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340 reviews for:
Star-Spangled Jesus: Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding a True Faith
April Ajoy
4.46 AVERAGE
340 reviews for:
Star-Spangled Jesus: Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding a True Faith
April Ajoy
4.46 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
fast-paced
By Ajoy’s own admission, this is not a scholarly book, but you should know that it is well-researched, with citations to many books and internet sources.
The Christianity I grew up with doesn’t match Ajoy’s exactly - the Southern Baptist Church I was a member of for 25 years didn’t talk much of demons - but I recognize the common threads of Christian nationalism between our experiences. Most of the beliefs she shares from her upbringing were beliefs that I too held closely at one time in my life and am glad to have escaped from.
I’m not sure the best audience for this book, though; it obviously resonated pretty strongly with me and my own journey out of the evangelical church, but I think if I wasn’t familiar with Ajoy’s social media presence, I would’ve struggled with her voice…not her speaking voice, but the way she writes. I think maybe the best way to experience this book might be through audiobook so that you can keep up with her sense of humor and hear things the way she intended them.
Anyways, maybe gift this to someone who you know/think is on the cusp of doubting. Maybe read it yourself and find ways to broach difficult topics using the language that your evangelical/Christian nationalist loved ones are familiar with; after all, it means something to hear about this topic from someone who grew up believing the same as them versus hearing from some random liberal they don’t trust.
Bookstagram - @chelsealikesbooks
The Christianity I grew up with doesn’t match Ajoy’s exactly - the Southern Baptist Church I was a member of for 25 years didn’t talk much of demons - but I recognize the common threads of Christian nationalism between our experiences. Most of the beliefs she shares from her upbringing were beliefs that I too held closely at one time in my life and am glad to have escaped from.
I’m not sure the best audience for this book, though; it obviously resonated pretty strongly with me and my own journey out of the evangelical church, but I think if I wasn’t familiar with Ajoy’s social media presence, I would’ve struggled with her voice…not her speaking voice, but the way she writes. I think maybe the best way to experience this book might be through audiobook so that you can keep up with her sense of humor and hear things the way she intended them.
Anyways, maybe gift this to someone who you know/think is on the cusp of doubting. Maybe read it yourself and find ways to broach difficult topics using the language that your evangelical/Christian nationalist loved ones are familiar with; after all, it means something to hear about this topic from someone who grew up believing the same as them versus hearing from some random liberal they don’t trust.
Bookstagram - @chelsealikesbooks
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
reflective
medium-paced
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Incredible. This book is an enlightening look into how mostly-white, evangelical Christianity has, is, and will continue to take over American politics and culture. April’s empathy and compassion for the victims of this ideology comes through in her writing just as clearly as her firm disavowal of her former beliefs. Essential reading for those wondering how we got here.
challenging
dark
funny
informative
fast-paced
Found this book when Libby recommended to me after listening to A Well Trained Wife. I'm an Atheist and have started to read/listen to more memoirs/historical books revolving around religion and people's experiences within said religion. I'm of a firm belief that people should be allow to freely worship/believe what they want as long as it doesn't harm or change freedoms of those who don't align with said beliefs. That was a great first hand experience into a faith that tries to do just that. I was glad to see that April was able to journey through a portion of her adult life with her eye and heart open to things she was taught were "bad" and that she has now seen through a lot of the vitriol opinions that are harmful to others. Someone recommended reading Preparing for War by Bradley Onishi next, and have put that on hold. I'm thankful April was brave enough and willing to share her personal life and experiences.
Boy, did I relate to this! My Christian nationalist, conservative evangelical past might not have been as public as April's, but I know how it feels to slowly realize that some of the ideas you were raised with are not only wrong, but outright harmful. I absolutely love April's online content because she is always so vulnerable in sharing how her experiences with loved ones caused her to re-examine and shift her theological leanings, and this book gives her the time and space to really open up about those changes in her life. I really, truly hope that this book achieves her goal of helping people see the damage done by Christian nationalism and to have the courage to seek out a new path in faith and love. Thank you to Netgalley for my eARC of this book!