Evolving in Monkey Town

by Rachel Held Evans

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Originally posted on my blog, A Lovely Bookshelf on the Wall:

I'm not sure there's much I can say about Evolving in Monkey Town that hasn't been said already (and much more eloquently). So this is probably more of a response than a review.

As Rachel Held Evans takes us through her personal crisis of faith, she offers insight into why some fundamentalists feel, believe, and act the way they do. She says in the preface: "I'm judgmental of people I think are judgmental." That resonated with me personally. But I think she encourages readers to keep an open mind, to try to understand others even when we disagree or feel judged by them.

As I look back through the book, I highlighted so much, but wrote only one note, which is kind of rare for me. Most of my highlighted passages were feelings I've had and things I've wrestled with for a long time, but haven't been able to put into words. Reading this memoir was as refreshing as reading Nadia Bolz-Weber's Pastrix, but with less swearing (wink) and the added benefit of someone who has the Bible Belt perspective.

Over and over, Evans compels us to fearlessly use our brain to challenge what we think we believe and ask questions, and to remember that God's love is always inclusive.