"It’s built into the DNA of our faith to constantly reevaluate, to recalibrate, to rethink, to renew, to reconsider. That’s what an active faith does."

Forty-four percent of people will go through some kind of faith transition during their lives, according to a statistic cited in Erin Moon's I've Got Questions. Her book is a soothing companion to those walking through challenges and doubts in their faith journey (drink). Chapters focus on lament and grieving the state of Christianity, asking questions and reevaluating, pushing boundaries, making peace, and rebuilding. Erin includes her signature voice of wit, sarcasm, hyperbole, sass, and pop culture references. I've read many books on deconstruction, and I admit that Sarah Bessey's Field Notes for the Wilderness is my favorite for its warm and gentle tone and practical applications. But some readers will choose I've Got Questions for Erin's special sauce of making a very heavy and emotional topic somehow feel less threatening. It feels like she's walking through this journey (drink) with you, not many steps ahead, but enough ahead that she can offer some reassurance and encouragement. The whole time Erin reminds us of our belovedness, of the "truth baptized in hope", and that our grief and anger are in direct correlation to how much we cared. I've Got Questions gives permission for you to ask questions about your faith and normalizes the process of deconstruction. After all, "this is the work of our lives. There’s no finish line, no final destination. "

I have listened to Erin H Moon for years and years on the Popcast, and the Bible Binge. I adore her instagram, am a paid subscriber to her substack (and can reminder WHY it's called the swipe up, that's how long it's been :)) so I was always going to buy this book (which I did, in addition to getting this advanced copy from the publisher. Even with those expectations though, I was blown away by the book. The kindness, care, and compassion that Erin has flies off the page, and I both laughed and teared up while reading. This book is just so, so wonderful.

Erin writes in a way that’s not intimidating or over-the-top spiritual, which is refreshing when it comes to a topic such as deconstruction.

I think this book might have hit differently when I was deep into my own deconstruction, but on the other side it didn’t feel as impactful. BUT because of that I want to recommend it to others who find themselves in the beginning phases!

Erin Moon has become such an important voice in my journey (drink) as a person of faith. This book is vulnerable without being self-centered. It’s honest without being cynical. The metaphors and images that Erin weaves together here are evocative and validating. I recommend this book for anyone who has or is deconstructing faith (or honestly any long-held belief system), or who hopes to better understand and love those in their life who are on that path. What a reminder that God is big enough for all of our questions.

I figured that this book would make for an interesting read - I didn't realise just how much it would make me think.

Erin does an incredible job of not only offering steps for those who are looking at deconstructing their faith, but also shares her own journey (drink!) with deconstructing what she was raised with, and her ongoing struggles with her religion cop.

This book is peppered with interesting information that I had either forgotten or never knew, like why Jesus was so cross with the money changers, or the Harrowing of Hell from the Gospel of Nicodemus.

The metaphor of the garden plot, burning everything down and starting again was great. I really appreciate that Erin is not prescriptive of either the process or the outcome, but offers supportive guidance throughout. Must dash, I have a fire to start.

I love pretty much all of Erin’s work, and so excited that she has created a resource for people who are wresting with deconstruction and questions of faith. I wish I had a book like this 10 years ago when I was just beginning my own journey.

A lot of the material covered didn’t really feel new to me as I have been well into the “reconstruction” phase of my faith for some time, but this is a book I would highly recommend to someone who’s looking for permission to wrestle and ask the hard questions.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of the best books I've read in the last year. It really spoke to me and where I am in my faith journey (drink!) It was a very meaningful book that still managed to be humorous!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC. I feel like this is a really good book - it just wasn't for me - a "it's not you it's me' hence the 3 stars but it was well written and interesting.

When faith has been commodified, nationalized, and scandalized, is there anything left to reclaim? With humor, insight, and a dose of memes, Erin Moon offers an open-hearted guide for those feeling conflicted or disillusioned. Through honesty, lament, and hope, she helps readers wrestle with their faith, set boundaries, and rediscover what’s worth keeping.

Am I going through deconstruction? No—especially not in the way that term is often used to describe mistrust in Scripture (I believe in its complete infallibility). But I do appreciate honest reflections from those who, even if they land differently than I do, aren’t afraid to ask hard questions and ultimately trust God more deeply.

Reading Erin’s journey felt like sitting in a spiritual direction session—not one leading to a prescribed outcome, but one that simply invites you to ask questions you’ve either been too anxious to voice or too mentally drained to consider. She’s hilariously thorough in her pop culture connections yet deeply articulate in emphasizing biblical narratives. Her writing works because of both her savvy use of language and the clear conviction behind it.

Whether you think “apostasy is nothing new” or you’re walking through deconstruction yourself, there’s something here for anyone willing to engage in honest reflection.

Why I read: I’ve followed Erin for a while (during COVID, I basically binged The Popcast), but I wasn’t planning to pick this up until I heard her interview on That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs.

Thank you @readbakerbooks for the eARC 🩶 #netgalley

Perfect for you if you like:
Deconstruction conversations that don’t abandon belief
Memes in theology
Wrestling with big questions without fear
Open faith discussions

Similar to:
Field Notes for the Wilderness by Sarah Bessey
Blessed are the Rest of Us by Micha Boyett
All Things Reconsidered by Knox McCoy

⚠️mild language

This is such a helpful read for anyone who was raised with a stern and shallow view of God. The author, Erin, invites you to really examine what you believe - not to throw it all away - but to build a better foundation. Her words were a balm to my wounded soul and she gives me hope that as I continue wrestling with my own faith, there is a God who loves right there through it all.

With so many reasons to ask questions when things don’t add up, it’s helpful to have the example of someone who has gone first and can speak from experience to be your guide. Even better, Erin will validate how you’re feeling and how you came to the place of asking questions without telling you where you need to end up, which makes sense considering that type of certainty and one-size-fits-all is one of the very things that she challenges and got her asking questions to begin with.

My goodness, I underlined so many portions of this book. For such a weighty, tender, and personal topic -- Erin H. Moon has managed to share vulnerably, infuse laughter into heaviness while not minimizing, and bring hope while not laying out formulas/prescriptions. Would we agree on every last point of every last thing? No, of course not. Who among us would when EVERYTHING is laid out? But she writes with generosity and honesty, and I appreciate that.

The best thing about this book is that it fully delivers on the promise of the title: ALL questions are welcomed here -- God is big enough for every person's doubts, anger, anxieties, and unanswered prayers. Erin Hicks Moon organizes the book around the metaphor of a personal plot of land, one where God shows up perhaps most intimately when we have burned the land to the ground. God wants and deserves our honesty, for as the author writes, "The only thing that will kill you is pretending everything is okay when it's not."

It is important to note that the book moves far beyond personal examination -- instead, it focuses on God's incomprehensible love for us and our obligation to love others, including those who hurt us, disagree with us, or don't believe what we believe. Although Moon shares her own journey, she repeatedly encourages readers to find ways of questioning, doubting, and loving that are authentic to their lived experiences. Some readers may be put off by language and allusions that are centered in the experience of a 40-something white woman, but it's worth pushing past this -- there really is something here for anyone who is intrigued by the book's title.

I've Got Questions was so interesting! It's the conversation about faith that many of us have whispered in our heads, but it's not often open conversation. It's the conversation I need about faith. Moon talks about deconstruction but not in a destructive way.

It's a different take on deconstruction than many resources because it offers more hope than books solely focused on deconstructing your faith. It welcomes questions. It talks about hard topics in a life-giving way. Instead of talking about tearing down your faith in anger, it offers the opportunity to examine your faith, explore your ideas, and rebuild in a way that fits your relationship with God.

Moon knows what she's talking about when it comes to theology. And at times the book takes deep dives into that. But her penchant for humor and honesty makes the discussion accessible.

If you're ready to have conversations about faith and church, and you trust that God can handle your questions, I've Got Questions is a wonderful, deep, grace-filled companion for your journey.

This book resonated deeply, articulating doubts, inconsistencies, and contradictions I've grappled with for years. The writing is both insightful and engaging, making the book approachable and even humorous.

This book arrived at the perfect moment in my life. Erin masterfully captured concepts and questions I couldn't fully articulate myself, leaving me feeling seen and understood.

I highly recommend this book to readers seeking introspection and deeper reflection. And don't miss the acknowledgements – they are truly delightful!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy.

I wanted to like this one more than I did. It was a skim-read for me as it was full of details and fluff that I found not interesting. Maybe it's a book more for millenials and younger who may want pop-culture mixed with some scripture. Although she is spot-on with her "have no fear to wrestle with God, ask questions, and search for truth", it seemed to drag on. Read if you want permission to question your faith (which you probably already gave yourself if you are reading this book) but there are no real answers... just more permission to seek. That's fine, but it probably could have been summed up in an essay.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. #sponsored

I continually questioned if this book was for me. It is well written and the questions posed are valid. My issue came in with my faith. At times I felt like the book was too inquisitive and could steer new believers in the wrong direction.

I’m definitely not the target audience for this book as someone who lands somewhere between agnostic and atheist but I picked it up because I love Erin Moon. I was not disappointed. This is a book about deconstructing (and also rebuilding) your faith. As someone outside of that experience, I still found a lot of value in this book’s examination of faith and how that drives how you move through the world. I was left with things that I know I will keep thinking about, which I don’t think I was expecting.

“I’m not afraid for you. If you are honestly seeking God, you will find God.”

Erin is exactly the companion you want as you’re floundering.

She takes seriously the work of de/reconstruction.

She’s encouraging, but neither dismissive, nor pressuring.

She realizes how much strength and faith and genuine DESIRE TO FOLLOW CHRIST it takes to scrape the gangrene from your raw/bleeding/callused/scarred soul.

I absolutely loved the Plot of Land metaphor. The weeds. The controlled burn. The rewilding.

I loved that she speaks from experience.

I love that she encourages “open-handed trust vs tight-fisted certainty”.

I love that she still has hope in things unseen.

I think we all need a little hope right now.

“Wresting with God is your spiritual heritage. The wrestling isn’t the problem. It’s the point.”

Five stars! If you read no further, know that this one is a five star read for me. Erin Hicks Moon's writing is a balm to my soul and much needed at this time in history. Although she is younger than me and comes from a different faith tradition, we have had many of the same experiences as we have worked in the church/faith industry. The way she writes about struggling with faith questions and toxic situations helps me have renewed hope in the church and a hunger to connect with God. Thank you for writing this one Erin!