Field Notes for the Wilderness: Practices for an Evolving Faith

Bessey (Jesus Feminist), cofounder and leader of the online community Evolving Faith, provides down-to-earth guidance to those “deconstructing” their conservative Christian pasts. Contending that believers like her are “in the midst of a shift” away from an often-homophobic and purity culture-obsessed evangelicalism, which “has resulted in many of us” getting stuck in something of a theological no-man’s land, Bessey recalls how her evangelical beliefs unraveled after she suffered a devastating miscarriage, began questioning “everything I thought I knew about God,” and was alienated by parts of her church community. Yet out of her pain grew a faith rooted in God’s love, “the truest thing in this universe.” Writing that questions about one’s religious beliefs can be productive (“The wilderness... is another altar of intimacy with God”), Bessey encourages readers to cultivate hope, grapple with grief, and repent for mistakes made in the name of faith, such as teaching patriarchal or non-LGBTQ-affirming theology they no longer agree with. For someone who by her own admission “doesn’t have a lot of answers,” Bessey is systematic in building a nuanced and logical case for a “gospel of love,” and provides plenty of reassurance that the wilderness need not be “something... to fear: God [is] already here, making a way.” Readers will draw strength from these openhearted musings. Agent: Rachelle Gardner, Gardner Literary. (Feb.)