Rachel Held Evans poured her heart and soul into crafting this deeply personal work. If you're curious how her faith journey started and how it evolved; reading this refreshed edition of her first book is the perfect place to start.(Previously titled "Evolving in Monkey Town")Eighty years after the Scopes Monkey Trial made a spectacle of Christian fundamentalism and brought national attention to her hometown; Rachel Held Evans faced a trial of her own when she began to have doubts about her faith. In Faith Unraveled; Rachel recounts growing up in a culture obsessed with apologetics; struggling as her own faith unraveled one unexpected question at a time. In order for her faith to survive; Rachel realizes; it must adapt to change and evolve. Using as an illustration her own spiritual journey from certainty to doubt to faith; Evans challenges you to disentangle your faith from false fundamentals and to trust in a God who is big enough to handle your tough questions. In a changing cultural environment where new ideas seem to threaten the safety and security of the faith; Faith Unraveled is a fearlessly honest story of survival.
#383833 in Books William Dalrymple 2012-10-02 2012-10-02Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x 1.30 x 5.20l; 1.06 #File Name: 0307948897516 pagesFrom the Holy Mountain A Journey Among the Christians of the Middle East
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Seeking the OasisBy Chris ZieslerHaving previously read Dalrymple's In Xanadu; a book he had written in his early 20s; I had two motivations in reading this book: first of all; I was intrigued to see how his writing had developed over the intervening decade; secondly; I wanted to see if his idea of following in the footsteps of ancient travelers would work as well with less well known journey than Marco Polo's?On the first question I can report that his style had broadened and deepened since his earlier book. In Xanadu had a breathless; almost over-excited air to it; quite fitting for the work of a young author. The style of From the Holy Mountain is more reflective and mature; although it loses nothing of the sense of wonder and excitement of the earlier work.The second question has a more involved answer. The travelers whose journey Dalrymple is recreating are John Moschos and Sophronius the Sophist through the Byzantine Empire to the Holy Land and ultimately to Upper Egypt in the late 6th Century. They set off on their travels during a time of great upheaval and uncertainty in the Byzantine Empire; traveling through and around the Holy Land. Compared with Marco Polo's journey these travels are almost completely unknown.Dalrymple chose to start at Mount Athos which he visited to see the codex of The Spiritual Meadow; Moschos' collection of the tales he heard on the way. It is not far-fetched to say that From the Holy Mountain becomes Dalrymple's Spiritual Meadow as he shares with us the stories of the people he met and the places through which he traveled. He then heads east through Istanbul; Anatolia; Syria; through Lebanon; the occupied West Bank; Jerusalem; Alexandria; Cairo; and ultimately into Upper Egypt to conclude his journey in the Great Kharga Oasis. This journey took Dalrymple nearly six months and during that time he passed through some of the most troubled and contentious areas in the world. In all that time he never loses sight of the primary purpose of his journey which was to chronicle what had become of the Christian communities in the region in the 1500 years since Moschos and Sophronius had passed that way.Dalrymple's two great strengths are his deep knowledge of ancient culture and history; and his genuine fondness and empathy towards the people whose lives he briefly encounters during his journey. These two aspects of his writing complement each other wonderfully in that he is able to give a sympathetic and knowledgeable account not only of the present situation in which communities find themselves but also to provide insight into how they came to be there. He is fully engaged in the problem of understanding how this region has became a place in which such deep animosities and hatred are daily acted out between three of the world's great religions; the three peoples of the Book. It will come as no surprise that he offers no simplistic or easy answers; but what he does provide is a detailed and insightful account of a region that has become more; rather than less; troubled in the 20 years that have passed since he wrote his account.The answer to my second question then is a resounding; "yes". In my view this is an even better book than In Xanadu. Dalrymple has taken a less promising theme and turned it into a grand narrative encapsulating three of the world's most important religions over a period of immense historical change. He manages to chronicle the political; historical and religious developments that have turned this part of the world into such culturally rich; but politically and religious difficult place to understand. Reading this book has significantly improved my understanding of the region and its people.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Orthodox StudiesBy Br. AnthonyGreat night time reading and studying..0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Read this while traveling in TurkeyBy Cheryl ArmstrongThe sites described are very much supported now by money from abroad. This was a fascinating read. So much has changed since Dalrymple's dramatic and emotional journey. Southeastern Turkey is safer for travelers and the churches and monasteries that remain can be visited safely. There are very few Christians left in Turkey; but what remains of their churches are being cared for; for now. I witnessed interesting presentations by priests and lay people to Turkish tourists and student groups. This book is worth reading for its history and context.
