Churched
One Kid's Journey Toward God Despite a Holy Mess
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- $15.99
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- $15.99
Publisher Description
He spent his childhood trapped within the confines of countless bizarre, strict rules. And lived to tell about it.
In this first-hand account, author Matthew Paul Turner shares amusing–sometimes cringe-worthy–and poignant stories about growing up in a fundamentalist household, where even well-intentioned contemporary Christian music was proclaimed to be “of the devil.”
churched is a collection of stories that detail an American boy’s experiences growing up in a culture where men weren’t allowed let their hair grow to touch their ears (“an abomination!”), women wouldn’t have been caught dead in a pair of pants (unless swimming), and the pastor couldn’t preach a sermon without a healthy dose of hellfire and brimstone. Matthew grapples with the absurdity of a Sunday School Barbie burning, the passionate annual boxing match between the pastor and Satan, and the holiness of being baptized a fifth time–while growing into a young man who, amidst the chaotic mess of religion, falls in love with Jesus.
Customer Reviews
C. V. Watson
This very well written book is the audio counterpart of the movie "Jesus Camp." Mr,
Turner takes the listener through the abusive indoctrination process that growing up in an evangelical/fundamentalist home often becomes. He describes his emotion of fear in going to church sermons and the emphasis on punishment that promoted it.
The description of "church schooling" through High School is priceless, especially the comment that one of his peers still didn't know his times tables as a senior.
Despite all the horrific experiences Mr. urner underwent, the book ends on a fairly positive note.