GROW >> Book Study—Do I Stay Christian?

Scroll down for the Reading Schedule.

From the Amazon Web Site:
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.

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

A reminder that fellowship time starts at 6:30 P.M. with the study lasting from 7:00–8:00 P.M.

Click here to join the meeting via Zoom.

Click here to purchase the book from Amazon.

Contact Rev. Emily with your questions ... emily@salemunitedmethodist.org

Reading Schedule (April 12, 2023 through July 26, 2023)

April 19, 2023
Book Reading:  Chapter 01—Because Christianity Has Been Vicious to Its Mother (Anti-Semitism)
Book Reading:  Chapter 11—Because Leaving Hurts Allies (and Helps Their Opponents)

April 26, 2023
Book Reading:  Chapter 02—Because of Christianity's Suppression of Dissent (Christian vs. Christian Violence)
Book Reading:  Chapter 12—Because Leaving Defiantly or Staying Complaintly Are Not My Only Options

May 03, 2023
Prayer Group

May 10, 2023
Book Reading:  Chapter 03—Because of Christianity's High Global Death Toll—and Life Toll
                        (Crusader Colonialism)
Book Reading:  Chapter 13—Because ... Where Else Would I Go?

May 17, 2023
Book Reading:  Chapter 04—Because of Christianity's Loyal Company Men (Institutionalism)
Book Reading:  Chapter 05—Because of Christianity's Real Master (Money)
Book Reading:  Chapter 14—Because It Would Be a Same to Leave a Religion in Its Infancy

May 24, 2023
Book Reading:  Chapter 06—Because of the White Christian Old Boys' Network (White Patriarchy)
Book Reading:  Chapter 07—Because Christianity Is Stuck (Toxic Theology)
Book Reading:  Chapter 15—Because of Our Legendary Founder

May 31, 2023
Prayer Group

Whether to continue this study in the fall will be determined at a later date.