Do I Stay Christian? A Guide for the Doubters, the Disappointed, and the Disillusioned

Former pastor McLaren (Faith After Doubt) continues to challenge conservative institutional Christianity in this gloves-off critique of the “Christian-industrial project.” Setting out to think “through the question of retaining or shedding Christian identity with you looking over my shoulder,” McLaren first lays out “the best reasons I am aware of” for leaving Christianity, then explores reasons to stay and how one can live with one’s decision. Among the reasons to leave, McLaren lists Christianity’s history of colonialism, racist patriarchalism, and theological stagnation, recounting how popes sanctioned European leaders to steal land from Native Americans, and bemoaning many Christians’ view of the religion as a static set of beliefs rather than an adaptable “way of life.” Reasons to stay include the “uniquely extraordinary” moral character of Jesus and the desire to support allies working for progressive change. Whatever one chooses, McLaren offers recommendations for “spiritual resilience,” urging readers to nurture their impulse toward bettering humanity and to cherish their bodies as more than mere vessels for their spirits. The author’s fans will be grateful for his well-grounded, bracing examination of a complex question, while his critics will feel compelled to take his arguments seriously. This earnest inquiry solidifies McLaren’s place as one of the more thoughtful interrogators of modern Christianity. (May)