Exploring a New Path: An Evangelical Preacher's Journey Away from Faith

Aletheuon: I had a stroke six months ago. I've read many books since then, entertaining but (for me), pure entertainment and not worth reviewing. This book is worth reviewing - and worth reading, whatever your views on religion. During a troubled childhood, Tim Sledge became a born again Christian and, putting everything into it, he became a very successful minister and Christian writer. Then, a few members of his church tricked him into resigning from his job. The hurt of this was so great that he decided he could never become a church leader again. He had moments of great success after that, but he never got over it and eventually he left his wife and married someone else. This marriage lasted only five years. During this downward slide, he rethought his Christian beliefs and became a humanist.
I can relate to much that he says. I, too, have been hurt, rejected and tricked by fellow Christian leaders. I have struggled with questions and doubts and have come close to giving up my faith. I still have many questions and have given up some naive ideas. I am still a Christian. I agreed with much that he said, particularly about the church. I also thought that he left out some things. For...

United Kingdom on Oct 03, 2023

Patmac: Tim’s detailing of the fundamental Christian culture, with its language, structure, leadership roles and social dynamics was very educational for me. I am actually amazed that after all those years of ‘living the faith’, Tim was able to find a way out. I can’t imagine how painful and lonely this journey was for him. Seeking truth absent of indoctrinated ideals takes strength. I can’t wait to see how Tim uses his talents to live as a humanist where kindness and love fit right in.

Canada on Aug 22, 2023

Amazon Customer: Follow Philip Yancy’s advice. Travel to India and Africa and try to understand spirituality and the spiritual realm from the people of these ancient civilisations rather than moan in self pity.

India on Aug 04, 2023

Michael L. Hagood: I have read more autobiographies in my time but I have never read one where I had the feeling that the person was more sincerely honest in expressing his story than this one. Also, this is a person of high personal integrity who clearly has the highest standards for how he lives his life. His story as to his career as pastor unfolded until he left the faith as quite fascinating.

I got interested in his story by seeing him on my Twitter feed. I saw a reference to Odessa Permian High school which piqued my interest inasmuch as I am a native west Texan myself (raised in Lubbock). Moreover, it was obvious from the book's title where it the story was going to go. As one who in his lifetime has evolved from the (perfunctory) Christian faith to in only in recent years becoming "agnostic" I anticipated that this book might be of sufficient interest for me to at least read a sample of (thank you Amazon for this wonderful feature on the Kindle, which I have now employed hundreds of times).

It didn't take long for me to realize that I needed to just buy the entire book. Tim Sledge has a brilliant knack of telling enough of his story at critical junctures to where you are not...

United States on May 15, 2023

Henry: So this book is essentially an Ex-Baptist Pastor's biography on how he slowly lost faith in Christianity. Don't expect any theology in it. But do expect a detailed account of this individual's life events that slowly eroded his faith. I think this would be a phenomenal read for the heads of religious organizations to understand what their hubris does to the people on the front line trying to defend their religion.

Canada on Apr 20, 2022

Amazon Customer: Shows the inside of religion and churches that many of us do not get to see. The book also confirms the dillusions of the entire hierachy of religeous followers.

Germany on Apr 05, 2022

T. Fowler: I am rating the book with five stars. It is well written and edited; that accounts for the first four stars. I award a fifth because Dr. Sledge has given us something original and important. I have not run across anything that gives a non-fundamentalist a better look into the dynamics of the evangelical communities of faith. I came away with a much better understanding of how good people come to embrace such disturbing and destructive ideas about Christianity.
I grew up in a small, industrial suburb of Houston that was populated mostly by Southern Baptists and Methodists. There were a few other odd denominations of the Christian variety, but no Jews, Muslims, or Others.
My family belonged to the Methodist Church and we only saw inside the Baptist Church when there was a wedding or funeral of a friend who belonged to the “dunkin’ church” across the street. Whenever we did go inside the Baptist Church, we kids were mostly interested in the transparent tank behind the altar with its painted desert scene complete with palm trees on the wall behind. My Methodist parents told us that Baptists believed dunking was required to effect a good baptism. They explained that...

United States on May 18, 2018