J

The Myth of the American Dream by D. L. Mayfield is a collection of essays that challenges the reader to examine the values of affluence, autonomy, safety, and power that shape the American culture and lifestyle. Mayfield draws from her personal experiences of living and working with refugee communities in the United States, as well as her theological reflections and biblical insights, to expose the ways that these values are often incompatible with Jesus' command to love our neighbor as ourselves. She also invites the reader to consider how these values have failed those on the margins of society, and how we can disentangle ourselves from pursuing them at the expense of others. Mayfield writes with honesty, vulnerability, and prophetic courage, calling us to rethink our assumptions and practices in light of the gospel and the kingdom of God.

Fire by Night by Melissa Florer-Bixler is a book that explores the meaning and relevance of the Old Testament for Christians today. The author, a Mennonite pastor, challenges the common assumptions and stereotypes about the Old Testament as a violent, legalistic, and irrelevant text. She invites readers to discover the beauty, wisdom, and complexity of the stories, laws, and rituals that shaped the faith of Israel and Jesus. She shows how the Old Testament can inspire us to live more faithfully, creatively, and compassionately in our world today.

This book was absolutely delightful and heartwarming! It left me with a great big smile on my face!

Spiritual Sobriety by Elizabeth Esther is a book that explores the concept of addiction to religion and how to recover from it. The author shares her own personal story of growing up in a fundamentalist cult and the emotional and spiritual damage that it caused her. She also offers practical advice and guidance for anyone who struggles with religious trauma, codependency, or perfectionism. The book is written in a clear and compassionate way, with honesty and vulnerability. The author does not shy away from the hard questions or the painful aspects of her journey, but she also shows hope and healing for those who seek it. The book is not only for people who have experienced extreme forms of religious abuse but also for anyone who feels dissatisfied or disillusioned with their faith. The book challenges the reader to examine their own beliefs and motivations and to find a healthy and authentic relationship with God and themselves. The book is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to break free from toxic religion and find spiritual sobriety.

My friend Billie wrote an indepth review here if you need it: https://open.substack.com/pub/billieiswriting/p/fac?r=4m25&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

Bad theology kills.

Trouble I've Seen: Changing the Way the Church Views Racism is a book by theologian and blogger Drew G. I. Hart, with a foreword by Christena Cleveland. The book challenges white Christians to reexamine their assumptions and attitudes about race and justice in the light of the gospel and the experiences of people of color. Hart analyzes the historical and contemporary manifestations of white supremacy in the U.S., such as police brutality, mass incarceration, anti-black stereotypes, poverty, and everyday acts of racism. He also offers concrete practices for churches that seek solidarity with the oppressed and are committed to racial justice. The book is based on Hart's personal journey of faith and activism, as well as his scholarly research and pastoral experience. Hart invites readers to listen to the stories of those on the racialized margins and to be transformed by the trouble they've seen.

Good Enough: 40ish Devotionals for a Life of Imperfection by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie is a witty and insightful book that explores the paradoxes of modern life through 40ish short spiritual reflections. The book is a companion for when you want to stop feeling guilty that you're not living your best life now.

Bowler, a historian and memoirist, reflects on her own experiences of living with stage IV cancer, parenting a young child, and navigating the pressures of work and faith. She challenges the myths of self-improvement, productivity, and happiness that pervade our culture and offers a more realistic and compassionate way of being in the world. She writes with humor, honesty, and grace, inviting readers to embrace the messiness and beauty of their own lives.

The authors offer fresh imagination for how truth, beauty, and meaning can be discovered amidst the chaos of life. Their words celebrate kindness, honesty, and interdependence in a culture that rewards ruthless individualism and blind optimism. Ultimately, in these pages, we can rest in the encouragement to strive for what is possible today—while recognizing that though we are finite, the life in front of us can be beautiful.

Jane Lynch as Narrator was perfect! This was hilarious! Highly recommend!

Freedom under the Word: Karl Barth's Theological Exegesis is a collection of essays by various scholars who critically engage with Barth's interpretation of Christian Scripture and its implications for contemporary hermeneutics and biblical studies. The book covers Barth's career chronologically, from his early commentaries on Romans and Ephesians to his mature dogmatics on the doctrines of God, creation, and reconciliation. The contributors explore how Barth's theological exegesis is shaped by his Christocentric approach, his dialectical method, his ecclesial context, and his ethical concerns. The book also highlights some of the rare texts from the Barth corpus, such as his lectures on James, Isaiah, and Revelation, and his exegesis of Genesis 2:8-17 and Hebrews 11. Some examples of the topics discussed in the book are Barth's rewriting of Romans in light of the First World War, Barth's relation to the historical-critical method of biblical scholarship, Barth's use of the Johannine prologue to articulate his doctrine of God, Barth's understanding of Israel and the church in Romans 9-11, and Barth's eschatological vision in Revelation 4-5. The book aims to show the legacy and potential of Barth's theology for contemporary hermeneutics and biblical interpretation, as well as to stimulate further dialogue between Barth scholars and biblical scholars.

How to Human: Three Ways to Share Life Beyond What Distracts, Divides, and Disconnects Us by Carlos Whittaker is a book that offers a fresh vision for becoming the best versions of ourselves. Whittaker writes with humor, passion, and wisdom, and he invites the reader to join him on a journey of discovery and growth. The book is a much-needed reminder about what it means to be truly human in a world where people feel increasingly disconnected from each other and from God.

Whittaker shares his insights and experiences on living authentically and intentionally in a world full of distractions, divisions, and disconnections. He leads us on a three-part journey to “be,” “see,” and “free” that we can pursue in order to all live together as the best versions of ourselves. Whittaker uses stories from his own life and from people he has met to illustrate how these practices can transform our relationships, our communities, and ourselves. He doesn't avoid hard topics, such as racism, mental health, and social media addiction, but he also shows the beauty and joy of living in connection with God and others. He challenges the reader to rethink their assumptions, habits, and priorities, and to embrace a more human way of living.

He also offers practical tips and challenges for readers to apply the lessons to their own lives. The book offers practical guidance on how to help others, how to hope fiercely, and how to experience the thrill of being fully human.

Love over Fear: Facing Monsters, Befriending Enemies, and Healing Our Polarized World by Dan White Jr. offers a compelling guide to conquering fear with love in an age of polarization. The book is a collection of stories of those who changed hearts and minds through radical love, and it teaches how to practice disarming compassion and discover the disruptive power of showing affection to monsters.

Author Dan White Jr. is a pastor, author, and speaker who has worked with churches and non-profits for over two decades. He is also the author of Subterranean: Why the Future of the Church is Rootedness.

Love over Fear challenges readers to examine their own biases and assumptions about people who are different from them. White argues that fear is the root of many conflicts and divisions in our society, and that love is the only way to overcome it. He shares stories from his own journey of learning to love people across various lines of difference, such as race, religion, politics, and sexuality. He also offers practical steps and exercises to help the reader cultivate a posture of love and empathy towards others.

The God Who Sees by Karen Gonzalez is a memoir that explores the author's journey as an immigrant, a Christian, and a woman. Gonzalez shares her personal stories of leaving Guatemala, finding a new home in the US, and discovering her faith in God. She also reflects on the biblical narratives of immigrants and refugees, such as Hagar, Ruth, Joseph, and Jesus. She challenges the reader to see these stories from a different perspective and to recognize the God who sees and loves the marginalized and oppressed.

Gonzalez does not shy away from sharing her struggles, doubts, and questions. She also does not offer easy answers or solutions but invites the reader to join her in seeking God's presence and justice in a broken world. The book is not only a personal testimony, but also a theological exploration of what it means to be an immigrant and a follower of Christ. Gonzalez draws from various sources, such as history, sociology, culture, and Scripture, to illuminate the realities and experiences of immigrants and refugees.

The God Who Sees is a powerful and inspiring book that will challenge and encourage anyone who reads it. It is especially relevant for those who want to learn more about immigration issues, or who want to deepen their understanding of God's heart for the vulnerable and the displaced. The book will make you see yourself, your neighbor, and your God in a new light.

I'm definitely more inclined to believe his side of the story. I enjoyed listening to him read the audiobook which I was able to borrow through my public library.

Suzanne Collins is a really good storyteller who makes me keep reading these books even though they are so depressing. What I really want is the alternate reality where the main character in this book really does let the goodness in him overcome the other stuff...

Context:
Dr. Marcella Altaus-Reid, born in 1952, grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She studied Liberation Theology during the political conflict in that part of South America in the 1970s as she earned a Bachelor of Theology degree at Instituto Superior Evangelico de Estudios Teologicos (ISEDET) seminary. She also worked in “deprived communities” in Latin America and Britain (4-5). She completed a Ph.D. at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland in 1994 where she continued focusing on Liberation Theology, Feminist Theology, and Queer Theology. Indecent Theology was her first book, published in 2000. At that time she was a Lecturer in Christian Ethics and Practical Theology at the University of Edinburgh.

Intended audience:
Altaus-Reid must have intended her audience to be fellow academics or graduate students who are extremely well-educated and well-read, not only in theology in general but in “Sexual Theory (Butler; Sedgwick; Garber), Postcolonial criticism (Fanon, Cabral, Said), Queer studies and theologies (Stuart; Goss; Weeks; Daly), Marxist studies (Laclau and Mouffe; Dussel), Continental Philosophy (Derrida; Deleuze and Guattari; Baudrillard) and Systematic Theology” (7). I have studied literary theory, some philosophy, and lots of theology for many years, and I still struggled to understand everything she was saying!

The main argument:
Altaus-Reid calls this “a book on Sexual Political Theology” and argues that we need to go beyond where the previous Liberation theologies and Feminist theologies had gone, to what she calls “Indecent Theology” (7). She defines Indecent Theology as “a theology which problematises and undresses the mythical layers of multiple oppression in Latin America, a theology which, finding its point of departure at the crossroads of Liberation Theology and Queer Thinking, will reflect on economic and theological oppression with passion and imprudence” (2). She sees traditional norms of “decency and order” as propping up multiple structures of life in her country and continent. She names those structures as “ecclesiological, theological, political and amatory” (2). She says her purpose is not to completely demolish Liberation Theology but to apply the contextual hermeneutical circle of suspicion in-depth, stating that it needs to be a “continuing process of re-contextualisation, a permanent exercise of serious doubting in theology” (5). Therefore she sees her work as a continuation and disruption of Liberation Theology (5). She wants readers to understand that “sexual constructions” are all tied up in political and economic (and theological) agendas so in order to disrupt the hegemonization of theology, we must question what has been considered “sexual normative ideology” (7).

Rating?
I'm not sure what rating to give this on here. I certainly do not agree with her all the time. But this is an important book to read if you are interested in queer theology. So I'm going to rate it more on its importance in the field than on how much I personally liked it. And I'm knocking it down one star because it is so incredibly dense and full of jargon and references that are not usually explained very well, if at all.

You're definitely going to want to listen to the audiobook for this one. So good.

I highly recommend this book!

Father Patrick Cheng is an Episcopal priest, lawyer, and theologian in NYC. He teaches some classes at the Episcopal Divinity School at Union Theological Seminary and serves as an Associate Priest at The Church of the Transfiguration, a “historic Anglo-Catholic parish in Midtown Manhattan.” Cheng has degrees from Yale College, Harvard Law School, and Union Theological Seminary where James Cone was his doctoral adviser and mentor (vii).

This is a great book for anyone who wants to learn more about queer theory and theology! Cheng provided study questions and references for future study at the end of each main section, making it “ideal for self-study, for religious studies, theology, and queer studies classes, or for adult education in parishes and congregations” (xi).

Cheng uses the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed as a framework to talk about the doctrine of God as “the sending forth of radical love” (ch. 3), the doctrine of Jesus Christ as “the recovery of radical love” (ch 4.), and the doctrine of the Holy Spirit as “the return to radical love” (ch. 5). The subsections of these chapters include the following doctrines:

Revelation - God's coming out as radical love
God as radical love itself
Trinity - an internal community of radical love
Creation - God's outpouring of radical love
Sin - the rejection of radical love
Jesus Christ - the embodiment of radical love
Mary - the bearer of radical love
Atonement - the ending of scapegoating through radical love
Holy Spirit - points us toward radical love
Church - an external community of radical love
Saints - the breaking through of radical love
Sacraments - a foretaste of radical love
Last things - the horizon of radical love

Unraptured by Zack Hunt is a memoir of the author's journey from being a devout evangelical Christian to a progressive follower of Jesus. Hunt shares his personal stories of growing up in the Bible Belt, attending a conservative Christian college, and struggling with doubts and questions about his faith. He also explores the history and theology of American evangelicalism, and how it has shaped the culture and politics of the United States. Hunt writes with honesty, humor, and compassion, as he invites readers to join him in reimagining Christianity as a way of love, justice, and peace. Unraptured is a book for anyone who has ever felt disillusioned by the church, or curious about what it means to follow Jesus in the 21st century.

Yikes. I get imagining what Jesus as a child may have been like, doing miracles and such. But killing people who made him angry? Not so much.

Grace Can Lead Us Home is a must-read that will challenge your assumptions about homelessness, its causes, and potential solutions. Author Kevin Nye is the assistant director of programs at The Center in Hollywood, a non-religious non-profit providing services and advocacy for people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles.

Nye argues that homelessness is a problem of unaffordable housing, and no matter how they end up homeless, all people deserve the resources they need, including housing. He explores the complex and interconnected issues that contribute to homelessness, such as affordable housing, mental illness, addiction, trauma, and systemic injustice. Nye does not shy away from the hard questions or the messy realities, but he also offers hope and grace to both the unhoused and the housed. He writes, “By drawing readers back to the biblical vision of justice, Kevin Nye gives readers a new lens for seeing their unhoused neighbors.”

In chapter four Nye talks about the disproportionate number of LGBTQ youth who are unhoused, in large part due to being kicked out of their homes. Sadly, even if they go to shelters, they aren't always safe, especially trans women. Many faith-based shelters are explicitly non-affirming and trans women are forced to sleep in rooms with cisgender men “puts them at direct risk for targeted violence.”

“As the battles over LGBTQ+ affirmation rage on in Christian institutions, we cannot lose sight of the physical and psychological harm we are inflicting on people whom God loves. Our limited theological imaginations, which prioritize how we think and feel about sexuality and gender identity over how we value the actual lives of fellow bearers of the divine image, is driving LGBTQ+ people to homelessness and all its subsequent harms.”

Grace Can Lead Us Home

“We must push for solutions that actually end homelessness, rather than ones that simply push it out of sight and out of mind.”

Lord Willing? by Jessica Kelley is a memoir and a theological exploration that challenges the traditional view of God's sovereignty and providence. The author shares her personal story of losing her four-year-old son to brain cancer and how that tragedy led her to question the idea that God wills everything that happens. She argues that God is not the author of evil, but rather a loving and relational being who gives humans and angels free will and works with them to bring about his good purposes. She also explores the biblical and historical evidence for her view, as well as the implications for prayer, suffering, and hope. Lord Willing? is suitable for anyone who has ever wondered about God's role in the world, especially in the face of evil and suffering.

Everyone needs to read this book. (Unless this is your lived experience).

256 pages, Published in 2015; theological anthropology

Moltmann's writing is dense, not for the faint of heart. But that doesn't mean it's not worth reading, (You just might need to be a bit of a theology nerd). In this book, he elaborates on earlier works on the doctrine of God and Spirit. But this means he assumes you've already read his earlier work and are familiar with his theology.

Here is the chapter breakdown and outline:

PART ONE: The Living God

Chapter 1. The Living God
- How Can God Be Both Living and Eternal?
- The Eternal God
- The Living God

Chapter 2. God's Attributes: The Living God and Attributes of Divinity
- Is God Immovable?
- Is God Impassible?
- Is God Almighty?
- Is God Omnipresent?
- The Prohibition of Images: The Living God

Chapter 3. The Living God in the History of Christ
- The One God: What Unity?
- The Living Space of the Triune God
- The History of God in Christ

PART TWO: The Fullness of Life

Chapter 4: This Eternal Life
- In the Fellowship of the Divine Life
- In the Fellowship of the Living and the Dead
- In the Fellowship of the Earth

Chapter 5: Life in the Wide Space of God`s Joy
- God's Joy
- The Birth of Religion Out of the Festival of Life
- Christianity: Religion of Joy
- The Joy of the God Who Seeks and Finds
- Human Joy: Joy and Fun
- Joy and Human Pain: Schiller and Dostoevsky
- Nietzsche's “Deep, Deep Eternity”

Chapter 6: Freedom Lived in Solidarity
- Freedom or God? Michael Bakunin and Carl Schmitt
- The God of the Exodus and the Resurrection
- God's Freedom
- Human Freedom in God

Chapter 7: Freedom Experienced in Open Friendship
- What Is Friendship?
- In the Friendship of Jesus
- God's Friends
- Open Friendship for a Friendlier World

Chapter 8. The Loved and Loving life
- The Doctrine of Suffering (Buddha) and the Doctrine of Love (Paul)
- God's Love and Human Love for God
- Love for Life
- Maximus Confessor and the Erotic Universe

Chapter 9: A Spirituality of the Senses
- The Spirituality of the Soul—The Spirituality of the Senses
- The Human Senses
- The Diminution and Attrition of the Senses
- The Waking and Awakening of the Senses
- Praying and Watching

Chapter 10: Hoping and Thinking
- Thinking Means Transcending
- Hoping and Perceiving: Hegel and “Minerva´s Owl” and Aurora's Lark
- Hoping and Thinking: The Productive Power of the Imagination

Chapter 11. Life: A Never-Ending Festival
- The Risen Christ Makes of Human Life a Never-Ending Festival
- The Festive Life
- Truth as Prayer

Moltmann's focus here seems to be on the Unity or unifying activity of God/God's spirit in bringing creation into union with God.

I am 100% on board with Hersey ‘s thesis: “Rest is a form of resistance because it disrupts and pushes back against capitalism and white supremacy.” I agree with her that, “Grind culture has made us all human machines, willing and ready to donate our lives to a capitalist system that thrives by placing profits over people. The Rest Is Resistance movement is a connection and a path back to our true nature.”

I love several quotes throughout the book like this:
“We see care as unnecessary and unimportant. We believe we don't really have to rest. We falsely believe hard work guarantees success in a capitalist system. I have been told this constantly for as long as I can remember. On nights when I worked two jobs, still unable to pay my bills on time or save, I continued to tell myself, “Burn the midnight oil, keep working hard, go to college, find a third job and a side hustle.” (24)

My only complaint is that at just under 200 pages, it was repetitive enough to have been edited down into a really solid essay. But her message is so important. Hershey talks about how capitalism has devalued human life and rather than work ourselves to death we need to prioritize rest, resisting the pressure to be another cog in a machine.

Living Brave by Shannon Dingle is a searing memoir that chronicles the author's journey through loss, trauma, abuse, spiritual reawakening, and deep pain. Dingle, a writer and disability advocate, shares her experiences of surviving sexual abuse and trafficking as a child, which left her with lasting disabilities and PTSD. She also recounts the tragic day when her husband, Lee, was killed by a rogue wave while they were on vacation with their six children, four of whom are adopted and have special needs. She describes the aftermath of his death, the challenges of being a single parent and a widow, and the ways she coped with her grief and anger.

In addition, she explores her faith shifts that put her at odds with the evangelical church that had been her home for most of her life, and how she learned to embrace a more inclusive and progressive Christianity. She also discusses how she learned to use her voice, take a stand for justice, especially for marginalized communities, and honor the wisdom of her body, which had been violated and shamed by others. Living Brave is a powerful and inspiring book that gives women permission to wrestle with difficult topics, enact change from a place of strong faith, and find hope in a hopeless world.