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

by Brian D. McLaren

Overview

Dubbed "a heroic gate-crasher" by New York Times bestselling author Glennon Doyle, Brian D. McLaren explores reasons to leave or stay within the church and if so how...

"Brian's new book on remaining Christian knocks it out of the ballpark in terms of framing and naming the questions. I cannot stop reading it. Thank you, Brian!"
—Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation, author of The Universal Christ

"Any thoughtful Christian has been asking the questions McLaren tackles here, but many of us are afraid to voice them aloud. In Do I Stay Christian? we’re gifted a gentle guide who opens ideas and voices the questions we cannot, naming our frustration, fear, and hesitant hope."
—Rev. Dr. Amy Butler, former Senior Minister, The Riverside Church; Founder, Invested Faith

Do I Stay Christian? addresses in public the powerful question that surprising numbers of people—including pastors, priests, and other religious leaders—are asking in private. Picking up where Faith After Doubt leaves off, Do I Stay Christian? is not McLaren's attempt to persuade Christians to dig in their heels or run for the exit. Instead, he combines his own experience with that of thousands of people who have confided in him over the years to help readers make a responsible, honest, ethical decision about their religious identity.

There is a way to say both yes and no to the question of staying Christian, McLaren says, by shifting the focus from whether we stay Christian to how we stay human. If Do I Stay Christian? is the question you're asking—or if it's a question that someone you love is asking—this is the book you've been waiting for.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250262806
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	05/24/2022
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	198,032
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

A former college English teacher, Brian D. McLaren was a pastor for twenty-four years. Now he’s an author, activist, public theologian, and frequent guest lecturer for gatherings in the U.S. and internationally. His work has been covered in TIME Magazine, Newsweek, USA Today, The New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, and many other media outlets. The author of more than 15 books, including Faith After Doubt, Do I Stay Christian? and A New Kind of Christian, he is a faculty member of The Living School at the Center for Action and Contemplation. McLaren lives in Florida.
A former college English teacher, Brian D. McLaren was a pastor for twenty-four years. Now he’s an author, activist, public theologian, and frequent guest lecturer for gatherings in the U.S. and internationally. His work has been covered in TIME Magazine, Newsweek, USA Today, The New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, and many other media outlets. The author of more than 15 books, including Faith After Doubt, Do I Stay Christian?, and A New Kind of Christian, he is a faculty member of The Living School at the Center for Action and Contemplation. McLaren lives in Florida.

Table of Contents

Introduction: A Religion Is Many Things 1

Part I No

1 Because Christianity Has Been Vicious to Its Mother (Anti-Semitism) 13

2 Because of Christianity's Suppression of Dissent (Christian vs. Christian Violence) 21

3 Because of Christianity's High Global Death Toll-and Life Toll (Crusader Colonialism) 29

4 Because of Christianity's Loyal Company Men (Institutionalism) 36

5 Because of Christianity's Real Master (Money) 42

6 Because of the White Christian Old Boys' Network (White Patriarchy) 46

7 Because Christianity Is Stuck (Toxic Theology) 54

8 Because Christianity Is a Failed Religion (Lack of Transformation) 60

9 Because of Christianity's Great Wall of Bias (Constricted Intellectualism) 66

10 Because Christianity Is a Sinking, Shrinking Ship of Wrinkling People (Demographics) 75

Part II Yes

11 Because Leaving Hurts Allies (and Helps Their Opponents) 83

12 Because Leaving Defiantly or Staying Compliantly Are Not My Only Options 91

13 Because … Where Else Would I Go? 97

14 Because It Would Be a Shame to Leave a Religion in Its Infancy 104

15 Because of Our Legendary Founder 113

16 Because Innocence Is an Addiction, and Solidarity Is the Cure 121

17 Because I'm Human 128

18 Because Christianity Is Changing (for the Worse and for the Better) 136

19 To Free God 142

20 Because of Fermi's Paradox and the Great Filter 150

Part III How

21 Include and Transcend 159

22 Starr with the Heart 169

23 Re-Wild 177

24 Find the Flow 185

25 Re-Consecrate Everything 192

26 Renounce and Announce 200

27 Stay Loyal to Reality 208

28 Stay Human 214

Afterword 221

Acknowledgments 225

Appendix I How to Get the Most Out of This Book 227

Appendix II Images You Can't Unsee (Addendum to Chapter 2) 230

Appendix III Do I Stay in My Denomination? 233

Appendix IV A Letter to Pastors (Addendum to Chapter 26) 237

Appendix V Additional Resources 240

Notes 243

Editorial Reviews

★ 03/07/2022

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)

Publishers Weekly

Publishers Weekly, Best Books of 2022, Religion

"[A] gloves-off critique...[McLaren'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."
—Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

"What lies ahead is speculative, but it involves change both institutionally and personally. Any change, however, will rest on the foundation that proceeds from an honest assessment of what is. And that assessment is the most valuable contribution by McClaren..."
—National Catholic Reporter

"McLaren helps people who are rightly frustrated with the state of American Christianity understand that there are so many more possibilities... This book gives me a map for finding what lies beyond—a Christianity that's bigger, wiser, and more powerful than I dared to dream.”
—Jana Riess, author of Flunking Sainthood and The Next Mormons; senior columnist for Religion News Service

"McLaren is one of my favorite Spirit guides. He is a wonderful story-teller, a discerner of patterns and cultural trends, and a kind soul articulating urgent and critical questions for the Church in these hot-mess times. In his new book, Brian asks, “Do I Stay Christian?” in such a way that all of the Church needs to ponder. Are we in this, for real? If we answer this question thoughtfully, guided by this book, I’m convinced the true called-out-ones (ekklesia) could heal the world."
—Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, author of Fierce Love: A Bold Path to Ferocious Courage and Rule Breaking Kindness That Can Heal the World

“A refreshing invitation to consider many reasons why Christianity may or may not be a path for each one of us. Woven with beautiful personal stories, this book will give you many things to consider as well as some clarity.”
—Jo Luehmann, Host of The Living Room with Jo Luehmann

"In his usual thoughtful provocative style McClaren provides a thoughtful examination of the Christian tradition, its faults and failures and its gifts and graces. He takes seriously the harm Christians and Christianity have done across the ages while considering its promise, realized and unrealized. He also casts a vision of a Christianity beyond its infancy which would be worth working and praying for. I recommend this book for individuals wrestling with their faith, pastors, book clubs and those seeking honest conversation about the very complex realities of Christianity."
—The Rev. Wil Gafney, Ph.D.+, The Right Rev. Sam B. Hulsey Professor of Hebrew Bible, Brite Divinity School, Ft. Worth, Texas

"In Do I Stay Christian?, McLaren wrestles the scandalous theological questions and conscientiousness objections that keep so many of us awake at night—and he does so with the courage and grace that have become his trademark. If you're wondering whether it's time to shake off your sandals and walk away from Christianity, I beg you to read this book before making up your mind."
—Jonathan Merritt, Contributing writer for The Atlantic and author of Learning to Speak God from Scratch

"Answers from one of our most eloquent Christian teachers for those asking: Why bother?"
—Jon M. Sweeney, author of The Pope Who Quit

From the Publisher

In his customary soothing, sincere narrative style, Brian McLaren answers the title’s question by laying out his concerns and suggestions in three parts. He first describes why not to stay Christian, and the reasons are horrifying and compelling. Next, he gives reasons why one might want to stay Christian, and, in the third part, he offers paths forward whether your decision is to stay or not to stay. His earnest, conversational tone sounds as though he's speaking directly to each individual listener. The material is well documented (a comprehensive pdf is available with the production) and will resonate with those who are struggling with institutional Christianity, as well as those who are now doubting the existence of Jesus and/or God. S.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

JULY 2022 - AudioFile

In his customary soothing, sincere narrative style, Brian McLaren answers the title’s question by laying out his concerns and suggestions in three parts. He first describes why not to stay Christian, and the reasons are horrifying and compelling. Next, he gives reasons why one might want to stay Christian, and, in the third part, he offers paths forward whether your decision is to stay or not to stay. His earnest, conversational tone sounds as though he's speaking directly to each individual listener. The material is well documented (a comprehensive pdf is available with the production) and will resonate with those who are struggling with institutional Christianity, as well as those who are now doubting the existence of Jesus and/or God. S.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

JULY 2022 - AudioFile