With "Faith After Doubt: Why Your Beliefs Stopped Working and What to Do About It," noted theologian Brian D. McLaren adds structure to a theological landscape explored with heartfelt vulnerability by the late Rachel Held Evans, whose book "Searching for Sunday" feels as if it's constantly in the shadows throughout this engaging, informative work that continues McLaren's long-standing commitment to creating a path toward faith that is mature, fruitful, and centered squarely in love.

The challenge of writing a book that constantly reminds one of Rachel Held Evans is, of course, the fact that she covered the material so beautifully and, of course, the fact that her recent passing lingers in the hearts and minds of those who loved and respected her work.

"Faith After Doubt" never quite reaches the level of emotional and intellectual resonance as did Held Evans, though it's certainly a meaningful work by one of this generation's most gifted authors and speaks existing within the realm of what is considered a more progressive Christianity.

While Held Evans largely centered "Searching for Sunday" within a theological exploration of her own journey, McLaren's "Faith After Doubt" is, I think it's fair to say, a more intellectual pursuit that finds its foundation with McLaren's proposition of a four-stage model of faith development that embraces the idea of doubt rather than considering it the enemy of faith. The four stages - Simplicity, Complexity, Perplexity, and Harmony - offer a path forward that McLaren believes can help sincere people leave behind unnecessary baggage and, instead, intensify their commitment to what matters most.

McLaren believes that doubt can, in fact, save the world and save one's faith. "Faith After Doubt" explores this belief, McLaren offering his usual weaving together of his rich humanity and critical thinking to create valuable insights into both personal and universal truths. As always, McLaren's a storyteller and he pulls from his years as a pastor along with his more recent years as a writer, speaker, and activist. "Faith After Doubt" is at its most immersive when McLaren is weaving his personal stories into the discussion. "Faith After Doubt" is, at times, a little less engaging when we find ourselves whipping back-and-forth between the various stages and even various degrees of various stages. While I'm all for critical thought, at times it feels like there's more emphasis on doubt than faith.

The only other aspect of "Faith After Doubt" that I occasionally found distracting came as a result of McLaren's years as a respected Christian voice as once in a while those stories involved other familiar voices giving "Faith After Doubt" a feeling of name-dropping.

McLaren has long been a voice for progressive theology and "Faith After Doubt" shares the costs for those early doubts and questions that weren't accepted within his conservative evangelical upbringing and in the early churches and Christian circles where he found himself. Indeed, the cost was great. Yet, perhaps, it is precisely this journey that makes McLaren such an essential voice - he's been speaking out and living these truths since long before progressive theology became visible and he's openly embraced the younger voices who've since surfaced and given those questions, doubts, and challenges new light. There's simply no doubt that McLaren continues to be one of the most respected of contemporary progressive Christian writers and speakers.

While I had some minor concerns with "Faith After Doubt," the entire dialogue is so essential and valuable that it's easy to set them aside. In addition to exploring his material, McLaren ends each chapter with exercises that help integrate the material and apply it to daily life.

Additionally, I'd dare say that one of my favorite parts of the book is at the end as we experience multiple appendices and resources that are beautifully written and offer places to go for those who embrace McLaren's teachings here. I was just having a conversation with a friend the other day over lunch about the difficulty one has in finding progressive worship experiences that vibrate with the life and energy that we used to feel in our more conservative evangelical churches.

I've long resonated with McLaren's teachings and "Faith After Doubt" is the next step in a journey he's been sharing for years. It feels as if it's one of McLaren's more accessible works, simultaneously intellectual in structure yet infused with life experience and meaningful stories. Most likely to resonate with those familiar with McLaren's works or those who embrace a more progressive theology or, at minimum, those who can embrace that doubt is a valuable part of the faith journey, "Faith After Doubt" meets the reader where they're at and helps equip them to get where they want to go.

This is the book that I could have used years ago, definitely one I needed right now Everyone should read this book. Even non-believers. This book strengthened me. Faith is such a personal thing, and yet we are taught all these ways of achieving faith that could actually hurt us in the long run. Such as accepting one doctrine or belief system at the cost of any others. This book was so good about confronting doubt, embracing doubt. The former pastor shared his story, along with others he had encountered over the years. Insightful. He describes faith in different stages, and offers many appendices as a “cheat sheet” of sorts. But above all "faith expressing itself in love". A great book, and a definite keeper for me to return to again and again.