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    Evolving in Monkey Town: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask the Questions
    Unavailable
    Evolving in Monkey Town: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask the Questions
    Unavailable
    Evolving in Monkey Town: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask the Questions
    Audiobook4 hours

    Evolving in Monkey Town: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask the Questions

    Published by Zondervan Audio

    4.5/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Having grown up in a town famous for its commitment to conservative fundamentalism, Rachel Held Evans nearly loses her faith when rehearsed answers to tough questions aren't enough to satisfy her growing doubts about Christianity. Evolving in Monkey Town is a story of spiritual survival that challenges listeners to reassess their approach to Christianity in the context of a postmodern environment, where knowing all the answers isn't as important as truly asking the questions.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherZondervan Audio
    Release dateJun 22, 2010
    ISBN9780310773719
    Unavailable
    Evolving in Monkey Town: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask the Questions

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    Reviews for Evolving in Monkey Town

    4.5/5

    121 ratings10 reviews

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    • 3/5
      Really interesting, insightful memoir about questioning conservative Christian values. But really
      Only nominally related to scopes trial
    • 5/5
      Wow, this is a great book. If you have grown up in a very conservative, Fundamentalist church, and have ever had deep questions and doubts, you will likely resonate with Rachel. She comes across as an honest seeker and a sensitive soul. She also, in my opinion, accurately diagnoses the reason that so many young people become turned off to the church.
    • 5/5
      Rachel Held Evans is not afraid to ask the hard questions. She is not afraid to have no solid answers. An honest account of her personal struggle with faith and fundamentalism. A quick, easy read but may require rereading. Well worth the time. Quotes" "I believe that the best way to reclaim the gospel in times of change is not to cling more tightly to our convictions but to hold them with an open hand." "Evolution means letting go of our false fundamentals so that God can get into those shadowy places we're not sure we want him to be. It means being okay with being wrong, okay with not having all the answers, okay with never being finished." "If salvation is available only to Christians, then the gospel isn't good news at all."
    • 5/5
      This is a very interesting book in which the auhor, Rachel Held Evans describes her journey from a rock solid, unquestioning fundamentalist faith to one where she is no longer afraid of doubts and not knowing all the answers. This journey is set against the backdrop of growing up in "monkey town" Dayton Tennessee, which was the site of the infamous Scopes Monkey Trial in the 1920s and remains a bastion of fundamentalism to this day.Rachel raises a lot of challenges questions and observations in her anecdotal style, but despite her questions she still presents a vibrant, passionate faith, robust in the face of doubts - just robust in a different way to what she might have imagined as a student. She makes some very incisve observations as to how the whole field of apologetics seems to be missing the point in many ways. A couple of quotes : "most of our peers were receptive to spiritual things... they weren't searching for historical evidence in support of the bodily resurrection of Jesus. They were searching for some signs of life among his followers... Most weren't looking for a faith that provided all the answers; they were looking for one in which they were free to ask questions." (p203-204) If you can appreciate the message in those quotes, then I think you will appreciate this book.
    • 5/5
      An excellent book that discusses some of the issues facing Christians today. In a time where certainty and inerrancy seem to be the most important parts of Christian Dogma, it's refreshing to see someone that has questions. When someone says, "The Bible plainly says..." you know what's following is their interpretation of a couple of verses, most likely quoted out of context.

      I love the way she mixes religion with history and humor. One of my favorite writers.
    • 5/5
      A refreshingly honest look at hard questions of faith in the 21st century. Rachel’s narrative style is relatable and pleasant. We’ve lost a true star in her untimely passing.
    • 4/5
      I was able to identify with some aspects of Rachel Held Evans's experiences growing up in the Bible Belt. It was good to hear more about the path of how her faith developed.
    • 4/5
      I was under the impression that this would be tackling evolution specifically, but here, it functions as a metaphor for the necessity of present truth in faith: the need to adapt and wrestle with ideas and LISTEN. Held Evans breaks down many "false fundamentals" of faith that are truly necessary, even today. And if you read her newer books, you'll see how she's really adapted over the years. I'm grateful for her wisdom and insight.
    • 4/5
      Evans' memoirs of her early years growing up in Christianity strike a chord with those who are seeking and questioning their faith. Her stories of struggling with various preconceived fundamentals of faith are inspiring yet common. Ultimately her message is that faith is constantly changing and that doubts are a natural product of faith, which serve to mould and change our faith so that it may be stronger.
    • 5/5
      What happened to the millions of Holocaust victims immediately after their death? Did God consign them to eternal torture for not believing in his Son?If that question doesn’t bother you, then don’t bother with this book. If you do wrestle with it, Evan’s memoir will remind you that you’re not the only person on this journey.Evolving in Monkey Town is the story of Evan’s spiritual journey from a fundamentalist with all the correct answers to an honest believer. If you were raised in a fundamentalist setting, this book will resonate. Evans has a knack for describing the absurdities of fundamentalism with grace and plenty of humour.I should warn you that this book will make you think through issues many of us prefer to leave buried, such as the fate of people who have never heard of Jesus. The challenge, however, is well worth accepting for any believer looking to grow up. Loving God with all our heart as well as our mind demands nothing less.