Skip to main content

Still Christian by David Gushee- A review

 


Still Christian:

Following Jesus Out of American Evangelicalism

By David P. Gushee

Reviewed by

  Geoffrey W. Sutton

In Still Christian: Following Jesus Out of American Evangelicalism, David P. Gushee offers a candid memoir that chronicles his spiritual journey within the American evangelical movement. This book is not merely a narrative of Gushee's life; it is a profound reflection on the challenges of maintaining personal integrity in the face of institutional pressures and societal expectations.

 

Gushee, a distinguished professor of Christian ethics, was born and raised a Roman Catholic. His transition to Southern Baptist evangelicalism marked a significant turn in his spiritual quest, one that would lead him to grapple with the complexities of faith, scholarship, and moral conviction. The book is laid out chronologically, allowing readers to follow Gushee's path from a zealous Baptist teenager to a respected academic and outspoken advocate for LGBTQ inclusion within the Christian community.

 

The author's intellectual journey is particularly compelling. Gushee's pursuit of religious studies at a public university and later at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary during its conservative shift presents an intriguing backdrop to his evolving theological perspectives. His subsequent doctoral work at Union Theological Seminary, known for its liberal and liberationist leanings, further shapes his ethical stances, especially as he navigates the discomfort of being a moderately conservative white man in a predominantly progressive space.

 

Still Christian is more than an autobiography; it is a mirror reflecting the broader schisms within American Christianity. Gushee's experiences with the Christian Right, his encounters with political activism, and his eventual ousting from evangelicalism for his pro-LGBTQ stance are narrated with a blend of humility and boldness. The book is a testament to the author's commitment to following Jesus, even when it means parting ways with established religious institutions.

 

One of the book's strengths is Gushee's ability to articulate the internal conflicts and external pressures that accompany deep moral convictions. He does not shy away from discussing the personal costs of his decisions, including the loss of friendships, job security, and a sense of belonging within the evangelical community. Yet, despite these losses, Gushee's narrative is imbued with hope and a steadfast belief in the redemptive power of Christ's teachings.

 

Gushee's writing style is accessible and engaging, making complex theological and ethical discussions approachable for a broad audience. His story resonates with anyone who has wrestled with the tension between personal beliefs and institutional doctrines. It speaks to those disillusioned by the politicization of faith and the often-polarizing nature of religious discourse.

 

Still Christian is a compelling account of a man's unwavering pursuit of truth and authenticity in his faith journey. It challenges readers to consider the cost of discipleship and the courage required to stand firm in one's convictions. Gushee's memoir is a valuable contribution to the conversation about the future of Christianity in America and the role of personal integrity in religious practice.

On a more personal note,  I found it interesting because a considerable part of my life was spent in evangelical communities that in more recent years were overtaken by fundamentalists whose penchant for literal interpretations of select biblical texts has led to the reconstruction of walls ostracizing other Christians and constricting the space in which women may flourish.

References

Gushee, D. P. (2017). Still Christian: Following Jesus out of American Evangelicalism. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.    Available on AMAZON

Sutton, G. W. (2024, April 14). Still Christian by David Gushee--A review. Interdisciplinary Book and Film Reviews. Retrieved from https://suttonreviews.suttong.com/2024/04/still-christian-by-david-gushee-review.html




Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is  www.suttong.com

 

See Geoffrey Sutton’s books on   AMAZON       or  GOOGLE STORE

Follow on    FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton    

   X   @Geoff.W.Sutton    

You can read many published articles at no charge:

  Academia   Geoff W Sutton     ResearchGate   Geoffrey W Sutton 





 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Denial of Death and the Meaningful Life- Book Review

  The Denial of Death   by Ernest Becker A Review by Geoffrey W. Sutton The prospect of death, Dr. Johnson said, wonderfully concentrates the mind. The main thesis of this book is that it does much more than that: the idea of death, the fear of it, haunts the human animal like nothing else; it is a mainspring of human activity—activity designed largely to avoid the fatality of death, to overcome it by denying in some way that it is the final destiny for man.  — Ernest Becker, xvii I completed a recent reading of this old classic yesterday (13 December, 2015) because I was interested in Becker’s contribution to Terror Management Theory, which I find so helpful in understanding the ways U.S. leaders are publicly responding to terrorist activities. Becker’s ideas are more than forty years old and many have not withstood the test of time. However, his basic premise that we deny the reality of death in many ways remains valid
3 comments
Read more

WILLPOWER Setting & Reaching Goals- Book Review by Sutton

WILLPOWER Rediscovering the Greatest    Human Strength By Roy Baumeister & John Tierney Reviewed by Geoffrey W. Sutton I go to a gym, which is crowded in January. Regulars know the early Happy-New-Year commitments to fitness will weaken sometime in February. Roy Baumeister has spent a good part of his career studying self-control. His book, Willpower   written with Tierney,  entertains and informs us with an organized set of findings explaining factors that influence self-control. Two critical factors weaken our judgments: food and sleep. We need glucose and sleep to be at our best when it comes to making wise decisions and marking progress toward our goals. A pretty woman can loosen a man’s grip on his career--we hear these news stories from time to time as one political group takes aim at each other's leaders--men who failed at sexual self-control and sadly blame women for their lack of self-control. Fat shaming happens. T
Post a Comment
Read more

A Christmas Carol offers lessons in Psychology and Faith A Book Review

A Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens A Review by Geoffrey W. Sutton My copy of A Christmas Carol was a gift on Christmas day, 1963. Two Christmases before I had walked the cold, fog-laden, smog drenched streets of Old London with my dad whilst my mother visited with her family. It was a grey day and a grey week. We took turns warming parts of our body by fireplaces here and there. After five years in the U.S. we had returned home to London on the occasion of my maternal grandmother’s death.  Dickens’ story paints a familiar tale textured by my early memories and enriched today by having watched my favourite rendition of A Christmas Carol ( 1984 ) with my wife on Christmas eve. My interest in reviewing the book is not just for a pleasant walk about the old streets of London but I'm motivated by a sense of appreciation for the poetic and colourful artistry with which Dickens plumbs the hopes and fears of humanity. So, follow
Post a Comment
Read more