This past weekend, I came across my high school diary. The last entry was from my 17-year old self, grappling with the hypocrisy of Christianity and the improbability of a god existing. I mention in this entry that the only reason I even want to believe is because I am terrified of eternal damnation.

And there is the rub.

Fear of hell is, largely, what keeps most skeptical Christians religious. If you take away that fear, what real motive is there to believe? Perhaps to find comfort in the face of the unknown; to make excuses for the terrible things that happen while staying true to your faith. After all, who wants to believe in a god that lets awful things happen? It has to be part of a larger plan, right? The sad truth is that it's not, and facing reality is not something a lot of people have the mental strength to do. Fiction is far more preferable.

Enter: religion.

I have been a part of a movement I didn't even know existed until now, since I was a teenager: the Exvangelical movement. I grew up Protestant and went to an Evangelical church, but I never understood how people could actually believe what was being taught. I had no emotional connection to it, and despite going to a Christian school for the first half of my school years, I recognized the complete lack of logic and denial of reality early on. Carbon dating has shown the Earth to be far older than 2000 years. If humans are living for less than 100 years on average now, with all of the medical advances and interventions, how was it possible for humans to be hundreds of years old in the Bible? (It wasn't.) And then there's purity culture, which I don't have much energy to write about in this review, other than the fact that a) it makes absolutely no logical sense to not form an intimate relationship with someone prior to committing your entire life to them, and b) reproduction is our entire purpose for existing from a scientific standpoint. Teaching people to deny very natural feelings and desires never ends well and is nothing but a tool of power and control.

Religion clashed with logic, and logic won out for me.

And then there's the biggest clash of logic: "Evangelicals" who support Trump. Unfortunately, there is quite a bit about Trump in this book, but it's important to discuss because his run in 2016 has greatly shaped a rise in both the Evangelical and Exvangelical movements. Suddenly, the people throwing purity rings at women think a pathological liar with numerous rape allegations, divorces, and extramarital affairs with porn stars is the second coming of Christ. It doesn't make logical sense, and it never will. The logical Evangelicals have distanced themselves from the group, while the delusional ones have doubled down and essentially made MAGA their religion. They've somehow managed to (try to) justify their hatred with the Bible, manipulating its messaging as they see fit and ignoring the parts they don't want to abide by.

McCammon's lived experience, and that of those she interviewed, is essential to this book. While it was a difficult and triggering read, I also found it very insightful and even at times cathartic. For the first time, I heard stories of religious trauma that mirrored my own. I understood on a very deep level what she and other Exvangelicals have lived through and how difficult it was to come out on the other side. None of us have left unscathed, but I suppose that's the beauty of sharing personal experiences: you realize you are not alone, not even close.

I would also recommend Kate Cohen's "We of Little Faith: Why I Stopped Pretending to Believe (And Maybe You Should Too)" as a supplemental read if you enjoyed this book, as it touches on the better aspects of religion (community/connectedness, tradition, etc.) that you can, in fact, satisfy *without* religion.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced audiobook copy of The Exvangelicals.

This is a book for everyone who's questioned the world and the views that they've been raised into. This book is all about seeing things from outside your world views and how that impacts your life.

When I saw this audiobook available on NetGalley, I requested it so fast! The Exvangelicals by Sarah McCammon covers the whole of her journey from growing up in an evangelical church in the Midwest to her life as a journalist, deconstructing her faith and creating something of her own. People across the nation have been leaving the church in droves and McCammon uses this book to cover the history of Evangelicals and point out why Christians are looking for something different from the religion that's been in place for centuries. She relates memories from her childhood and young adult years when she began to question her faith to her first marriage and life as a journalist that further showed her a change was needed.

I found this book entirely fascinating due to my own personal journey with the Christian faith. I related to all aspects of McCammon's upbringing and her doubts of what she believes. She brings up Christian books that were popular in the nineties and early 2000s that I knew very well and quotes a lot of popular Christian singers from that time that have had a similar journey and I loved seeing that too! I've previously read all of Rachel Held Evans' books and it was touching to see her admiration for the late author. This will be a good book for the library!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is a journalistic look at the Exvangelical movement from someone who lived it. I listened to it because of its cover and thought is was more memoir than a non-fiction book about the movement. I was unprepared for her to sound like a radio journalist. But it's because she is a journalist for NPR. Once I made the connection I was able to follow along better. I would highly recommend this to anyone unfamiliar with the "deconstruction" or "exvangelical" movement. Sarah carefully takes us through the roots of the evangelical movement and how it intertwined with her life. Many of us who grew up in the world of homeschooling in the 90's were told to work and government and "take it back" Sarah followed that path all the way out of evangelicalism. I wish this had more of her personal story, but maybe that is a separate book to come at a later date. I constantly paused the audio to write down articles, books and people she mentioned along her journey. I will be buying a hard copy to have on hand.

It was pretty clear to me quickly after I started listening to this one that it was not exactly what I had hoped. I was looking for a more objective approach to religion as someone who has seen the extremes. This feels more like another religious person that has just decided to not agree to some of the harmful behavior the church but not all. Thank you for the opportunity.

This book was very interesting. It was written by and looks at the evangelical life by one who lived it and left it. Her story is intertwined with the stories of other people who have left the evangelical church for different reasons. The book is gentle on the church, while also critical about its faults. While I was listening to the audio, my husband came in and sat, transfixed, listening to the rest of the book with me. It is a good story, well told.

The Exvangelicals was a balance between being McCammon's memoir and a study in how those raised in the evangelical church are impacted. While McCammon shares a bit about her upbringing in the church, she also bridges the gap by quoting others who are dealing with their break from evangelical churches. She speaks with those who are still Christians and those who have left Christianity altogether. I found her perspective to be interesting. She acknowledges the positives of the evangelical movement, but also loops that in to explain why it contributes to the trauma of leaving the church or "deconstructing" as many call it.

It is no easy thing to talk about the subject of this book: the quiet voice that lingers in the minds of those who grew up in an evangelical sphere during the past generations. It’s never kind & never sounds like God, but men who wish they WERE God. It sounds a lot like shame. The amount of trauma that was & is dealt by hands that should reflect Jesus’ own scarred ones is horrendous. As someone who grew up in a very similar way to the author (though with parents who were CERTAINLY not as severe), I resonated with so much that was said here in the Exvangelicals.

There are many important topics brought up in this book to make those who are reflecting on their church & faith experience feel seen & understood. The interviews & different takes bring a wide spectrum of understanding to a multifaceted issue. I loved the emphasis on the spectrum-like nature of looking at “deconstruction”. As someone who DOES still believe in God, but who just resents certain aspects of the westernized Church, there was no aura of utter hatred for God or Christianity, just critiques & introspection. The reminder of the lack of love many groups receive from a body of people, who’s literal functioning is to be the arms & feet of a Christ who chose to love the poor, the broken, & the the outcasts of his day, fuels me with pain. The author does a wonderful job at describing the issue at hand, & also the thoughts & feelings of those who are walking with the aftermath of it. Relatable & poignant, I believe this book will be an excellent addition to the conversation that is deconstruction.

I’m grateful to have been able to listen to this. May we remember the tables that Jesus sat at: with “sinners”—with those he loved.

“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, & God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.” -1 Corinthians 1:27

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for this arc & the chance to read this book.

Thought provoking book.

Sarah McCammon writes a book that is partially a memoir of her own experiences surrounding evangelicalism, and partially an examination of the people who are leaving the evangelical church, their reasons for doing so, and where they are now with their faith. She speaks very critically (and rightly so in my opinion) about James Dobson and Focus on the Family, which was the preeminent authority figure during the 80s-early 2000s, right at the time I was personally growing up and then raising my children. McCammon also touches on topics such as science, the end times, politics (primarily white nationalism and the evangelical adoration of Donald Trump), and what it truly means to walk away from evangelicalism. It is a community, it is a family, and many who have walked away have lost the support of their family and community.

There is so much food for thought and discussion in this book. While I agreed with a good amount of it, I disagreed with some of it--and that's okay. When you are raised in and participating in evangelical Christianity, it is almost unheard of to ask questions, to disagree, to examine things from a different point of view. McCammon encourages people to look at what is being preached about, taught, and espoused and critically think about things with perspective. I think this book would be an excellent jump off point for those who want to wrestle with issues surrounding the Christian church. I listened to the audiobook narrated by the author and as she is a reporter with NPR, her narration is skillful.

I related to this book more than I thought I would. Although I currently attend an evangelical church in a predominantly white area, I feel as if things have changed in my church over the past ten years. The current pastor of my church is pragmatic and scientific, he examines the Bible in light of science, not the other way around. He never speaks of anything political from the pulpit other than the broad mention of praying for our leaders. This isn't to say I think it's a perfect church, there are definitely issues and things I struggle with personally, but due to what I mentioned above I have not felt like I needed to become an "exvangelical" as this author writes about.

I know this book already has its critics, and I'm sure that's to be expected when you are saying things that challenge the status quo of a powerful organization. I have long said that the basis of my faith is to love others, period. I have struggled and lost friends over that point of view, simple as it is. If you have any experience with the evangelical church, I encourage you to pick this book up and use it as a springboard for self examination and discussion. Because if your God can't take the questions, is it really God?

I read a review that this book didn’t “go far enough,” but I actually appreciated that Sarah McCammon kept it to a journalistic lens while sprinkling in her own childhood and experiences. If I wanted to share this book with family &/or friends while trying to explain my aversion to the “evangelical” self-title and my disgust toward Trump and what he’s done to our country, I wouldn’t want a book that’s too extreme. McCammon dove into the rise in hatred since trump’s presidency and the hypocrisy within religion which leads to my talking points on backing away from evangelicals on the whole. I appreciated all the different interviews and the wide range of viewpoints and that it wasn’t all Christian-bashing. Overall, I believe that my parents and my childhood community were doing what they felt best, and I can grapple with my upbringing on other terms outside the acknowledgement that a lot of that community I mostly look back on with fondness has genuinely gone off the rails. It’s hard to articulate why I feel so frustrated and saddened by people I once admired and I felt like The Exvangelicals really put my thoughts into words incredibly. I will definitely be recommending it.
I really enjoy an audiobook like this narrated by the author and it really added to the personal stories - especially when she talked about her grandfather and being on the 2016 campaign trail. I’d definitely recommend this in audio form, but I think both forms of this book read well.

This book was a well-written examination of the reasons people are leaving evangelicalism. I appreciated that the author mixed her research narratives with her personal experiences. Topics were well organized and the chapters flowed easily. Overall it was a good book, just not my personal favorite.

I've been eating up losing-my-religion-style memoirs, and this was another amazing one. I connected with many of the girlhood experiences of radical "christianity" and purity culture. The author captured her experiences beautifully, and I'm sure other "exvangelicals" will adore this account of growing into one's own and finding the strength to stand up for what you feel is right.

It got a little heavy on the Trump-talk at some points for me. While I agree with the author's sentiments against Trump, and understand his connection to the topic, I just personally did not go into this book wanting to think about him as much as I did.

Having the author narrate her own story made this an even stronger audiobook, highly recommend it in audio form!

A thought-provoking look at the evangelical community and why people leave. I appreciated that the author didn't make the assumption that everyone who leaves the church leaves God. I have found that my relationship with Christ is much stronger without the influence of the conservative, evangelical community. McCammon does an excellent job of pointing out hypocrisy and contradiction while maintaining poise and integrity. An excellent read for those who are a member of the exvangelical community and evangelical community alike.

This book was fascinating. I've always been interested in the disconnect between people and religion - specifically, people who grew up religious but later strayed from their church. As someone who was raised in religious schools (but also someone who has never been religious) it's something I've run into on more than one occasion. Friends questioning their faith because the teachings of the church just... don't line up with the actions being taken by that same church.

This was a wonderful perspective to read, and I thought the author explained things very well. It was easy to see how so many in the evangelical church fall into these contradictory ideologies. It was enlightening to read the opinions of people who have been leaving the church and to see what the "last straw" was for them.

I think this had a strangely impersonal but also personal look into the exvangelical movement. It was clear that the author was impacted and invested in this, but most of the book was very "analytical" and factual and recounted information rather than feelings for the majority of the text (which did make things a little dry at times). I enjoyed this analytical look into things, but I would have enjoyed a little more personality to some chapters.

Overall, a solid read. I enjoyed the narration and the content of this book!

I have read a lot of books on evangelicalism, exvangelical, and the deconstruction movement. I, myself, have lived this experience. I appreciate new books coming out on this topic. Reading helped me in my processing, and I hope this book will do this for others in a way other books helped me when I first questioned evangelicalism.

Really enjoyed this listen! Thought it was well written and also liked the narration. As someone who has never been religious, I find the whole evangelical movement, especially in today's divided world both interesting and frustrating. I listened to this not long after reading "The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory" by Tim Alberta which was fortuitous -- Tim did a great job really delving deep into the political side of things, but I appreciated this book for covering more of the author's first-hand account of being raised in an evangelical household and covering a broader scope of experiences.

An insightful read for anyone who wants to grasp the undercurrents of the United States' current political turmoil and mass exodus from the Evangelical churches. Sarah McCammon highlights the dissonance in Evangelical teachings and provides case studies where people left out of sheer disillusionment. An interesting book for people of any creed (agnostics and atheists included). A powerful text with messages that can help us all better understand each other and open up venues of discussion and connection.

This book could have been fiery and bitter. It was not. It came across as a respectful look at the reasons why so many people have left, and are leaving, the Evangelical movement. McCammon was, at one time, a fundamentalist, right-winger--exactly the way she was raised to be. She grew up, and gained life experience. She saw that there were ways of being and looking at the world other than those she was raised to follow. And that those other views had some validity. She told not only her own story, but the stories of many other exvangelicals. She does have bad memories. She has a lot of questions. She is trying to figure out what is going on. I was expecting something more like Allberts's The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory. It was not that. But it was affecting and helped me to work toward understanding not one, but two American subcultures.

Sarah McCammon's "The Exvangelicals" delves into the journey of rediscovering and sometimes abandoning one's faith, offering a compelling nonfiction exploration. As someone deeply connected to my own faith, I was initially intrigued by the audiobook. However, I also acknowledge the challenges individuals face with different religions and the religious trauma they endure.

McCammon's extensive research shines through, providing valuable insights into these complex issues. Yet, I couldn't ignore the unsettling realization of how faith can be manipulated for political agendas. This aspect left me contemplative about the intersection of faith and politics.

Overall, "The Exvangelicals" proved to be an enlightening read, sparking introspection and opening my eyes to various perspectives. I extend my gratitude to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to engage with the audiobook through an ALC in exchange for an unbiased review.

While I enjoyed this book, I found it rather disjointed and without a common thread or storyline to guide the reader along. It almost seemed like a collection of random essays about the same topic as opposed to a coherent book. I learned a few things, but I wish it had been clearer.