Book Review: Faithfully Dissident Daughters by Chelsea Kim Long

****Thank you to #NetGalley  and Westminster John Knox Press for the opportunity to review this book! 

This is an amazing book about a topic so many in America have been discussing in their homes and their inner circles!  The question of questioning the meaning of religious, Christian, follower of Christ, whatever you choose to call it, what does it entail? If you don’t subscribe to the conservative viewpoint where solid lines are drawn, are you wrong, evil or ill-informed?

This author was raised in a conservative religious background where to question was to not be devout in faith and thinking conflicting views could possibly be courting evil.  “The religion that raised me taught me to ignore my intuition and suppress my emotion.”  This attitude can be so confining that there leaves little room for open-minded people seeking a greater more encompassing understanding of Christianity.  After entering motherhood, she really started stepping back and evaluating her faith.   As she states, “Becoming a parent has helped me understand the allure of my upbringing, the culture that brushes issues and dissent under the rug.”

Chelsea dives head into the tough stuff surrounding religion, beliefs, church and an evolving culture that on one hand, supposedly emphasizes Christian values but on the other end, judges’ others.  Are those values being promoted by conservative Christian religions defined by the interpretation of The Word or by a patriarchal church embodied with white men who are threatened by dissenting views?

What we have here is an eye-opening book by someone who has done extensive research on alternative view points to try to bring together and integrate an understanding of faith and being a Christian for all peoples, whether black, white, male, female, different sexual orientation, etc.…  As the author states, “Once we expand our view of God, we find space to be ourselves while also being faithful followers.”

For God made us all differently, perhaps a cookie cutter religion approach does not serve all of God’s people, His creations.  As stated in the book, “God's desire for you is not separation but integration.”

 The church, since the beginning of time, has downplayed women’s roles in developing churches. The framework has been built on male hierarchy, in some faiths leaving very little room for female progression and understanding of women. Too often, the church has expected perfection, and instead women should be “Shame free in our bodies, even with perceived imperfections.”  We are who we are, perfectly imperfect but accepting of God’s creation that is us.  The author challenges you to put your faith back in you.

 She also recognizes many have been hurt by the Church for their condescending views.  The book encourages us all to dig deep and find ways to heal and overcome. ”I may have to dig beneath the surface and find healing to discover it, but the more I embrace who I truly am, the more I begin to naturally embody the fruit of the Spirit.” 

This is an excellent book for men and women actually who feel too often religion can be confining, misinterpreted and that they are misaligned.  God is here for us all.