Out of Sorts: Making Peace with an Evolving Faith

Bessey (Jesus Feminist) combines intimate storytelling and spiritual reflection as she recounts how she has grappled%E2%80%94and continues to grapple%E2%80%94with her faith. Weaving together a disarmingly honest profession of her own spiritual journey with insights from theologians and writers, Bessey explores the ideas of a Christ-centered Christianity, community, grief, social justice, and vocation. She is candid about her struggles to reconcile the Bible with her concept of Jesus, and the six years she spent away from church. She encourages others to not be afraid of sorting through spiritual concerns, the uncomfortable in-between, or even the wilderness: "Religion tells us that it's all figured out, there is nothing left to learn, here are the answers, so learn them. But instead, I pray you would be an explorer, you would recover delight and wonder and curiosity about your faith, about God, and about the story with which you continue to wrestle." Bessey's charming, beautifully expressive writing transforms a subject often plagued by anger, frustration, and sadness into one of forgiveness, redemption, and hope. Accompanying discussion questions invite the reader to sort out their own faith. (Nov.)