about Phyllis Tickle’s The Great Emergence conference, sharing the dialog on the end of Sola Scriptura.  Much of his judgment over me appears to do with Emergence Christianity.  And to be fair, Ken was very gracious in his comments on my site. He said,

“About three years ago God took me in a different direction. He revealed that what the Emerging Church was doing was absolutely not a move of His, but He allowed it to provoke His followers to finally stand up for the genuine Gospel of Jesus Christ. And so Apprising Ministries was born.

So Jonathan since we’re diametrically opposed, which of our subjective “feelings” is really from God ? Something serious to think about.”

And I said,

“I guess the only real test is the fruit of our ministries Ken. I would say this. If what I am doing does not produce love then I am the one who is in the wrong.”

I absolutely believe in what I said. Ten years from now the emerging church will look radically different, but it will only be true if it produces a theology based on love.

But these two experiences got me thinking. What would be the best way to approach Ken and those in the future? What would be the best way to reveal the love that I was talking about? People like Ken need to know the love. They need to know what it feels like to have someone turn the other cheek. They need to know what it feels like when we don’t fire back with a smart, quick, snappy, yet angry answer that only seems to produce more heat.

In the words of the poet, Lenny Kravitz, “Let Love Rule.”So when Ken Silva comes to my site, the ONLY response I will give him is, “We Love You Ken Silva.” If he throws heat…”We Love You Ken Silva.” If he offends my mother…”We Love You Ken Silva.” If he says I am going to hell…”We Love You Ken Silva.” It’s that simple. I’m going to resist the urge to pop off with some witty comment that would make my mother proud.

I invite you to join me if you so wish.  Steal the banner if you need to.  It’s meant to be harmless in a fun way.  Do we in the emerging church really stand for something or are we just gonna talk about it all day? Is the kingdom really about love? This is our opportunity to show some love to a brother who really needs it. Simple, clean fun my friends. Now lets get lovin’.

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I am Managing Director of Thrive Ministries, a non-profit ministry focusing on creating missional discipleship communities and spiritual formation.  We help people exploring what it means to really follow Jesus in his mission of restoration and reconciliation. We’ve developed a transformational process that looks deeply into what it means to be human in a broken world.

I am a son, a husband, and a father.  I live in Folsom, Ca, with my beautiful wife and amazing three children. I thank my Father every day for them. I’ve finally come to realize the value of relationship and cherish the one’s I have, especially my brothers in the journey.

I have a BA in Bible from William Jessup University and an MA in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University.

This blog focuses on the idea of Missio Dei, or Mission of God. It flows out of my work in ministry and what it means to follow Jesus.

You can reach me at jb_at_thriven_dot_org.

Camp Courage Sacramento

UPDATE: Sorry to say that something came up and i was unable to attend this event. i was able to donate a little bit of money. Life just hits you in ways sometimes that suck!

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Saddened and angry about the anti-equalitty vote in Maine on Tuesday but excited about the progress we made in Kalamazoo and Washington state, i was am REALLY excited to be participating in the following grassroots training this weekend. i really want to be an active participant in seeing marriage equality restored in California. If you are in Sacramento or nearby, PLEASE consider signing up and joining us! Allies welcome too!

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Welcome to Camp Courage Sacramento! 

We can't wait to meet you, work with you, and learn from you this weekend as we continue the important work of helping build a movement for marriage equality and social change across California.



Inspired by the "Camp Obama" trainings that powered neighbor-to-neighbor organizing across America in 2008, Camp Courage is an intensive two-day training designed to teach the principles and skills of community organizing to activists working to restore marriage equality to California.

Drawing on techniques honed for decades by progressive social movements, Camp Courage teaches empowerment, team building, leadership development, and grassroots organizing skills.

We are humbled by the response to Camp Courage Sacramento and we are looking forward to your involvement as well as your feedback so that future Camp Courage trainings can be even better.

Camp Courage Sacramento is just hours away. And here is everything you need to know before we see each other on Saturday morning:

CAMP COURAGE SACRAMENTO

WHEN: Saturday, November 7, and Sunday, November 8

Full-day participation required both Saturday and Sunday. Please also allow extra travel time so you can be on time to the opening session.

8:30-9 a.m.: Registration. DON'T BE LATE!
9 a.m.: SHARP! Training begins
5:30 p.m.: Training ends

WHERE:
Elks Tower
921 11th Street, Suite 210 (2nd Floor)
Sacramento, CA 95812

MAP: http://tinyurl.com/SacramentoCamp

PARKING: City Hall Garage (11th & I). Weekend Rates: $5 daily maximum charge

FOOD: A small continental breakfast will be provided but it is necessary for participants to bring their own lunch to Camp Courage on both Saturday and Sunday. As lunch time is limited and there will be no time to leave the Camp venue to purchase lunch, please make arrangements before you arrive at Camp to bring lunch with you.

STONEWALL DEMOCRATS SATURDAY NIGHT SOCIAL RECEPTION: Join your fellow leaders, facilitators and activists at a mixer directly following Camp Courage on Saturday evening, starting at 6:30 p.m. The Stonewall Democrats are graciously sponsoring this event, organized by fellow activists Cooper Rae and Steve Hansen, at The Verge Art Gallery in Downtown Sacramento.  There will a number of special guest speakers, including local politicians. Come network with other Sacramento area activists and start making plans to restore marriage equality to California.

The address of The Verge is 1900 V St., Sacramento, CA 95818. There is ample free parking both in a parking lot there and on the street.  Food and beverage will be provided, including alcoholic beverages for our guests 21 and over. A $10 donation is requested but not required.

NEED A PLACE TO STAY?: The Greens Hotel, a hip boutique hotel in Sacramento, is giving a 20% discount for Camp Courage participants. Please mention the "Camp Courage" discount rate when making your reservation:

http://www.thegreenshotel.com

NEED A RIDE? SPECIAL OFFER ON TRANSPORTATION NEEDS: To make Camp more accessible for those commuting, Sacramento activist Mario Guerrero, Camp Courage Sacramento Transportation Coordinator, is organizing carpools.

If you are interested in finding transportation to the Camp Courage training or if you are able to provide transportation, please contact Mario and let him know. Please contact him and tell him who you are, where you are coming from, and whether you need or can give a ride. He will then match you up with people from your area.

Please contact Mario Guerrero ASAP at mg544@cornell.edu.

ACTION BOARD: Many participants already work or volunteer with one of the organizations working on marriage equality. We are providing an Action Board where each group can post information about upcoming actions and activities.

If you have any additional questions about the training, please direct them to "CampCourage@couragecampaign.org".

Thanks so much, and we look forward to meeting you this weekend!

Mike Bonin
Camp Courage Program Director
 
 

The Courage Campaign is part of the Courage Campaign's online organizing network that empowers more than 700,000 grassroots and netroots supporters to push for progressive change and full equality in California and across the country. 

'Evolving in Monkey Town'

My dear friend, Rachel Held Evans, has her first book coming out next year. She was kind enough to interview me for the book and i made the final cut! i am honored and wish to share the details of her work with you. From her blog:

"Over 80 years after the Scopes Monkey Trial made a mockery of Christian fundamentalism and a spectacle of her hometown of Dayton, Tennessee, award-winning writer Rachel Held Evans explains how evangelicalism survived by successfully adapting to a modern environment.

As a result, the conservative Christian community so embraced modern rationalism that Evans grew up in a culture obsessed with apologetics and the Apostle’s call to “always be ready with an answer” in defense of the faith.

But when rehearsed answers to tough questions about religious pluralism, human suffering, biblical interpretation, science, heaven, and hell fail to quiet her own doubts, Evans finds herself in the midst of a faith crisis that forces her to reconsider all she thought she knew about God.

Evans concludes that if her faith and the faith of her generation is to survive in a postmodern world, it must once again adapt to its environment and evolve.

In a changing culture where new ideas threaten the safety and security of the faith, Evolving in Monkey Town: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask the Questions is a fearlessly honest story of survival."

Release Date: June, 2010

Publisher: Zondervan

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